22/07/23 - The Royal Oak at Tetbury

 Trouble at Tetbury

11 years since my last visit to Tetbury. A walk marred by bad weather and a bad pint. Armed with a Good Beer Guide Tick to aim for but still in appalling weather, I hope to have at least 50% more success this time. 

Today's walk start at the old railway station - a Beeching casualty - with the goods shed now repurposed as an Arts Centre. A cafe and free parking makes for a busy start, even if the rain is coming down as stair rods. Rain spotted photos, when I can be bothered.

A sequential (no need) Adventure Lab Cache forces me to look for clues through the town centre first. Counting screws in door brackets in a storm..... how do you spend your weekends?

The Market Place - an a pedestrian unfriendly town.

Tetbury Church, where I hunt for an 8 layered pyramidal tombstone

The walk breaks down into three distinct stages - agricultural fields on the Monarch's Way - lane walking to Newnton Hill and a wonderful disused railway line called the Tetbury Trail.

Easy walking on the hardcore

I noticed the Trouble House on the drive in. A former pub, it now looks like a cafe but post walk research has the magic three letters - B A R. I should have explored more - its a mere half mile in the other direction to reach it on foot. The wikipage makes for a fine story. The area known as "The Troubles" - due to both flooding problems and issues with press-gangs. The Trouble House Halt became the only railway stop built to serve a pub and didn't they put up a fight when the Beeching Axe fell. A coffin full of empty whisky bottles sent to the destroyer of railways. The last passenger train stopped on the tracks by burning hay bales.

Where is this spirit of rebellion now?  

France.

My refreshment is the GBG Tick - the Royal Oak. Situated more or less at the former Tetbury station.

Alas, a pub that is less than the sum of its parts.

Cotswold GBG Ticking

Accommodation blocks and a nice garden for another day

Inside, its strangely soulless for a pub. Wood aplenty, most tables with "reserved" signs. Staff that refer to you as "Sir" far too often for it to be comfortable, especially when they are from higher up in the class system.

Otter Bitter was one of four available - and maybe a touch too cold, but OK.  A sausage sandwich for a tenner that came on regular sliced bread that couldn't cope with the sogginess of the onions, less palatable.

Especially when the order was lost.

Lots and lots of wood in the Royal Oak

I'd say me and Tetbury are done - but the Trouble House needs investigating.

Might be in another 11 years.

Walk Details

Distance - 5 Miles

Walk Inspiration - Guide to Cotswold Pub Walks, Walk 14

Geocaches - 1 regular, 1 ALC