07/04/19 - Coach and Horses, Harvington

Distance - 6.75 Miles
Geocaches - 1
Good Beer Guide Tick #378
Walk Inspiration - Discovery Walks in Worcestershire, Walk 28


Most of the Good Beer Guide pubs in my home county have been ticked off but there's one that always remained undiscovered but piqued my interest.

The Coach and Horses in Harvington.

Mainly because Harvington is about 7 miles from my house and I have no idea where this pub is.

Turns out Worcestershire contains two Harvingtons.

This one is in the Vale of Evesham.   If I had paid attention when hot footing it to the Cotswolds, I would have noticed the road signs.

Having met all Mrs M's criteria for a Sunday walk (Dog Friendly, Sunday Lunch, High Trip Advisor ratings) we make it our weekend destination.

To work up our appetites, I determine a reasonable looking 6 miler, starting from the Pub Car Park.

Not a model village - the nicely decorated bus stop, including our destination

Harvington is larger than expected, especially when compared to the more famous group of villages called the Lenches.   There are five of them and our walk is a circuit to Atch, Church and Sheriff's Lench.   It's mainly their background that makes them more famous, with various web sites detailing history back to the C7th.

No, I haven't missed a digit of the date.

The Vale of Evesham is not the most impressive walking country but we're pleased that today we are on good clean paths and don't have to embarrass ourselves back at the pub by turning up mud splattered.   Despite Guide Dog Joy's best attempts at finding half a burger bap and running off through muddy trenches.   Its firm footed tracks, fields edges and a drop back down through Orchards.

Keep straight on at the White Horse

Up to the black and white cottages of Atch Lench

To return through the Orchards.  The Boy also wanted a Sunday Lunch.

Table booked for 1pm and timing near perfect, although I am told to stop taking photos of the Harvington's green steepled church, in case they have given our table away.

Multiple CAMRA Award Winning

Dogs are allowed in the Bar and I was told we would be sharing space with a friendly terrier called Teddy.   He's not the pub dog but belongs to locals who must always come for Sunday Lunch.

The pub has been trading for 300 years and there's not much I'd change - although they could do with a mirror to see when there are punters waiting at either end of the long bar that spans both rooms.

Attention to detail was to the fore - nice to have a little chalkboard that contains meaningful information of the wares.  Strength, colour, brewery location all allowed me to make a choice of a never seen before Fullers "Due South".    Timothy Taylor Landlord-esque in colouring and taste.

The bloke after me at the bar went for a Tetley Smooth Pour.

What's On.

Instantly declared the pub worthy of its CAMRA awards and the Sunday Lunch was a £7.95, do your walking first because the portions are generous, delight.

Love it when a place gets the basics so right.

Branded Glasses for my Fullers Due South