26/11/22 - Centenary Way - Stage 14 - Leek Wooton

Distance - 4 Miles

Geocaches - 2

Pubs - The Anchor Inn

Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4, Stage 5, Stage 6, Stage 7, Stage 8, Stage 9, Stage 10, Stage 11, Stage 12, Stage 13

If you are going to get lost, the ground of Warwickshire Police Headquarters is not the place to do it. With many signs about police surveillance, and the constant small firearm bangs from the nearby shooting range, we fully expected to be on a future episode of Police, Camera, Action. The Ramblers edition. 

Many signs about video surveillance 

Unfortunately, the Centenary Way reverts to type. A poor walk, where the November rains are taking the toll on the footpaths. Terrible signage for a Long Distance Path. We fail to make it to Middle Woodloes, with the path marked on the map simply disappearing.

Permissive paths - marked "The Trail" - seem to have replaced the Centenary Way

A good 1.5 mile knocked off the route, I thought the ultimate disaster would be being too early for the pub. With rare good fortune, Leek Wootton's Anchor Inn is an 11:30am opener.

This place holds a special place in my heart.  It was here that I celebrated "Super Saturday" at the height of the crisis.  A first cask ale in 3 months.   

Two pumps on - A doom bar, which failed to get the juices flowing or a chance for a first Bass in 2022.

Alas, the Bass is off.  Thank god the ciabatta's were bang on

But I'm not going to go the day without a beer. Its this time of year that I keep a keen eye on my socials. Bathams release their Christmas Winter Warmer XXX at this time of year. It always sells out in a couple of days.

A tweet from the King Arthur, Hagley, shows it was on from 24/11/22. Claire Batham confirmed its is in all their tied houses.

A diversion in order - to Shentone's Plough and don't spare the horses.

Xmas declared open.  Mrs M can put the tree up.