Geocaches - 2
Pubs - 3 (all 2018 Good Beer Guide Entries)
Walk Inspiration - The Blackheath Ramblers
Without wishing to sound all Agatha Christie, the inspiration for this walk came from a chance conversation in a waiting room at Seven Sisters railway station. I was waiting for a connection to start the Lea Valley walk, when in came a lady, identifiable as a fellow Rambler from the top to toe Berghaus. She asked me if I was also with Black Heath Ramblers.
I wasn't but we got talking about this particular faction and their fame across the South East for challenging power walks. I had a look at their walking programme and found inspiration in a decent 12 mile circular route from Godalming. It may have been the promise of a lunch time pub stop that sold it to me.
It's apparent from the minute I step off the train that I am going to like Godalming. Instantly, I am following a pretty path next to a Church, into Phillips Memorial Park and alongside the River Wey.
We'll meet up with Jack Phillips again, later in the walk.
Two minutes from the Station |
Jack Phillips, Godalming native |
Easy walking along the Wey Navigation |
Arboretum |
Near the 1st Cache of the day, Busbirdge Woods |
Perfectly positioned, exactly half way through the walk is the Merry Harriers. A picture postcard, classic English Country Inn.
Off the Path, Into the Pub |
It doesn't take much to make a stranger feel at home. I feel I know him well enough to ask to go behind the bar to scan the Cask Marque Certificate. 100 scans off a free pint glass now, blogfans.
Approved by the Bar Man's Dad |
On with the walk. It's all the Surrey Hills in their finest, even if the ground does not cope well with rain. Waterlogged and muddy paths all the way through Great Enton, Witley and back to Godalming but my Meindl walking shoes pass their first real test with flying colours.
These Views, fine architecture and mud |
Love to end a walk in Civilisation. |
Good Beer Guide or not, I tend to take Mrs M's advice and avoid Wetherspoons. But this is no ordinary Wetherspoons. According to the Bible its decorated in the style of an ocean liner.
Why? Well, we are back to Jack again. This local hero has the park and a pub named after him. He was the wireless operator on the Titanic and refused to leave his post, even after the captain declared "Every Man for Himself".
Which is the mantra you are forced to adopt when trying to get service at one of JDW's huge bars, staffed by incompetent teenagers. It was getting tetchy. I decided to delay getting a drink by taking photos and a forlorn hunt for the Cask Marque Certificate.
Life on the Ocean Wave |
I didn't. There's far fewer angry looking people and tables covered with dirty glasses on ships.
I left for a proper pub.
The Star Inn, Church Street, Hampleton Ales Gulping Gold
Oh yes, this is more like it. Not a converted shop but something that looks exactly like a pub should.
Back in the Game |
The barlady heads down to the cellar and I comment that "Betty Stoggs is rarely found out of Cornwall". When his headless pint comes back he replies "it should have bloody stayed in Cornwall". To be fair, it was a beautiful colour.
Ironic, as all the heads were above the bar.
What Year Did England Go Mental for Halloween? |
At least at first.
Pint Taken, with the Times and Heath Ledger |
No comments:
Post a Comment