30/03/17 - The Good Beer Guide Pubs of Bewdley

Distance - 1 Mile
Geocaches - 2
Pubs - 4

The Camra Good Beer Guide Pubs of Bewdley line up along the Kidderminster Road, like stepping stones reaching to the centre of this fine Georgian Town.  They make a perfect pub crawl.

The Rising Sun, 139 Kidderminster Road, Wye Valley Butty Bach

Four real ales and trust me to pick the one that has just gone.  I curse my luck to the barman, who points out that this is not bad luck, for I will be partaking in the freshest pint available tonight.

Patience, a virtue I never seemed to learn.

Barman departs for the cellar, leaving me to be entertained by two black springers, each with their own ball, who seemingly never tire of tear-arsing around the pub to retrieve them from a strangers boot.

The barman comes back and takes pride in his work.  A complex ritual of decanting between glasses, having a taste and holding to the light is performed before £3.40 is exchanged for the finished article.

Perfection in a Glass

The next punter to come in admires my purchase and says it looks lovely and asks what it is.  No doubt he will be having the 2nd freshest pint tonight.

The Waggon and Horses, 91 Kidderminster Road, Bathams

A short stroll to destination number two, interrupted only by a geocache, magnetically attached to a phone box.

Despite their branded house glasses protesting that they are in Wribbenhall and not Bewdley, this was pub of the night.

Od Waggon and Horses....

... In Wribbenhall

There's a choice of six real ales on.  Like a parent forced to choose his favourite child, the selection ultimately comes down to a Three Tuns or a Bathams.  Sorry Bishops Castle, for once, Brierly Hill wins.

The pub is packed - obviously a testament to quality of the ales.  I sit near a quartet of post work boozers and learn the evil ways of dentists and vets.

The Great Western. 42 Kidderminster Road, Bewdley Brewery Worcestershire Way

A pattern emerging here - a short walk - a geocaching interlude in Wribbenhall Churchyard.

This place appears to have had an external make over - with bold advertising on pale paint offering "Ales, Stouts, Wines, Porters, Tonics and Revivers".

Under the Arches

The pub has a mezzanine floor, crying out for exploration and a chance to do a Begbie.  But first the ale selection.  There a lot of Speckled Hens and Greene Kings on offer, so I go LocALE for a pint of Bewdley Breweries Worcestershire Way.  Unusually, I am offered the choice of a straight of handled jug.  I feel like Michael Caine in Get Carter.

My Untappd check in elicits a grim warning of "water infections" from Mrs Mappiman.

LocALE

The Mug House, 12 Severn Side, Timothy Taylor Landlord

No more unfound Geocaches but a chance to recreate the photo from the Great Western.

Bewdley by Night

The Mug House has always been my destination pub in Bewdley.  Perfect location by the river, with one of the best beer gardens in the land - suitable for all year round use by a outdoor heating system that would have environmentalists shaking their heads.

It's the closest place to home where I can get Timothy Taylor Landlord.  I never before noticed the premium that I have been paying.  £3.85 a pint.

Still, pubs are like houses...... it's location, location, location.

Mug House - also home of a fine restaurant

The closest to home Timothy

25-03-17 - Wye to Thames - Walk 9 - Moreton-in-Marsh to Kingham

Distance - 12.7 Miles
Geocaches - 2
Previous Walks - Walk 1, Walk 2, Walk 3, Walk 4, Walk 5, Walk 6, Walk 7, Walk 8
Pubs - Horse and Groom, Upper Oddington and Kings Head, Bledington

I boldly claimed that Stage 8 of this superb walk from Hereford to Oxford along the Cotswold Railway Line would be the best.

It appears I may have peaked too early in my praise.

It could have been the sunshine (after all, we have had two weekends at opposite ends of the country in Fog) but this is a special, easy walk.

And it will be remembered for the day when Mrs Mappiman smashed the psychological double digit walking miles barrier.

We've looked at the train times and know that the two hour mid afternoon siesta taken by Great Western Railways means an early start.  Frost knocked off the car and at 7:30am, we are the first to park up at Moreton-in-Marsh railway station car park.

And out, through the surprisingly busy high street, and into the countryside.  Nice to report a new geocache has been placed at the Duck Pond since the last leg.

Geocache GZ 1 - The Duck Pond

Early Morning Countryside Views

The Monarch's Way takes us out of town to the first architectural highlight of the day, Sezincote Hall, a little bit of India in the Cotswolds.  Worth the short detour off the planned route to get the an up close view.  I will meet it again when I complete the Heart of England Way.  Look at the views, it's going to be no hardship.

Built 1805

The Heart of England Way

This walk is a collection of pretty villages.  If you time it right, it could be a four pub beauty.  If you judge a village by its local, then Longborough is the pick of the lot.  We are greeted by the beautiful church and then meet the Coach and Horses, including the landlord who tries to convince me its never too early.  It's 8:30am.  He may have been joking with the daft ramblers.

Longborough Church 

What a Beauty - Coach and Horses - Longborough

The HOE Way is shunned and we let the Monarchs Way take us through Donnington and a revisit into Broadwell, a mere 5 months since our last visit.  One day we'll time it right for when the Fox is actually open.

Photos of the Fox - 2 - Actual Visits - 0

We lunched on Broadwell Village Green during our last visit.  We are making good time but I feel the need to press on.  I do vow to stop at the next bench we see at just the moment (7.5 miles in) that Mrs M suggests it would be a good point to "rest her hips".  Next bench found outside a the Horse and Groom in Upper Oddington.  It's 10:06am and has a sign both proclaiming its North Cotswolds CAMRA Pub of the Year 2013 and open at 10am.

I get that look.  The one that says "You're not having a pint, are you?".   As usual, she is correct.  The landlord will only sell me tea.  Cafe culture, my aris.

Tea for 2 and a 15 minute breather

Geocache 2 is at the Church at Lower Oddington.  The description tells all about the C14th Wall painting called the Doom.  Alas, copper thieves have rendered access impossible - the rain has got in, the picture has been damaged and the church is under repair.  This is the description of the painting from the cache page and you have to hope the Big G is really this vengeful.

The main wall painting in the church is the 14th century'Doom',dated to about 1340 it is 32ft long and 15ft high.

In the upper part is the seated figure of Christ,attended by Angels and Apostles.Below Angels blowing trumpets summon the dead from their graves.To the right the lost are being propelled by devils into the jaws of hell.

Nearby some of the torments of the damned are depicted with fearful realism inc a man suspended from a gibbet and a group of persons being boiled in a cauldron.

I wouldn't mess with his roof.

The final part of the walk can be filed under "Mud", as we cross woodland and Bledington Heath. The railway station is mid way between Bledington and Kingham.  We have made an excellent 2.6 MPH and timed it to perfection to at least visit the one pub.  The Kings Head in Bledington, located idyllically on the village green.

Everything I want from a pub.  Open, serving pints and an entry in the 2017 Good Beer Guide.   And a chance to sample a never seen before Otter Bright.

Kings Head, Bledington.  Shame about the Telegraph Wires

I've got Sunshine in a Glass!

Cheers All - Happy Spring!

19/03/17 - Porlock - Top Ship to Bottom Ship

Distance - 4 Miles
Pubs - 2
Geocaches - 5

We learn a couple of things about this part of the world.  Exmoor appears to have it's own micro climate.  We left our Porlock apartment bathed in blue skies to arrive at Lorna Doone farm in thick, wet flog.

But what an adventure getting there!  Road, the width, windiness and steepness I have never before experienced.  And if a BMW X5 is 1968mm wide, then Robber's Bridge is exactly 2m.  It may look a pretty pack horse bridge from the picnic area, but its frankly terrifying when your wife is out in the rain - giving you confident hand signals that betray the grimace on her face.

Park up, decide the 8 miles in the fog will be no fun and head back.  Taking different roads.

We can complete a nice little walk between the two Good Beer Guide Pubs in the area.

The Top Ship Inn, Porlock, High Street - Exmoor Ales, Otter Ales

This was our base for both holidays in 2004, 2005 and 2006 and this year.  We were keen to come back to a 13th Century thatched pub, renown for its food and beer.

Thankfully, it was exactly as we remember it.

Multi Building Pub - C13th at its oldest 

We did spend more time exploring both the beers and the different rooms.  Otter Amber was the pick of the pints although a special shout out has to go to Exmoor Ales Beast.  Rather fittingly for a 6.6% beer, the bar staff disappear down into the cellar when you order it.  Presumably it's kept under lock and key, away from the lesser ales.

What's on at the Top Ship

The Walk

Nothing could be simpler than the walk down to Porlock Weir.  We followed the quiet road on the way down.  Spent a bit of time investigating the Weir and the handful of geocaches on offer.  We found a more interesting route back, following an excellent brideway through the woods.

Only photos required to tell a story.

Gloomy Views over Porlock

Striding Purposely through West Porlock

To the Weir

Photo needed for an Earth Cache

Views from Porlcok Weir

Slightly elevated views from the Woodland

The Bottom Ship, Porlock Weir

The Bottom Ship - Just as impressive

Seemingly, the two pubs are owned by the same management.  We saw posters advertising two nights B&B for £90 and spent a while debating whether this was per person.  It appears that this is the total price - and if so, a bargain.

They also have a beer festival - WeirFest - and run a shuttle bus between the two locations for those real alers not into their walking.

We arrived at 10am on a Sunday morning and although tempted by the fine selection of LocALEs, it was a cup of tea for me a coffee for Mrs Mappiman.

I am not that much of a beast.

Can you believe I chose tea over this.

18/03/17 - Lynmouth to Watersmeet

Distance - 5 Miles
Geocaches - 20
Walk Inspiration - Jarrold Exmoor, Walk 14
Pub - The Village Inn, Lynmouth

If you take Mrs Mappiman all the way to the seaside and don't have a coastal walk planned, there is only one way to save your bacon.  Make sure that there is a National Trust Tea Shop half around the route that you do have planned.

We start in Lynmouth for a walk that my guidebook describes as "one of Exmoor's classics".  I couldn't really tell you.  For the 2nd week running, low lying fog adds atmosphere but ruins the views.

Route finding is easy - follow the pretty stream into the moor.  Doesn't even matter which side of the water you are on, as there are frequent bridges but of course, we followed the unexpectedly high volume cache trail.  Thanks for the smileys, kevham1 and CeeKay1, they added to an already fine walk.

There could be loads of photos like this

With the odd bridge thrown in

Watersmeet National Trust is a natural stopping off point.  We are in Devon, but the debate on which order to put the jam or clotted cream was unnecessary, as I had been sold scones with neither condiment.  I was soon sent back on a rescue mission.

Clotted Cream - 25p a pot.

We lose the cache trail for a while, walking steeply uphill to Hillsford Bridge, taking in the best of the waterfalls.

Waterfalls

The height gaining continued, right into the clouds.  On another day, Mytleberry Cleave would have offered fine views over the gorge to the sea.  We make do with getting back on the cache trail, keeping our feet and navigating the wildly zig-zagging path.

Nothing much to see here but Lynmouth is in the distance

Back in the village to look at familiar land marks and trying to determine the number of elapsed years since we brought our kids to play in the stream. We agree on 11. All that remains is the post walk watering hole. We remember the Rising Sun from before and in the interests of variety, try out the Village Inn.

Made it to the Coast

The Village Inn

Sharp's Atlantic

Unfortunately, the Village Inn contains the Village Idiot.  But not from Lynmouth.  This particular loudmouth is from near us in Worcestershire and spent 5 hours yesterday on a coach to sit at the bar in a strange town to laugh at his own Monty Python impressions, in-between goading other customers about their accents.

It can't have been long before he was chucked out.

But there was no chance he was coming back home with us.

14/03/17 - The Wokingham Pub Crawl

Pubs - 5
Distance - about a mile

I feel I should know Wokingham.  After all, I have been to Binfield.  Finding myself working in the area, I consult the bible and see there are two town centre Good Beer Guide Entries.  It's worth a visit, even if a 2.5 mile cab ride costs £8.

My taxi whisks me away from the Alpine hell that is the Coppid Beech Hotel.  I can live without Abba tribute bands in Bierkeller cellars.  My driver engages in chat, determining my plans for the evening and comes up with the classic - "Wokingham has more pubs per head of population than any other town".   I hear this up and down the country.   I'm sure it was Preston that last made that claim.

Start off at the GBG Entry, The Crispin.

The Crispin, 45 Denmark Street, Hogsback TEA

Random Beerintheevening Quote - "A good selection of ales but no cooked food and poor quality toilets."

Dodgy Photo

Hogsback TEA

The pub was in keeping with the quaint town.  It wore its age well on the outside.  On the inside, a few too many flags for my liking.  I spotted TEA and my mate who lives in Berkshire swears by it.  I've had it before and enjoyed it, but here it was slightly metallic, dull looking and the picture is the last I saw of the head.    This is something that can be leveled at most of the beers consumed tonight.

Normally, I would have stayed for a second, but there is much work to do.

The Roebuck, the Market Place, More TEA

Random BeerintheEvening Quote - "Outside not looking very good. Most of lettering now missing."

Formerly, the Square Bar.  May explain the lack of letters.

TEA in a Landlord Glass

My cabbie told me this was the best real ale pub in town.  He was wrong.

It was the Real Ale lantern that lured me in but I should have spun straight round when two of the three pumps were turned the wrong way.   The one that remained was more TEA.  This looked brighter but the head lasted less time and actually tasted worse than at the Crispin.

I stayed until Leicester went 1-0 up.

The Ship Inn, Peach Street, Fullers ESB

Random BeerintheEvening Quote "used to be my local,but not anymoor far too expensive.better pubs in nam"

Only Fullers can save the Day

Pint of the Night

This place was noticed on the cab journey in.  Its a very handsome Fullers place and worth the short walk out of town to investigate.

Leicester are holding onto their lead.  The locals are enjoying it.

ESB is a favourite of mine and it was presented as well as anywhere here.  Quality pint.  I failed to notice the price.

The Queen's Head, The Terrace, Binghams Brewery Twyfords Tipple 

Random BeerintheEvening Quote - "I understand that this is now one of Greene King's "Local Heroes" pubs which as well as having GK beers can now offer local beers as well"

Four pubs and a never tried before Ale

The 2nd of the town's Good Beer Guide Entries.   This is a handsome little pub at the far end of town, reached after passing some interesting tudor architecture.  No outdoor photo of the pub, as there were smokers outside on my entry and exit.

I was initially skeptical, as it is a Greene King, but as the other reviewer has commented, it allowed guest ales and I tried a Bingham Brewery Twyford Tipple, after being offered a sample by a very genial landlady.  It tasted fine but once again, I was left frothless by the time I had attempted the Daily Mail crossword.

No way of knowing how Leicester are doing now.

The Broad Street Tavern, Broad Street, Wadworth Bishops Tipple

Random BeerintheEvening Quote - "Great pub, great staff, although "fools" are not suffered gladly ..."

Apt description - it was quiz night.  I learned which breed of terrier is the biggest.

Pub of the Night

All the gang are here

If the Ship Inn provided the pint of the night, this was easily the pub of the night.

The Untappd App might be a touch annoying for my Twitter Followers, who I am sure are uninterested that I have reached "Wheels of Style Level 3" but it is handy for telling me that I have previously tasted Bishops Tipple just the once before.

I like Wadworths brews.  I need to go to Devizes.  I'll try and do it before 2017 is out.

The pub quiz kept me entertained, not least because of the quiz masters inability to pronounce most of the words in the questions.

Of course, its an Airedale.

12/03/17 - The Langdale Pikes

Distance - 4 Miles
Wainwrights - Pavey Ark (2288ft), Thunacar Knott (2372ft), Harrison Stickle (2414ft), Pike of Stickle (2342ft) and Loft Crag (2238ft)
Geocaches - 1
Walk Inspiration - Country Walking Magazine Oct 2013, Walk 15

Last Night

After yesterday's post walk visit to the Old Dungeon Ghyll, the valley offered two more pubs to check out.

The Stickleback Barn provided little.  £3.90 real ales and middle class kids who's home for the night was a glamping pod, wanging the cushions around.  It was a cross between a vegan restaurant and a wacky warehouse and we were not in the mood.

The New Dungeon Ghyll was our home for the night.  Like the OGD, there was an unpretentious hikers bar, where hungry ramblers could sample the lesser spotted Hardy Tup ale and deliberate what exactly constitutes a "Lamb Henry".  I can find little information about Hardy Tup, other than I appear to have been accidentally drinking Mild again.

Food and Ale was exceptional but the only entertainment we could find was in the parlour, where a half hearted game of scrabble was attempted for the first time in years.  Bowfell must have taken it out of us.  We were all tucked up in bed before 10:15pm.

NGD and our Home for the Evening

The Walk

It's safe to say we can blame this on the sunshine.  After yesterday's slog, there is no way we would have faced another walk in the same conditions.  We awoke to mild weather and view of the tops and it had to be done.

That's not to say this wasn't a toughie.  4 miles in 4 hours and 2400ft of ascent.  If we weren't going up, we were going down.

The start of the route is both simple and superb, walking alongside Stickle Tarn on a good path, taking in the waterfalls and enjoying the views of the valley behind.  What a change from yesterday.

Follow the Path

One of the larger Waterfalls

View behind and unusually, I am in the lead

Stickle Tarn provides a natural break in the walking and also the start of the Clag.  Once again, we are denied the best of the views that could have been on offer.  We didn't see enough from the peaks for me to tell you the difference between them all, and route finding was fairly easy.

Stickle Tarn and the Cloud

The only team shot in two days of walking

The views don't come back until the last Wainwright, Loft Crag.  Another day of "look at what you could have won".

Loft Crag and the Valley below

The Path Home

The path down of Loft Crag is long, arduous and slippy.  Both my walking partners tumble twice, with one even exclaiming "Not Again" mid fall.  Somehow. on both walks this weekend, the descent is more painful than the ascent.  And I never thought I would say that.

Still, we are saved the sight of Dungeon Force Waterfall on our return and the only Geocache of the day.

Dungeon Ghyll Force

Two days - hard walking, no views.

We are going to have to come back and do it all again.