Kid in a Sweetshop
It's time to start my next challenge. The Worcestershire Cakes and Ales Trail.
This is a 2009 book, that forms part of a trilogy. Other adventures await in Warwickshire and Shropshire. As the name implies, it's a themed walk - a theme of which 50% I wish to take advantage of.
Stage 1 is a great walk - following the Worcestershire Way from Martley to Malvern. I don't get too many photos, as the terrain is mainly through a high ridge of woodland that eventually joins the big hills of Malvern. Ankerdine Hill to Rounds Hill to the Suckley Hills.
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| That ridge provides most of today's walking |
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| Which is well waymarked |
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| Views, when there are gaps in the trees |
For company, I meet Steve. Steve is following the Worcestershire Way. So am I. We walk together until such points that the path has changed from my 25 year old digital edition of the OS Map to his more recent but printed copy. It becomes kind of embarrassing as we shake hands, say our goodbyes only to meet another mile down the trail.
It's as if God had put Steve on my trail for a reason. Steve is a long-distance walker, Chairman of Herefordshire CAMRA, pub owner and train spotter. As Meatloaf said on the 12" version, three out of four ain't bad. We made friends but in true British style, failed to swap contact details for any future adventures.
That would have been weird, wouldn't it?
As the guidebook suggests, refreshment stops are pointed out. Too early for the Admiral Rodney and the Talbot. The New Inn at Storridge is a dead inn.
But fear not - I have a diversion from the guidebook to tick off three unvisited pubs in the suburbs of North Malvern.
One of them, The Malvern Tavern, is a real surprise. I mean a staggering surprise.
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| I can smell your anti-climax |
Well, look how it was during my Google Maps research.
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| Formerly, the Cross Keys |
For context, the pub is located in a quiet backstreet, not on a public transport route and I cannot imagine it gets much passing through-traffic. You have got to want to go there.
Yet its beer offering is as good as anywhere. Cask options that wouldn't embarrass Black Country Ales. A chill room offering a staggering amount of UK Craft and international Keg. Ciders. A future on-site brewery.
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| Doesn't even list the cask |
The young landlord could tell I was an enthusiast through my excitement at finding Hofbrau Dunkel in the Worcestershire Wilds. A long chat ensued, where I determined his modus operandi is that he can drink bottles at home.
My next visit to Malvern may be just to go on an international pub crawl without leaving my seat.
Of course, the next two pubs won't be able to compete. The Prince of Wales has next to no beer - Guinness, Madri and a smooth-pour. I interrupted the landlord's afternoon TV viewing out of a sense of ticking completeness.
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| After the Lord Mayor's Show |
The Retired Soldier has potential for a revisit. A small, quirky pub trying to hide itself away from the street.
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| Tucked Away |
In the interests of conserving anonymity and not being classed as a "disaster tourist", I will say only two things about the pub.
1) They import cider from a Cornish farm and no one believes the published ABV of 6%
2) There was much crying, much consoling, phone calls to the police and some excellent swearing about someone's conduct who wasn't there.
The two things may have been connected.
Walk Details
Distance - 14.5 Miles
Geocaches - 0
Walk Inspiration - Stage 1 of the Worcester Cakes and Ales Trail
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