Somerset pubs on the edge

7/7/18 Another long bus trip to Milborne Port on another sunny Saturday. We timed our arrival to get to the pub while it was open. The Tippling Philosopher had a few regulars in early. We had pleasant pints of their own Best (4%) and Bath's Barnsey (4.5%) for £6.90 and a free game of pool. Then we started walking. Henstridge is not far away, but the shortest routes go through Dorset. We walked along some country lanes before taking footpaths through Inwood House estate. Then we crossed the A30, through some fields towards the church. The Bird in Hand was starting to fill up for the football. We had pleasant pints of London Pride (4.2%) and Sharp's Coast (3.6%) for £6.90 but left before it became even busier. The Virginia Ash was a bit quieter. It is on the A30 and is setup for the passing motorists and their meals. We had more pleasant pints of Wriggle's Golden Bear (4%) and Pedigree (4.5%) for £7.20. There were some locals in for the football and we left j...

30/6/18 Early start to get to Marston Magna by bus on another sunny day. We were heading south west along the border but rather than walking along the road, we travelled via Rimpton. From there we headed towards The White Post . This pub has the border running through it, so it is possible we strayed into Dorset. We sat on the veranda overlooking the countryside with our pints of Butcombe (4%) and Hop Eye (4.8%) for £7.60. They did taste like the first pints drawn that day though. The border still needed to be avoided and so we went back through Rimpton and on over a large hill. Parts of the footpath didn't appear to have been used for some time, but a farmer assured us we were heading in the right direction to Corton Denham. The Queens Arms is in the middle of this peaceful village and did appear to be a place for people to drive to for lunch. We had pints of Yeovil's Hopkandi (3.8%) and Dorset's Legless Liz (3.8%) for £7.75. On leaving here, we tried to head up ...

23/6/18 The vagaries of British rail ticketing meant that our return to Yeovil Pen Mill dropped us at Yeovil Junction. The direct route to Yeovil would take us along a busy road, so we went via Jack the Treacle Eater instead. It was quite a pleasant walk along old footpaths, small open fields and woods into Yeovil Country Park. In there, we followed the old railway line towards Pen Mill. We are close to the Dorset border here. On the approach to the station is the Pen Mill Hotel . We had two pints of Tribute (4.2%) for £7.30. Just up the hill is the Royal Marine Inn . We were welcomed by some large dogs as we walked in and had bottles Newcastle Brown (4.7%) and Ringwood's Old Thumper (5.1%) for £5.75 and a game of pool. There was quite a contrast between these neighbouring pubs. The Pen Mill is a hotel/restaurant with a passing trade. The Royal Marine seemed to be a locals' pub. Both were welcoming. As was the Great Lyde . We had two pints of Palmer's I...

26/5/18 As this route is basically between Crewkerne and Yeovil Junction stations, we caught the train and walked the short distance to Misterton. We went to the White Swan to check if it was still a pub, but it didn't appear to be. So we headed north, back under the railway and into the fields. We soon came to the River Parrett. At the top of the next hill, we came across the Parrett Trail . Then it was a short stroll into North Perrott. We timed it right as it was just after 12. The Manor Arms was open, if unsurprisingly empty. Once we found the bar staff, we had nice pints of Trelawney (3.8%) and Bombardier (4.1%) for £7. Out of North Perrott, we were aiming to take a straight line across to the Monarch's Way. We started off in the right place, but two or three fields in we ran out of signs and couldn't find a way through a hedge. So we took the only path we could see and eventually came out on a road and followed the signs to Hardington. The Mandeville A...

15/7/17  Bus back to Tatworth with the aim of getting to Misterton. The Golden Fleece is the only other Somerset pub near here and that doesn't appear to be open on a Saturday lunch time. So we head towards Perry Street and onto Station Road. From there we cut through to Bugway Lane as it heads up to the Fosse Way. But we turn off before that and return to the road at Pye Lane. The Liberty Trail crosses the River Axe into Somerset near Forde Abbey and we join it at Forde Bridge. Being a named path, it seems to be easier to follow as we enter Winsham. The Bell is open, admittedly with only one person in. We have pints of Branscombe's Golden Fiddle (4%) and Summa That (5%) for £6.60. The landladies had only just moved in that week, hadn't had a food delivery yet and sounded enthusiastic. We managed to find a way back onto the Trail despite the lack of signage. There were some signs eventually, but shortly after we had a choice of staying on a track heading downhill or...

1/7/17 We managed to get the second walk of the series done eventually. Planning these, regardless of our availability, is not easy as it is not a recognised path. We'd like to walk off road as much as possible, but sometimes what is supposed to be a footpath just isn't there. This makes timing the walks to get to the pubs with reduced opening hours difficult. Anyway, enough moaning. We needed a lift to Chuchinford as public transport doesn't exist for the village. We headed south east along Moor Road towards the border and down to the River Otter before climbing up the other side. We then took our first footpath and successfully emerged the other side before crossing a busy B road and started down to the River Yarty. Our second footpath started ok, but once at a farm, the path disappeared. We looked for a route across a stream, but couldn't find the correct way. Eventually we did emerge at Whatley, but had lost 20 minutes in the process and were late into Bishopswood...

27/5/17 Just a few diners and us in the Blue Ball at Sampford Moor on a late Saturday lunchtime. Two pints of Otter Amber (4%) for £7 and a couple games of pool to start us on our way around Somerset. We will be back in (to be filled in later) years after a long walk. We started off on a farm track under the M5 before walking up the aptly named Green Lane to the edge of the Moor itself. We then skirted around its edge and onto the top road that is the border between Somerset and Devon. This road is a wide country lane frequented by vehicles doing at least 60mph, so we take a path across a couple of fields to the Wellington Monument. It is fenced off these days because it is in need of repair, and has been for some time. We descend through the woods below to Voxmoor and then follow the road to Ford Street. Shortly after here, my intention was for us to cut through Gortnell Farm towards Blackmoor. However the path was blocked and so we followed a track that initially...