17/03/18 - London Countryway Stage 3 - Borough Green to Sevenoaks

Distance - 9 Miles
Start - Borough Green
Finish - Sevenoaks
Geocaches - 12
Pubs - 2
Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2


God really didn't want me to complete Stage 3 of the London Countryway.

Two weeks ago, I set off and made it as far as Sandwell and Dudley Station, fighting valiantly against the Beast from the East.   I made it.  Virgin Trains didn't.

Hastily rebooked tickets (made with a leap of faith that I'll get a refund from Virgin's bearded one) and the Big Man in the Sky sends Son of the Beast from the East.  I make it as far as Otford to hear the words that strike the fear into any explorer.

Rail Replacement Buses.

And its not the weather this time but Murder.  Someone shoved off the platform at Maidstone, should the lady at Borough Green Station be believed.   I listen to her theories as I take advantage of her closed station to don full head to toe hard shell waterproofs.

The walk is what I have come to expect from the Kentish part of the London Countryway - Orchards, beautiful farms and elevated paths on the Greensand Way.

Kentish Orchards

Kentish Farmhouses

A Geocache Trail is picked up at Ightham Mote, a splendid moated, Medieval manor house.  Not that easy to find tupperware buried in the snow but I make a reasonable job of it and admire some unique hides.

Medieval.  Moated.  Manor House.

The final part of the walk is through Knole Park, a stately home with a huge deer park surrounding it.  The deer must be inside in the warm - which is something I am looking forward to, having not passed a pub since Basted, right at the start of the walk.

Knole Park - not a Deer in Sight

Knole Manor House

If you're coming into Sevenoaks - this is the approach to take.  Knole Park itself is quite an amazing piece of Greenery in the built up South East but you get the added advantage of seeing more of Old Sevenoaks than if you had just walked up from the Station.  I was significantly more impressed with the town than my last visit after completing the Darenth Way last Summer.

Then, I was looking for the single Good Beer Guide entry of the Anchor for post walk refreshment.  Today, I vow to see what else the town has to offer and have a couple of ideas from Google Maps.

First up - a C16th Coaching House, hidden behind an impromptu market, staffed by brave traders in the increasingly cold temperatures.  They get in the way of my external photo.

Make do with the trophies

The roaring open fire is guarded by pensioners who won't budge up for a man who has actual ice formed on his jacket.   Still, I get prize spot on the high bar stools to enjoy a world class Harvey's Sussex Best.

I will be surprised if this place is not challenging the Anchor for a place in the bible next year.  There were other local brews on (and obligatory Tribute) and from my vantage point, they all looked wonderful as other punters ordered them.

I'm voting for the Chequers to be in Good Beer Guide 2019

Next up, I think I will try the Black Boy - hidden down a tiny alley between the main roads.   It certainly looks the part from the outside.

The Black Boy, Sevenoaks

It's all a bit bright and gastro inside but in the interests of exploration, I make my way to the bar.  Where I stand for 10 minutes holding my £20 aloft, in the forlorn hope that they may wish to exchange it for their Shepherd's Neame Wares. 

No acknowledgement from the bar staff, who are dealing with ice cream orders (have Kentish people not seen the weather).  Knowing I can get a crate of Spitfire from Lidl for my twenty quid, I leave in a hump and head back to the Anchor.

Where the barman instantly introduces himself, shakes my hand and asks me where I've walked from.   A taster of English Garden by Frankins Brewery is provided, in case for any reason I wouldn't like it.

Of course I do.  And you Barry.  Restoring my faith in good landlord-ery, as you have.

Identical Shot of Barry's Gaff to last Summers Walk

A pleasant place to spend an hour, before heading to the Station to see if the trains are still running.

11/03/18 - CAMRA Pub Ticking in Manchester's Northern Quarter

We spent 45 Minutes waiting for a bus that never turned up.   Not an ordinary bus, but a Manchester Music bus tour.   Still need to get to the bottom of what happened here, but we did make friends from Australia.

Never mind, with my hobbies, alternative entertainment can always be found.  We'll add to the two Manchester pub ticks we collected back on October last year.

Port Street Beerhouse, Port Street, Hawkshead Brewery Bitter

Mrs M is still coming to terms with musical let down.  She had prepared a playlist and everything for the journey up.   Her mood was not improved by having to wait for the door bolt to scrape, as we were there 15 minutes early for a midday opening.

Mrs M composing a strongly worded email to her MP

You can tell instantly what sort of a Hipster paradise this will be just from the outside.   Inside, its a nice cafe bar but only if you like Jazz.

Never sure what to have when first into a pub.   I think bottle but the menu quickly suggests, think something else.

Manchester has beer the strength of wine for £25 a bottle

The barman senses my apprehension and asks what I am after.  All I do is manage to insult him by saying I'm unsure of having the very 1st cask pint of the day.   He assures me he has spent 20 minutes pulling them all through.

And its a Thumbs Up from Mappiman

Pie and Ale, Northern Quarter Arcdade, Nothing

Not open on a Sunday, but I'm giving it a tick as we walked there and saw the sights.

Northern Quarter Sights

Think it does what it says on the Tin

The Castle Hotel, 66 Oldham Street, Cumbria Way

Oh yes, the day has peaked at pub 2.   What a delight.  200 years of Grade II listed beauty worn well.

Our sort of place

Beautiful

Mrs M cheers up when there is a jukebox.  We get into a battle of the tunes with oldies celebrating Mothers day and their 65th Wedding Anniversary.   We win, we selected "The Queen is Dead" to their Nina Simone.

Cracking pub, worthy of exploration.  Haunted hotel corridor leads to a back room stage where they have spoken word recitals and music.

Could have spent the day

Smithfield Market Tavern, Swan Street, Hawkshead Windermere Pale

The rest of the Team turn up, which means my rounds have doubled.   We head to another traditional boozer, done out nicely and they are very serious about their beer and meat based snacks.   Sausage Rolls come with tiny onions and gherkins.

Team Mappiman

I'll forever remember this as the place where my son shunned reassuringly expensive continental lager and took his first real ale.

Rating?  Floral.

The Marble Arch Inn, 73 Rochdale Road, Marble Arch Bitter

Next visit needs no introduction to real ale fans, although you do need to convince two Millennials that a 10 minute walk does not require an Uber.

Remainder of Team Mappiman attempting to recreate the artwork from the Queen is Dead

Gorgeous beers, gorgeous surrounding, every table is reserved for what must be gorgeous Sunday lunches.  But with the party arrival times indicated, its easy to squat for a while.

Who wouldn't love this as their local?

The City Arms, 46 Kennedy Street, Moorhouse Brewery Pride of Pendle

With some good ticking work completed in the Northern Quarter, we relent and allow an Uber to whisk us away to the City Centre.

A touch of culture with a visit to the John Rylands Library.  It was almost as ornate as the Marble Arch.

Three nearby pubs line up next to each other - A Wetherspoons, the handsome Vine and the one that needs a tick as its in the Bible.

Three is the magic number

It's a perfect City Centre pub, traditional to the point of having a dart board.  Great attention to drink options and the Millennials spot the Gin Blackboard.

Thank God for contactless.

10/03/18 - A to Zee from Hoarwithy

Distance - 5.5 miles
Geocaches - 26
First Cache

The appeal from the New Harp Inn at Hoarwithy was heard all the way from Worcestershire. We couldn't let down a pub that was in need of volunteers.

We're here to help

First we have to find the Geocaches.   A new trail of 26 caches has been laid by GrumpyAlan - providing an A-Z list of all the things that annoy him about Geocaching.  All light hearted fun, as nothing can be annoying when you are out and about in the gorgeous Wye Valley Countryside.

One of the 26 - Al doesn't like Dung

Lovely to find new caches in immaculate condition.  We did OK, getting 25 out of the 26 and a bonus "Fine Pair".   Thanks for the caches, Al.

The walk is a beauty - we've not been to Hoarwithy before.   The Italian style church looks slightly out of place, dominating the village from on high.

Hoarwithy Church

The route takes us over the River Wye to Kings Caple, over a very wobbly pedestrian suspension bridge and back along the river to the town.   We learnt how frogs make love (very still, Mrs M poked them with stick to make sure they weren't dead) and at one point, I had to piggy back her over the waterlogged fields by the river.  The Beast from the East has gone but the snow melt makes for soggy walking.

Kings Caple Church

The frankly terrifying suspension bridge.  The planks looked every bit from 1895

Isolated Sellack Church

Heavens opened at about Cache P and Mrs M strode on ahead to get back to the refuge of the pub, leaving me with the hunting.

The New Harp is a fine village pub, seemingly doubling up as the Village Store.   Huge wood burner to dry ourselves off, a decent pint of Wye Valley Bitter and some superb home cooked food.  You know you are in good hands when the Pie of the Day is rabbit.

Mrs M - 1st back to the New Harp Pub

A Fine Reward

06/03/18 - The Good Beer Guide Pubs of West Bromwich

Distance - 5.5 Miles
Pubs - 5
Geocaches - 2


I'm not sure what is the biggest surprise.  West Bromwich having a grand total of 5 entries in the Good Beer Guide or actually how big West Bromwich is.

From A to E on Shanks, Tram and Bus

Still, I am armed with youthful vigour, google maps and a plus bus ticket that gives me as many goes on the tram as I want.

As a Baggies fan, pub number 1 needs no introduction.

The Vine, 152 Roebuck Street, Bath Ales Prophecy

The Vine - Traditional, yet tarids-like

However, the same problems getting in remain.  On match days, it impossible to get in the door (regardless of how cavernous it is).  Midweek, you need to check your opening times.

Should have checked before leaving

Nothing says Alcoholic Tramp more than a man standing outside a back street boozer, desperate for the slide of the bolt.   The upside is I have the place to myself when it does open.  I can explore the extension on extension, moving from back street boozer, to almost outdoor conservatory to bolt on BBQ Grill restaurant before settling with a very decent Bath Ales pint in the front room snug. 

Bath Ales Prophecy

There's nothing to do but wait for my lamb jalfrezi to be delivered (need travelling strength) and admire how good the locals are at parking.

Parking not seen this side of Rome

The Old Hop Pole, 474 High Street, Wye Valley HPA

The tram whisks me off to where, as a Baggies Fan, I really should have been having my pre-match pint.   I admit, I checked Google Street View before leaving and had slight reservations but one thing ticking from the bible has taught me is never judge a book by its cover.

Why I convinced Mrs M tonight's adventure was not for her

It's simply perfect inside - and not just the colour scheme.  Central bar with multiple small rooms, with one having a traditional coal fired hearth, where I am told you can roast your chestnuts at xmas.

Perfect Furnishings

Cracking Pint

I do have a complaint.   I start in the bar, where the TV is blaring Bradley Walsh on the Chase.  I come out the house to the pub to avoid Bradley Walsh on the Chase.   I manoeuvre myself to the side room around the back.   Another TV.  Same Bradley Walsh.

A theme develops in West Bromwich.  Boozers cannot sit in quiet contemplation.

The Crown and Cushion, 2 Lloyd Street, Castle Rock Harvest Pale

No easy public transport, so set off for a 1.3 mile walk that takes in light industrial units, a pub that even I wouldn't be brave enough to set foot in (I would tell you its name but the only letters that remain are "TH_  _LD _______") and a huge Tescos.

I arrive at the C&C and feel there must be a mistake.   A mock tudor estate pub that must have "Sizzling" adorned somewhere on the signage.

Best Photo I have... doesn't show the mock tudor beams

It's brightly lit, revealing my foolish attempts to get in the wrong door to all inside.  But who is inside?  Some ladies discussing the best deal on Jaegar Bombs in the West Midlands, a primary school girl sat at the bar with her tablet and a few solo men staring into pints.  Commercial radio is blaring.

I admit to thinking I have misplanned but all is revealed when I take my sip of my £2.90 Castle Rock Harvest Pale.   Nearly pint of the night.

Tonight is an education, if nothing else.

Google maps tells me the 40 bus is 1 minute early, so I am in and out in rather a rapid fashion.

The Royal Oak, 14 Newtown Street, Timothy Taylor Landlord

Oh, how I love Google Maps.   Plot in public transport and it keeps you informed of how many stops before you need to alight.   No longer the fear of getting off a stop too early and having to walk alongside a bus stuck in traffic to the next stop, while the driver and all his passengers gently flick you the V's.

Down a side street and the Royal Oak reveals itself in its perfect pubby form.

The Good Beer Guide, cooking on Gas

Two room, with more baggies memorabilia - the lounge has more punters than the empty bar.  A perfect pint of Timothy Taylor Landlord sets off the experience nicely.

The TV is quiet.   The commercial radio is not.

Cracking Pub and Pint

Sow and Pigs, 26 Hill Top, Backyard Brewery Bitter

The last tick is the most earned.  No easy public transport.  Google suggests calling an Uber.   Mrs M is berating me for catching buses, so I set off for a 1.6 mile walk along Church Lane.

The Sow and Pigs proudly shows its refurb both inside and out, having been taken over by two crafty brewers who I presume have beards.   It's traditional pub that has had full hipster make over.

Non Beards Welcome

Interior Niceness

Its all red velour, bowler hat light fittings and stencils everywhere.  The beer (as has been the theme for tonight) was absolutely perfect but something is wrong.  The locals are not buying into this immaculate boozer at all.  Yes, it's a Tuesday but for 30 minutes from 8:45pm I am the only punter in the place.

And the reason for the lack of patronage is revealed when I make use of the facilities before heading for Black Lake Tram.

The horror of barrel urinals