23/01/21 - The Swan, Birlingham

Distance - 6.5 Miles

Geocaches - 2

Walk Inspiration - Country Walking Magazine, September 2015, Walk 8

Good Beer Guide Tick - #647

Completing a Good Beer Guide County gets a step closer.  It won't be long before I am reaching for the green Stabilo pen.

Getting to the stage in Worcestershire, where I need to look on the map to find the locations.  Birlingham is a tiny hamlet to the south of Pershore- lying close to the River Avon. The reference material is consulted and a 6 mile, figure of 8 walk can be developed from a Country Walking Magazine route.

The walk is simple - pick up the Avon at a tight bend called "Swan Neck".  Eckington Bridge - Grade II 1720s ancient monument - is the fulcrum point of the figure of 8. We pass it once as we circumnavigate the nameless flood plains and again as return inland from Eckington village.  All under the shadow of Bredon Hill.

Eckington Bridge - seen twice on this walk

Bredon Hill from the River Avon

Back to the pub, 15 minutes earlier than our booked time for Sunday lunch.  And booking was essential - there is just a single sitting left free for the entire Sunday Lunch period.  

Mappiman getting Good Beer Guide Tick #647

Everything was impeccable.  The service, including a lovely greeting on arrival.  Even when donning a rubbish bobble hat that had slipped uncomfortably into BoJo territory.  A full menu along with the roast.  Unusually, just a single roast choice - Pork  - from a farm in the the next village along, Defford.  It was fantastic.

Beer - two LocALEs on - from Goff and Teme Valley breweries.  A previous Untappd reviewer of my chosen "That" made be chuckle with their review;

If twigs and branches had a flavour, this would be it. More traddy stuff this.

I disagreed - it tasted as good as it looks.

Lovely to see a pub doing things well and being rewarded with plenty of customers.