18/08/18 - Guiding Joy Makes Her Debut

Distance - 4 Miles
Geocaches - 1
Walk Inspiration


A blog debut for our latest house guest, Joy.  She's a guide dog in training - we have her for around a year to get her used to different environments before she goes to "big school".   She's had many short walks but today's her first proper ramble.

A route has been carefully selected that's not too far away, not too strenuous and will provide plenty of variety for a five month old puppy.

We start at Hanbury Church near Droitwich, prominently positioned on a hilltop with extensive views over to Malvern and Bredon hills.

Hanbury Church - Used by the Archers Radio Programme

It's downhill into the wide open spaces of Hanbury Hall estate.   Joy makes her first acquaintance with sheep - kept on the lead of course - and she finds what they leave behind in the fields quite tasty.

Behave, they are not maltesers

One more field of cows and its freedom in the newly harvested crop fields.   Her recall off the lead is near perfect and plenty of problem solving ability required to navigate the stiles.  Under, through or wait to be carried are the options available.  With minor coaxing, she makes the correct decision.

Its also International Geocaching today - for which Joy helps get the souvenir badge with the only find of the day.  A water break for her whilst the admin is completed.

What's this Geocaching all about if you just put the treasure back?

Her skills at behaving in pubs have already been confirmed but it's a touch too early today.  Instead, we have the cafe at the Jinny Ring Craft Centre for refreshments.  The rules for canines and humans are all too clear.

That's clear then

She's met sheep and cows and what to add ducks to the list

After tea for us and a kibble and peanut butter kong for Joy, it's a short walk through woodland before we return to the car and head home.

She normally sits in the boot but needs to be trained to settle in the footwell of cars, in case she has to assist in taxi ride.   Today seems a good time to try travelling back this way.

So how does a puppy look after their first four mile ramble?

Dog Tired and able to sleep anywhere.

16/08/18 - The Bridge Hotel, Stanford Bridge

Distance - 5.5 Miles
Geocaches - 1
Walk Inspiration


I've had my eye on this walk for a while but was put off by the comments from the last people to have completed it.   They talked of bad stiles and impenetrable crop fields.  As this was in 2012, I decided to bravely provide an update to the walking community.

And I'm delighted to announce that in August 2018, all is good.  The stiles require a touch of athleticism but the problem paths down by the Teme are now clear... although I was fortunate enough to walk it on harvest day.

One of the reasons I was interested in the walk is that it starts from an unexplored pub, The Bridges Hotel.  A steady uphill climb through fields rewards with fine views over Shropshire's Clee Hills.

First of the Views over Shropshire

As well as the Bridges, there is a chance of a mid point stop off at the Cross Keys in Menithwood.  The same comments about bad paths indicate that the pub opens at 5pm and as the sun is past this yardarm, I will investigate.  First, however, I come across the weirdness of Burnt House.

Could this be a bonus pub?

Burnt Wood

If it is, its a pub that has been swallowed by nature.  It's also at the end of a track that cars cannot navigate and I admit to being a bit perplexed.   Having watched too many horror movies, my investigations are curtailed when I hear a radio and find this.

Now I'm scared.

I hot foot it to Menithwood.  The OS Map shows the Cross Keys marked but I cannot find it on the ground.  A local confirms that it is a pub no more and we get into a conversation about Burnt Wood.  Carefully choosing her words, she tells of a gentleman that has removed himself from society and collects stuff.   Presumably restaurant signs and baby mannequins to stuff into wheel arches.

Downhill from Menithwoods to the potential problem areas... first a field full of beer ingredients and then wheat fields along the Teme.

Hops

Harvest time is to my advantage

Glimpse of the Teme only happens from Stanford Bridge

The only geocache of the day is found on the bridge - always nice to record a walk with a smiley - and all that remains is the pub.

The Bridge Hotel, Stanford Bridge

How can you tell when you are in a Country Pub?  A fair indication is when the local at the bar is trying to get the ladies to feel his cucumber.  The offer is extended to a rambling stranger but one look at his stubby, nobbly effort makes me pleased the supermarkets complete vegetable beauty quality control.

Beer wise, with have a Ludlow Brewery Blonde and a Wye Valley HPA availble.  Big fan of Ludlow Brewery but I play it safe with a top quality HPA.

Jimmy Quadrophenia is in the Snug

14/08/18 - The Cat at Enville - 2018 Dudley Pub of the Year

Distance - 4 Miles
Geocaches - 3
Walk Inspiration - Best Pub Walks in South Staffs - Walk 9


This is a perfect little combination - a superb countryside walk that requires a bit more effort than it's four miles would suggest, finishing at Dudley and South Staffordshire CAMRA pub of the year.

The Walk

Parking available from the memorial or pub car park.   Head south on the Staffordshire way into the grounds of Enville Hall - a private residence that can trace its history for 700 years through the Earls of Stamford who still own it today.  Easy walking as we pass cricket pitches, horse pastures and the hall itself.

The Driveway at the Start of the Walk

Enville Hall

The walking highlight is undoubtedly the Sheep Walks.  Just past Temple Pool, where a minor road is met, turn right onto some undulating countryside that rewards the pull up with superb views over the Midlands.   Waymarking is provided by frequent fingerposts providing directions.

Easy Navigation over the Sheep Walks

The reward for the climb

Heading north now, drop off the hillside and reach Morfe Road at Cox Green.  Lane walking for a mile until the Staffordshire way is picked back up on the right and head to the Church and importantly, the pub.

St Mary's Church - Modeled on Gloucester Cathedral

The Pub

Surprisingly, I haven't been to this prize winning pub before.   It's a gem.

To start with, its what you'd call a proper pub.  The history of the building can be traced to the C16th and life as a pub goes back to 1718.

The first challenge is finding the way in.  The walk goes past the front of the pub where there is a door but not one that opens.  Entrance is through the gate to the side, providing an indication of how the pub is made of multiple buildings.

7 Real Ales, New Chef Required and slow down

These buildings provide plenty of opportunity for exploration.   Entrance leads straight to a central bar and through doorframes designed when people were much shorter, access is provided to dining rooms, a second bar and even a third.   The handful of locals in appear to like standing at anyone of the bar areas and involving the bar staff in conversations ranging from lowest calorie booze and what all the police were doing in Kinver on Saturday night.   Internet research suggested Gin but drew a blank on Kinver crime.

Myriad Rooms and proper pub furniture

Finally, why the CAMRA reward?  Eagle eyed viewers from the first pub picture will notice that 7 real ales are on offer.   We'll work on the presumption that they have the volume of drinkers to make this work.  All are handily displayed on entry.  If you want to do what Mrs M does when we go for a meal, you can download the latest offerings from their website and kill any surprise stone dead.

Today's Menu - Mainly Golds and Pales

I ordered the Enville Ale.  Not because it was the first thing on the menu but because I know there are close ties with this brewery, hosted a couple of miles away.

When in Enville

Inspired choice - the pint matched the walk.  Superb.

11/08/18 - Diverse Good Beer Guide Ticks in Waterloo

With no pubs available on Stage 7 of the London Countryway, I arrive at Waterloo Station, dryer than Gandhi's flip flop.

Everyone's looking for something

This little two location jaunt demonstrates the two extremes of the psycho-geography of Good Beer Guide Ticking.   The bible is used to randomly select places that are the polar opposite of each other.  One could argue that its not totally random, as they should be linked by a good pint, but this is not always the case.

Let's start with the traditional.

The Kings Arms, Roupell Street, XT3

Roupell Street has to be one of my favourite addresses in London.   It's like a terrace of miners cottages, surrounded by high rises and railway infrastructure and only moments from the madness of the above photograph.

And who says its impossible to park in London?   There has to be 5 Citroen cars of various vintage.  It's either a pre-requisite of living on this road or one person has managed to secure multiple parking permits.   I'm almost brave enough to enquire at the pub but ordering a drink proves tricky enough.

If you want to live in Roupell Street, it helps if you like Citroens.

The Kings arms is a beauty.   All wood paneling around a central bar, classic pub furniture and how can anyone resist the urge to not enter a door marked "Saloon"?

Classic London Pub Architecure

Today, we'll go through the Saloon Door

There are four beers on each side of the central bar and asking what's on offer prompts the bar staff to hover somewhere between the two serving areas and quietly, but very quickly, reel off the 8 available beers.   Luckily for me, the final choice is one that I am familiar with.  To avoid going through the whole list again, I plump for an XT 3, safe in the knowledge that the lower the number, the paler the beer.

A cursory inspection of the tiny facilities (impossible not to make friends) and a look at the delightful Thai restaurant in a separate conservatory, before heading somewhere more modern.

The Waterloo Tap, A railway Arch, Adnams Bicyle Kick

You'd be amazed at how many railway arches there are around Waterloo.   Not one of them a lock up garage, mind.   Eventually, I find what I am looking for.

Look at the fear in the child's eyes.

This is a sister pub to the Euston Tap, one of the few pubs I've walked out on without making a purchase.   Before HS2, I'd prefer to have my eyes stung from the toilet fumes of the Bree Louise.

The reason for my refusal?  General beer confusion, similar to this...

Pick the bones out of that

I mean come on....  I'm an experienced pub goer and had to resort to standing for 5 minutes, open mouthed with a bewildered look on my face.   No assistance from the bar staff, he was too excited about Chelsea beating Huddersfield.

Eventually I spot Adnams as a brand recognised and order a Bicycle Kick for a fiver.  It described as a Pale Ale but is delivered very cold.   From the amount of fizz, I am filing it under lager.

So there you have it - two very different environments from different ages.  Two decent pints. 

The Guide worked today.