01/08/20 - Ashby-de-la-Zouch - The Tap at #76

Distance - 7 Miles
Walk Inspiration - CW Magazine, August 2018, Walk 10
Geocaches - 7


I remember when driving to Leeds from the Midlands, you had to go through the centre of Ashby-de-la-Zouch.

This explains the high number of coaching houses that line the high street. Ironic that the only entry in the 2020 Good Beer Guide is a history ignoring new Micro Pub.   I also have the chance of  a tick to get to from a different publication - Britain's Strangest Pubs. What wonders does the White Hart hold?

First, a walk. Finding one is harder than expected. Despite every issue of CW Magazine and two bookshelves groaning with walking books - my on-line database contains a single walk from the town centre. Maybe the National Forest is not that geared up for decent rambling?

I will say this for the NF - there's a decided lack of trees.

I head North East along the town's high street - eyeing up boozers, failing to spot the castle.  The Ivanhoe Way running along green lanes, past factories.  A navigational error at Western Old Parks Farm, where I was seduced by the first decent views and missed my turning.

Do not head this way

This is the required path

Smisby village is an absolute delight - the Smisby Arms looked like it was just getting ready for the day - at 11:57am, it would not have been the end of the world for me to have waited three minutes but its a little early into the walk.  Instead, I admire the Smisby Lockup - a temporary jail for drunkards - and the pretty church, perched on high.

Should Have

Smisby Church

The Lockup

Heading South West to Blackfordby, I encounter some exotic Leicestershire wildlife at Scam Hazel Farm but miss out on the Black Lion - getting home to read about it in the Good Beer Guide.  This could have been a two tick walk.

Hard as Nails - I stroked him, he butted me

Llama (or Alpaca)

Nothing to record, as I come through fields, the new builds and back into the town.

So first off - the White Hart.  I think the author of "Britain's Strangest Pubs" was running out of ideas when he included this one.  Strange, because it has a stuffed bear somewhere inside.  A greeter explains the rules of this Marstons house.  Scan the QR code to register at a website that hadn't loaded by the time I finished my lemonade.  I ask him if the bear is still here.  He says yes.  I fail to find the bear.  To be honest, I was getting confused by the one way system of arrows painted on the floor.

Dick Turpin's Favourite

Beerwise, I was saving myself for the Tap at number 76.  I'd checked it was open.  Hadn't noticed that it was only for take outs.  First time ever greeted at a pub with the shout "One at a time please".

Tap at #76 - next to the Market Hall

There were other pubs - the Bulls head, looking suitably ancient, the Queens Head looking like you could stable your horses.  Instead, I had another go at finding the castle.

Found!