24/12/22 - The Gaskell Arms, Much Wenlock

Distance - 5 Miles

Geocaches - 25 and two Adventure Lab Caches

First Cache

All getting a bit chaotic at home? Are several family members all cooking different dishes for tomorrow's dinner? Escape the madness by looking for tupperware in hedges.

Geocaching in the shadow of the Wrekin

This round of 24 (plus a bonus on route) is perfect for your Xmas geocaching needs. All under the shadow of the distinctive Wrekin Hill, no taxing searches and importantly for this time of year, on country lanes so you are not plastered in mud on completion.

Many thanks to wavydale for setting a perfect trail.

Post walk refreshment? The Gaskell Arms Hotel is a dominant building in nearby Much Wenlock. I've driven past it 100s of times but its (surprise?) inclusion in the 2023 Good Beer Guide has prompted a stop.

A rather enthusiastic good beer guide ticker taking out the street furniture

And really, I shouldn't wait for the recommendation of others to investigate a C17th Coaching House.

Past the former stables, now converted into accommodation and into a central bar with a number of snug rooms fanning from it. The one with the real fire is around the back and makes the obvious destination.   

One other punter. An old gent reading a book but he's observing the rules by having a drink on the go.

This does mean the staff are outnumbering the customers by 2-1.With the fire on, not even my club sandwich is going to allow them to break even what you would think would a be a busy day.

Beer wise - take your pick from Butty, Town Crier or Three Tuns XXX. To keep you on your toes, the glass was not an accurate representation of my choice.

Not Stoke Lacey, Not Cleobury Mortimer..... Bishops Castle finest

All pleasant enough.  Another tick available at the George and Dragon but I went looks at town's history for Adventure Lab Caches. There's that much history, two are required to show you all the sights.

Front door of the Gaskell Arms