Who would have guessed what my First Good Beer Guide Pint for the 2024 Edition was?
No UK based walking blogs for a few weeks. We've been rambling in Portugal, fueled by Superbock. A member of our party was from Stow on the Wold and wasn't a fan of the brewery closest to his home.
This reminded me that its been two years since I walked the Donnington Way. Day 4 saw me walk past the Plough Inn at Ford too early for refreshment.
A quick search through the reference material and I find a shortish walk - suitable for Mrs M and a Guide Dog in Training, Ivy. Mrs M keen for lunch out. Ivy keen for new fields to sniff at.
We head off, full of optimism that is cruelly shattered when Mrs M checks Google for the post code to be entered into a German Sat Nav. The Plough is closed for unspecified reasons for two weeks.
No worries, the Farmers Arms at Guiting Power is not too far from our planned destination. This pub was temporarily closed when I was on the 5 day walk. Between landlords. Mrs M checks opening hours. All Good. Checks they do food. All good. Then she throws in the most unexpected news....
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| Donnington SBA will be my first GBG 2023 Pint |
There's a turn-up. I haven't even started my cross ticking yet.
First the walk - The Plough at Ford leads directly to the Cotswold countryside. A frankly dull walk that is either along the edge of Jonjo O'Neills horse training gallops or through agricultural fields. The paths are decent - the Gloucestershire Way out and the Diamond Way back.
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| 2 attempts and the Plough at Ford remains unvisited |
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| Most of the views have been like this today |
Out of the three of us, I'd say Ivy enjoyed it the most.
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| Free running next to the cornfields |
Have you ever tried to use the voice controlled Sat Nav input of a German Car to say "Guiting Power"?
Do you know what it says back to you when you yell "FFS!" after the forth attempt prompts the reply "I cannot find Guiding Powder in my database"? To get its own back at my anglo saxon language, it takes us down roads with grass in the middle that lead to bolted gates on a private estate. Kamikaze guinea fowl testing the ABS.
We are a little stressed by the time we make it to the busy village - but a combination of getting the final parking space and table in the pub cheers up our mood. Things could have been so much worse.
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| Ladders out to erect the "We are in it.... 2024 GBG" Sign |
It's all as expected from 5 days of walking between their tied house. A handsome pub. Very plain beer. I asked the Landlord if the brewery had sent any acknowledgement to their CAMRA endorsement. They hadn't but they certainly should. Talk about defying the odds. The SBA perfectly kept but as devoid of taste as I remember.
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| 2024 Kicks Off |
And my taste buds are working fine. It took me three bites to determine the "Pie of Day" - steak and ale, according to our server - was in fact chicken.
It was damn fine. Pastry crust top, bottom and side.
A pie, not a lie.
Walk Details
Distance - 6 Miles
Geocaches - 1
Walk Inspiration - Cotswold Rambles, Red Book, Walk 8
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