28/08/21 - Arlingham Geocaching and the Old Passage Inn

Distance - 5 Miles

Geocaches - 30

Arlingham has the feel of a place cut off from time.  It's positioned in the centre of the horseshoe bend, as the River Severn meanders to the sea.  Getting there requires crossing the Gloucester Canal at Sandfield Bridge, so the place is more or less an island.

A new 27 cache geocaching trail brings me here, although its an area I've wanted to explore.  With the start of the walk at a pub, everything is setup for a decent morning's entertainment.

The view from the Old Passage Inn is striking, staring at Newnham on the other side.  Progress marked in time by the church bells clanging - hitting midday, as I finish the round.

End of the Road at Arlingham

The walking around the bend is easy - there is a high grassy bank, with constant views of the estuary.  Inland, a few cattle fields - with very chilled out cows and through the centre of Arlingham to see the church and Red Lion Pub.

Low Tide Mudflats

The Church

Red Lion

An excellent attention to detail on the caches, which are placed to be found with good clues.  One DNF at #13 (it's always #13.  Or #1).  Too many posts :-)  Thanks to GloveGirl for the placing and the maintenance. I can see that they have been popular.

Just the need to pay the pub for use of their car park.

Old Passage Inn

There's not much reference material available at my usual pubs sites.  But a google suggests it had a reputation as a fine seafood restaurant about 10 years ago.  Not that the review was that great.

Its now got the feel of a place newly taken over.  The staff were preparing the lunch menu and the person serving me was having a terrible time with the till.

There didn't appear to be any real ale on - just three kegs and a unlabeled hand pull.  My inquiry to options was met with the hand pull was working but exactly what was going to come out of it was a mystery to all of us, until the landlord was found.

I should have trusted my better instincts and gone safe with the San Miguel.  Butcombe Rare Breed - normally a solid pint - was stuffed in a Doom Bar glass and was quite terrible.  

On the plus side - the food was excellent - huge portions and good value.  

You can't always have it all.

Caching Bag and a Ropey Pint