Pub Walk (34) Saturday 31^st March 2012, from the Colesbourne Inn

North Cotswold Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale

The 34th Pub walk in our series took place on 31st March when some of our regular walkers turned up at the Colesbourne Inn in the beautiful Churn Valley (Photo 1) This joint event with Cheltenham sub branch was arranged to experience a walk outside the North Cotswold Branch area in tremendous walking country around a pub which has won awards in the Wadworth stable but has received little CAMRA recognition.

We set of in dry sunny conditions after ordering our pub lunches from the extensive menu and blackboard selection. Heading North from the pub car park along a lane we soon encountered a delightful valley with the river Churn running through with expectant sheep alongside in a sheltered copse. (Photo 2 and Photo 3)

Past a house we carried on a track uphill bearing right to enter a field where we turned left skirting a wood on our left. The path is well marked veering left into the wood and heading now in a NW direction through the Forty Acre Plantation. We emerged at an impressive gateway at the road crossing onto a track straight ahead. This is a popular parking place and an alternative starting point.

We continued NW along side Balburrow Wood to our right and extensive open views over the Churn Valley to our left. We turned right at a junction of paths heading uphill now to Pinswell where we turned left and back past a secluded house. No deer spotted today but previously we spotted at least twenty in the woods during the recce.

Heading back alongside Pinswell Wood and abundant daffodils (Photo 4) we encountered the first blue bells of spring in a sheltered part of the wood.(Photo 5)

Soon we were back on the earlier track and back to the road crossing with the gateway and stone pillars. Our plan was to turn right down the road and walk back along the main road to the pub however the local hunt emerged so we retraced our original route through forty acre plantation to witness the chase. (Photo 6), Exiting the wood we could see the foxhounds picking up the scent in the next field (Photo 7) and we stepped aside to let the hunt follow them (Photo 8)

Back over the River (Photo 9) we were soon at the pub where we enjoyed our lunch and a great range of Wadworth ales served by Landlord Trevor, namely Boundary, 6X, Horizon and Swordfish. (Photo 10)

A great walk with the hunt joining in on our route to conclude the walking season as we move on to our three beer festivals.

We now intend to walk around the Tite Inn Chadlington on 30^th June This was planned for 14th April but has been deferred due to the building works delaying the reopening. Watch the website for any revision to this new date.

Report by Roger Price

Tel 01451 810305

Mob 07850 429630

Pictures taken on the walk:


^ Photo 1 ^	^ Photo 2 ^

^ Photo 3 ^	^ Photo 4 ^

^ Photo 5 ^	^ Photo 6 ^

^ Photo 7 ^	^ Photo 8 ^

^ Photo 9 ^	^ Photo 9 ^