Pub Walk (44) Saturday 1^st June 2013, from the Fox Inn, Leafield (Oxon)

North Cotswold Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale

The 44th Pub Walk in our series took place on 1st June when nine walkers turned up as planned for an extra walk organised and led by Froggie and wife Blue from N Oxfordshire Branch who live in Leafield. This walk was well supported and included regulars from Mickleton and new walkers Dave and Sue Field work colleagues from Carterton. This was the first walk at the Fox Inn (Photo 1) the tap for Halfpenny Brewery from Letchlade and the Old Forge Brewery from Coleshill. With potentially nine different ales to select from.

The weather was sunny throughout the walk as we set off after ordering our lunch, along the road west towards Finstock past the green then shortly South onto a footpath on our right. Local knowledge useful here with Froggie striding ahead on little used footpaths through flowering fields (Photo 2) and past an inquisitive horse (Photo 3) which we passed twice. Back on track we emerged on the lane to Witney which we crossed to another footpath ahead that ended in a junction of paths and a dead end lane (Photo 4) where we turned South along a well marked sheltered bridleway.

A kilometre later we ended up back on the lane to Witney for 200 metres then turned left heading East on the Akeman Street Roman Road for another kilometre until reaching the B4022 where we turned left and then left again after a house this time heading roughly NW. Easy walking here pausing to view the wonderful blue bells in a wood to our left (Photo 5). Back at the dead end lane we paused at a well known garden authors house (Photo 6) before we headed North up the lane to the main road. Turned left we past Froggie’s house (Photo 7) but no beer here. We continued to the green where they were cutting the grass for our return (Photo 8) with the pub in the background in a truly delightful setting.

We enjoyed an excellent value lunch served in the garden adjacent to the Old Forge Dray cart (Photo 9) after another great walk and expressed our thanks to Froggie and Blue. Apologies from the Landlord Craig who was let down and only able to offer a tired pint of Halfpenny Anniversary for the thirsty walkers due to the brewery failing to replenish his stocks after a busy Friday night. His Four Seasons had not dropped. We therefore moved on to the Tite Inn Chadlington for the second ale enjoying superb Donnington SBA on Anne Griffin’s brand new patio (Photo 10)

Next Walk is at 1030 hrs on Saturday 5th Oct 2013 at the Horse and Groom at Upper Oddington, our 2013 POTY, where we will also have wine tasting after lunch.

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 10 ^