17/03/19 - Heart of England Way - Stage 24 - Pebworth

Distance - 7.5 Miles
Pub - The Masons Arms, Pebworth
Geocaches - 8
Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7, Stage 8, Stage 9, Stage 10, Stage 11, Stage 12, Stage 13, Stage 14, Stage 15, Stage 16, Stage 17, Stage 18, Stage 19, Stage 20, Stage 21, Stage 22, Stage 23


Stage 24, so I must to be two years into my monthly circular walks on the Heart of England Way.

I am now in the hinterland between the Forest of Arden and the Cotswolds, the ridge of which I can see in the far distance.   Unfortunately, this means that I am in Evesham Vale - where the walking earns its title, pedestrian.

There are mysteries though - and we will come onto the Masons Arms at Pebworth, following a brief summary of the walk.

The landscape is as flat as a pancake, as I head North East from Pebworth to Long Marston.   A few unfound geocaches and for the 2nd day running, new born sheep to remind me that Spring is here.  Two weeks until my favourite day of the year - marked on every calendar as "British Summer Time Begins".

Shy New Borns at Court Farm

Long Marston is one of Shakespeare's drinking towns but I don't get as far as the 2nd Masons Arms of the day.   A long high street and some thatched houses but it's nowhere near as pretty as Dorsington, with a moated manor house and a more gentle feel.

Dorsington - Chocolate Box Little England

An uneventful journey back to Pebworth - more signs of new woodland being created with the plantings at Becks Woods but little worthy of description.

A walk that can only be described as functional.  Nothing of interest until the Church.

Daffs are out at Pebworth

So back to Pebworth's Masons Arms.

If you type Pebworth Pubs into Google Maps, it reveals nothing.   However, if you know its name, it will be revealed - without a Google Review or additional information.   Pubsgalore, Beerintheevening and even Tripadvisor have no information.   Camra's Whatpub has a single line - Pub Reopened in 2018, after being closed for two years.   We await further information.

My job to inform them about the pub that doesn't want to be found.

Mystery Pub

First thing - don't enter through that white porch at the front.  I ended up in someones front room - no sign of any pubby paraphernalia.   Like a bar.

A quick exit, feeling like a cat burglar, and in through a door to the side.  Hurrah - a bar, but unmanned with no customers.

Is it still a pub?   A bar man comes and it looks like we are in action. 

Three real ales on - Spitfire, Butty Bach and the selected Butcombe Rare Breed - which was in fine condition.

The barman disappears and leaves me to alone for a unique experience.   Alone, in someone's house, wondering when the last punter came in.

Marie Celeste of Pubs

Butcombe Rare Breed - under a map of Africa

I'd finish by saying "use it or use, people of Pebworth"  but I fear they may have already made up their minds.