27/07/19 - Conwy - An Adventurous Pub Walk

Distance - 7.5 Miles
Walk Inspiration - Walk 36, AA Walks through Britain's History
Geocaches - 3
Pubs - 4 Good Beer Guide 2019 Entries - Liverpool Arms, Albion, Bank of Conwy, Erskine Arms



A lot to love on this walk - not least the fact that it heads past the front door of four Good Beer Guide 2019 Pubs.  In addition to quality beer, we can throw in a postcard perfect castle, a lovely stretch along an estuary, an optimistically labelled mountain and some wild moor land.

This ramble has it all - and the only thing we regret is parking in the 4 hour maximum stay Short Stay Car Park beneath the castle walls.   There's so much more we could have done.

The first 20 minutes of the 4 hours are spent taking photos.   Conwy is that sort of place.

All Walks should start at a Castle

Too Early for the GBG Liverpool Arms

Welsh lady hurrying up the tourists.  20 Japanese Tourists booked in.

We've gained a delightful walkaway along the estuary, passing what is marked on the OS map as a "Butterfly Jungle" before cutting inland on the Wales Coast Path.

Views back to the castle, along the estuary

The Coast Path is going to take us over Conwy Mountain.   At 800ft, its a stretch to give it such a serious name but its a joy to climb through the purple heather, along remote paths and with views to the proper Snowdonia mountain ranges.

Mrs M, not sure if she signed up for Mountain Walks

Gorgeous paths, views and colours

The rest of the walk is gorgeous but with similar views to those presented.   Wild moorland, views either to mountains or over Anglesey.  Many photos but they are mostly the same.

Rest of the Walk is either this, or the sea

A drop down back to the town, the only drama of the day navigating a field of bulls.   Mrs M sends me first but after I make it successfully across, refuses to come, heading off in a direction that won't get her to the three remaining pubs of the day.   If she want's lunch she's going to have to man up.

Of course, the bovines bellow to greet her bravery.

Into the town and entering through the town walls is suitably epic.

How to end a walk

In December, there will be a look back and a review of my adventures.   Here we have 2019 "Walk of the Year".

Onto Refreshment.

With three remaining pubs and only an hour left on the Parking ticket - its going to have to be whittled down to 2.

As a Baggies fan, the Albion Ale House, was always likely to be a winner.   From the outside, its doesn't look much - a slightly down at heel old mans pub that Mrs M needs all of North Wales Camra's recommendation to enter.

We're the Albion

Advertising from 2016

Any concerns dissipate on entry.   The decorating budget has been spent inside this two roomed boozer.  All soft wooden hues and lighting more suited to a 1920's ballroom or the lounge on an ocean cruiser.

Home of the Lovely Lamp Shades

Two friendly and knowledgeable bar ladies explained their wares and pointed me to a Purple Moose Lifeboat - which a beer that I couldn't find on UnTappd and must have been a renamed pale from their range - presumably with contributions to the appeal.

Successful first stop and we have 30 minutes for lunch.

The Bank of Conwy looked like it was doing a roaring trade but we bypassed for the more traditional Erskine Arms.

Bank of Conwy

The Erskine Arms is a huge, smart hotel.   With tourists, families and a wedding party in the main lounge, a touch of exploring was required to find tranquility in "the study"

Good Beer Guide Goes Posh

My sort of space

Timothy Taylor Bolt Maker and a top quality fish finger sandwich rounded off a superb walk.

And we were back to the car two minutes before trouble.