Out & About July 2017

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...enjoys a brisk walk out for a quiet pint – or two
Jonathan Hopson
Crown & Garter, Inkpen RG17 9QR
The Crown & Garter has been an integral part
of Inkpen and the surrounding area since 1640.
Set in picturesque countryside there are a wide
range of walks available including routes taking
in West Woodhay and Combe Gibbet.
Furze Bush, Ball Hill RG20 0NQ
A great location from which to explore
North End, Heath End and the
surrounding countryside.
Red House, Highclere RG20 9PU
Located off the A343 Andover Road, the
Red House is close to Highclere Castle.
Carpenters Arms, Burghclere RG20 9JY
Located half a mile from the Newbury bypass,
The Carpenters makes an ideal location
for exploring Watership Down and the
Sandham Memorial chapel.
Rampant Cat, Woolton Hill
Located next to the village stores/post office,
the Rampant Cat features on the Walking for
Health website .
uk) as the starting point for an hour-long bi-
monthly walk through National Trust grounds.
In no particular order, here are a few of my personal favourites.
All offer a good range of real ales and great food:
With the weather warming up and
the longer daylight hours, this is
a good time to take a brief look at
two quintessential British pastimes
– walking and going to the pub.
After all, the only thing better than a walk in the
English countryside is finding a great pub at
the end of it.
It’s a sobering thought that according to the
Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA), pubs in the
UK are closing at the rate of around 20 a week,
although it’s of some comfort to note the rate
of closure has slowed from around 29 a week
back in 2015.
CAMRA has recently launched an initiative
to help protect pubs from demolition, or
conversion to other use, by mobilising its
members to nominate their local pub as an
Asset of Community Value (ACV).
Currently, pubs can be demolished or converted
to other use without planning permission,
whereas pubs with ACV status are given
planning protection under laws introduced
in April 2015.
There are to date more than 1,200 pubs with ACV
status in the UK, including nine in Berkshire.
Nominating a pub as an ACV is a simple
process. You can either nominate as an
unincorporated group of 21 local people, as a
parish council, or in connection with another
local group, including a CAMRA branch.
Village pubs are frequently local community
hubs providing a valuable meeting point and so
it is important to remember the adage ‘use it or
lose it’.
This theme is explored in more detail by Pub
is The Hub – – which
operates as a ‘not-for-profit’ organisation
dedicated to improving community services
and activities.
They offer advice and support to communities
who are looking to relocate, re-open or
introduce vital services and activities in their
local pub, as well as to communities considering
the options for acquiring their local pub and the
range of responsibilities involved.
Interestingly, a 2016 research project
commissioned by CAMRA showed that
people with a good pub close to them are
‘significantly’ happier, have more friends, better
life satisfaction and are more likely to drink in
moderation.
There is a large number of interesting country
pubs in the Newbury area with many of these
offering the opportunity of scenic local walks.