Peregrinating the North West and Beyond

Tag: Pub walk

  • A stroll by the Thames and lunch in Oxfordshire with an extra pub

    The White Hart at Fyfield is a 15th century pub and restaurant.
    The food is exceptional. Enjoy a lunch and burn some calories afterward by going for a stroll along the river Thames to Appleton. Another pub in Appleton offers real ales and classic pub food.

    This is a gentle stroll of under 7 miles along the river Thames in picturesque Oxfordshire. With a Gastro pub at the end or start of the walk and a country pub in the middle (or the reverse way if you start the walk from a different village)
    Click on the picture to see the full slideshow and route video

    Stats
    DifficultyEasy
    Length6.72 mi – 10.8 km
    Total elevation200 ft – 61m
    Highest point294 ft – 90m
    Walking time2h50
    TerrainPaths, roads and footpaths
    EquipmentSufficient water to keep You going for 7 miles / nearly 3 hours
    View route (Click on menu to reveal the image)
    This is a gentle stroll of under 7 miles along the river Thames in picturesque Oxfordshire. With a Gastro pub at the end or start of the walk and a country pub in the middle (or the reverse way if you start the walk from a different village)
    Send me a message by email or on Instagram to request the GPX file, AllTrails or Komoot link all files can be customized with your chosen departure points and/or to include sights along the trail.

    Getting there
    • Driving: You should be able to park near the pub
    • Public transport:
    • From London: Train from Paddington to Oxford then bus to Digging Lane (c. 1h50)
    • From Birmingham: Train from New Street to Oxford then bus to Digging Lane (c. 1h50)
    • From Reading: Train to Oxford then bus to Digging Lane (c. 1h50)
    • Contact me for other routes

    Watering Holes
    • The The White Hart – Fyfield – at the start or end of the walk
      Multi-award winning family-run gastro pub in beautiful 15th Century building.
      There is outdoors seating in the summer and open-fire in the winter.
      Food is served from 12:00-14:15 and 17:45-21:00 on Tue-Sat and 12:00-16:00 on Sun. Everything is home-made and source locally, including their own kitchen garden and local foraging. It has 2 AA rosettes. Yet the lunch menu is very reasonably priced.
    • The Plough Inn – Appleton – at 3.75 mi. (c. 1h30 into the walk)
      In a 17th Century coaching inn. With a beer garden for the summer and a roaring fire in winter.
      Serves real ale and home-cooked food. Expect pub classics.
      I have not tried the food personally but reviews are excellent.
      Definitely the place to have lunch if you fancy traditional pub food rather than gastro pub.

    Make a week-end of it

    The walk is reachable by direct local bus from Oxford. The city is not short of options for accommodation, food, drink and entertainment to make a full week-end of.

    But if you prefer to camp; the Barefoot Campsite is on the route.
    It offers grass pitches for tents, log-cabin and bell-tents for glamping, as well as pitches for camper-vans.
    But beware, this is an off-grid campsite: no wifi, no electric hook-up and no artificial light and composting toilets.
    But it has plenty to offer: spacious pitches, campfires and BBQ are permitted, canoe-rental. It also boasts 7 pubs within walking distance !

  • Great and Little Langdale – A low level Lake District walk with 4 pubs, 1 swim and a Cathedral

    About 11 miles of stunning scenery in the Lake Districts. Low-level walk from Elterwater via The New Dungeon Ghyll and Old Dungeon Ghyll, Blea Tarn, Cathedral Cave and Little Langdale. 4 pubs along the route, Blea Tarn is perfect for a swim and Cathedral Cave a unique place to explore.

    About 11 miles of stunning scenery in the Lake Districts. Low-level walk from Elterwater via The New Dungeon Ghyll and Old Dungeon Ghyll, Blea Tarn, Cathedral Cave and Little Langdale. 4 pubs along the route, Blea Tarn is perfect for a swim and Cathedral Cave a unique place to explore.
    Click on the picture to see the full slideshow and route video

    Stats
    DifficultyModerate to strenuous (Distance and total elevation)
    Length11 mi – 17.7 km
    Total elevation2,785 ft – 849m
    Highest point1,109 ft – 338m
    Walking time2h40
    TerrainPaths, roads and footpaths
    EquipmentNo technical sections on this walk but you will need closed shoes or boots to keep you comfortable for 11 miles ! If you like to swim, don’t forget your swimsuit and towel for Blea Tarn
    View route (Click on menu to reveal the image)
    About 11 miles of stunning scenery in the Lake Districts. Low-level walk from Elterwater via The New Dungeon Ghyll and Old Dungeon Ghyll, Blea Tarn, Cathedral Cave and Little Langdale. 4 pubs along the route, Blea Tarn is perfect for a swim and Cathedral Cave a unique place to explore.
    Send me a message by email, Instagram or FB to request the GPX file, AllTrails or Komoot link all files can be customized with your chosen departure points and/or to include sights along the trail.

    Getting there
    • Driving: There are 3 car parks in Elterwater but all fee-paying. But there is a free car park at Stickle Ghyll
    • Public transport:
    • From Preston: X8 bus to Ambleside Interchange then bus 516 to Dungeon Ghyll (c. 1h55)
    • Contact me for other routes

    Watering Holes
    • The Walkers Bar at the New Dungeon Ghyll – Langdale – c. 2.7 mi into the walk (c. 1h15 mins)
      Belongs to the Red Cat Pub company.
      Muddy boots and paws friendly.Has a beer garden for the summer and open fire in winter
      Excellent ales. and the food is locally sourced. Gastro-pub rather than classics.
      The kitchen is open all day Friday and Saturday from 12:00-21:00 and Sunday 12:00-20:00. Check the website of FB page for weekdays opening hours.
    • The Climber’s bar at the Old Dungeon Ghyll – Great Langdale – c. 3.4 mi into the walk (c. 1h30 mins)
      The Original Inn the Langdale Valley, has hosted an array of Everest Climbers on their training and still family owned.
      Without a doubt, my favorite in the area. Muddy boots and paws are more than welcome.
      If you are looking for luxury, do not stop. But walkers, hikers, mountaineers, fell-runners and any other hard-core outdoors enthusiasts will alway feel at home (and be welcome as much)
      Some outdoors seating in the summer and roaring open-fire in the winter.
      The food is home-cooked and very fairly priced. Soup and sandwiches for lunch (12:30-17:00) and pub classics, including excellent pies for supper (17:00-20:00 Sun to Thurs and till 20:30 Fri & Sat)
      As the owner is a keen musician; there are open session every Wednesday at 19:30
    • The Three Shires Inn – Little Langdale – c. 8.6 mi into the walk (c. 3h55 mins)
      An independent traditional Inn. Muddy boots and paws are welcome.
      Outdoor seating for the summer and roaring fireplace in the winter,
      Good selection of ales from Cumbria and food made with local produce.
      The kitchen is open 12:00-14:30 and 17:30-20:00
      Expect sandwiches and pub-classics at lunch and gastro-pub type dishes in the evening.
    • The Britannia Inn – Eltermere – At the end of the walk
      A wonderful family run traditional Inn. Welcoming muddy boots and paws.
      Cask Mark ales and delicious home-made food.
      Beer garden for the summer and roaring open fires in winter.
      Kitchen is open from 12:00-14:00, Soup and Sandwiches 14:00-16:00 and dinner 17:30-20:30

    Make a week-end of it

    The Langdales are in the very centre of the Lake Districts.
    Unlike Ambleside or Keswick, you won’t find a wide range of shops and restaurants.
    But still plenty of outdoor activities to keep you busy for a full week-end.
    Needless to say, there are numerous walks from low level to mountain hikes taking in Harrison Stickle, Pavey Ark or Crinkle Crags.
    But there also are disused quarries with caves; the most famous being Cathedral Cave. And plenty of good spots for wild swimming. Blea tarn is easily accessible and if you want to climb up; Stickle tarn is a wonderful place to take a dip.

    For the budget conscious: Eltewater Hostel in Elterwater has shared dorms and private rooms.
    It only sleeps 38 people in total. And can be booked as a group.
    Should the weather let you down; there is a drying room.
    It offers both breakfast and home-cooked evening meals as well as a self-catering kitchen.
    And being so close to town; there are a couple of pubs within walking distance.

    For comfort: The Old Dungeon Ghyll in Great Langdale
    My favorite hotel in the whole of the Lake District area. A family run business with Olde Worlde character.
    The rooms are very cosy and some have amazing views. Each room is different but not all rooms are ensuite.
    Breakfast is always included in the price. And I am told that it now has has super-fast wifi. (The last time I was there, the wifi was very spotty and the phone signal in the Valley is mostly non-existent.
    Dogs are welcome to stay for a small supplement.
    For food and drinks, check the details in the section above. Again, one of my favorite but best suited for outdoor enthusiast (with a plus if you enjoy music) than someone looking for luxury and glamour.

    For Camping: Great Langdale Campsite offers grass pitches for tents, hardstanding pitches with electric hookups for camper vans and Owned by the National Trust, it is family friendly and well equipped.

    For groups: The Great Langdale Bunkhouse – behind the New Dungeon Ghyll
    Sleeps 18 divided into 3 twin rooms and two rooms of 6 (all bunk beds). 
    Equipped with biomass central heating and hot water with powerful showers.
    Separate male and female shows and toilet facilities.
    There are no self-catering options but a tavern, the New Dungeon Ghyll and Stickle Barn on its doorstep.