Distance - 7 Miles
Geocaches - 2
Pub - The Griffin, Furnace End
Previous Stages - Stage 1
Just when I was thinking the Good Beer Guide 2021 was one of my more pointless of purchases.
For this walk - which will not stay in the memory for long - will be famous for the first tick of 2021. In April. A lightening fast response to my opening hours Facebook query meant that I knew I would be rewarded with a decent pint and that they didn't mind pre-walk use of their car park.
Which even contains a stile to access the Warwickshire Countryside.
The walk was pretty hopeless to be honest. We pass two sides of Shustoke Reservoir but never really get close enough to see it. A railway - that isn't HS2 - causes route disruption - with the path on my elderly OS Map showing a crossing that doesn't exist on the ground. My subscription to OS Maps would have paid for itself - if only I had looked at it in enough detail. The rest is a dull circuit of Whitacre Heath, Nether Whitacre and Botts Green.
Comparing OS Maps - Right Hand Side shows the CW diverting to the right to cross the railway |
The only thing of interest - Shustoke Reservoir. TBF, it ain't that interesting |
So - onto the good news.
Good Beer Guide Tick #541 - The Griffin Inn, Furnace End
Of course, the stone bar and inglenook fireplaces were off limits but they have made a good job of taking a pubby experience outside.
A large marquee hosts a proper bar, holding 6 hand pulls - no less. The waitress reeled off the 6 names - with only Salopian Hop Twister ringing any bells. With no time to check on Untappd for a description of these unknown beers, I simply chose what the previous guest had ordered - as I could see it settling on the bar top.
My first Abbeydale Absolution was a fine choice to declare myself back in the pub beer garden ticking game.
Tasted as good as it looks |
Love The Griffin!!! Not been there for years but always a standout pub for us Silhillians in a Carling dash desert!
ReplyDeleteYep, not a bad one to have as a first Good Beer Guide tick!
ReplyDelete