07/09/24 - The White Horse, Hinton St Mary

 An Unusually Dark Batch of Exmoor Gold

Hinton St Mary is a tiny hamlet but a rich history. I'd already noticed on the OS Map the words "Roman Villa". There's also a story to rival the Elgin Marbles. A full Roman mosaic lifted by the British Museum, with the majority locked away in vaults. Only the central Christ-like image on display. The locals are demanding its return.

We're not here for the Romans. A simple walk, for a Saturday morning when the it has finally stopped raining. Not much to see, but the dog we are looking after enjoyed the woodlands and the drop down to the River Stour. Which has burst its banks, forcing Mrs M to wade through floodwaters, holding her socks and boots aloft. I should have taken a photo, but she'd have moaned that I wasn't helping her enough.

Down by the Stour

A short 3 miles and just in time for the village pub to scrape open the bolt.

Simple exterior, complex menu

There's a wedding on at the nearby church but it may always be this busy on a Saturday lunchtime. A menu that is relatively complex, should you only be looking for ham, egg and chips at a push. Our waitress does a fine job of upselling, suggesting if the meals are too large and fancy (read North of a score), we might enjoy olives. Or Crisps.

We'll stick to just drinks - Exmoor Fox, Gold and Butcombe original on. I have to get some sort of story out of a blog. How about consumer rights?

Decent pint, but was it Gold?

I am a veteran of JDW, who often have Exmoor Gold on. In case you are unaware, here is the product description;

A natural glorious golden colour; its juicy malt aroma has just a hint of vanilla with citric hops.It starts bitter-sweet in the mouth and finishes dry and intensely hoppy.

Is that pint a glorious golden colour? I discuss with a fellow beer drinker and mention it to the landlady. She replied that the brewery have told her to warn her customers that it is a particularly dark batch that has been delivered.

I consider myself warned but after a Fox in the Rising Sun (with glorious fish-finger sandwiches, food fans), I rather think they have put the Fox label on the Golden hand-pull.

Walk Details

Distance - 3 Miles

Geocaches - 1 abandoned, as it started raining

Walk Inspiration - 40 Town and Country Walks in Dorset