BEST PUB WALKS
Not only is May National Walking month, but, as of Monday, we can venture into pubs in England once more, too. Richard Madden reveals some of the best walks that marry the two great British institutions.
h Broadway Tower, Cotswolds
4½ miles Start/finish: Crown and Trumpet Inn, Broadway Explorer map: OL45
A Cotswolds classic for a very good reason. From Broadway’s delightfully eccentric pub, head up Church Street to the war memorial and right along the High Street. Follow the Cotswold Way (CW) Acorn signs up the 700ft climb to Broadway Tower. Loop back along Coneygree Lane turning right (north) at St Eadburgha’s Church and back to the village.
Three Villages Pub Crawl, Chilterns
3½ miles Start/finish: The Frog at Skirmett (thefrogatskirmett.co.uk) Explorer map: 171
This is a starry route, with three of the loveliest villages in the Chilterns (Skirmett, Fingest and Turville), and three of the best watering holes (The Frog, The Chequers and The Bull and Butcher). Follow the Chiltern Way east opposite The Frog and loop around through Adams Wood, up over the hill and down across the valley into Fingest. Continue along the Chiltern Way through Turville before heading south, crossing Dolesden Lane into Great Wood. Follow in a loop around back to Skirmett.
Perranuthnoe to Porthleven, Cornwall
9 miles Start/finish: Victoria Inn, Perranuthnoe Explorer map: 102
This is a cliff walk to rival the best. It begins with St Michael’s Mount before continuing around Cudden Point to Prussia Cove. Around the headland at Praa Sands is one of the longest stretches of white sand on the south Cornish coast. This route is not circular, but there are frequent buses from Porthleven back to base. The 12th-century Victoria Inn has some of Cornwall’s best pub food.
j Long Man of Wilmington & Litlington White Horse, South Downs
9 miles Start/finish: Plough and Harrow, Litlington Explorer map: 123 Variety is the spice of life but also of a good walk. This one has plenty, from a charming river walk to the Long Man of Wilmington and the Litlington White Horse. Follow the river north from Litlington until you are opposite Alfriston. Then take the path onto the Downs towards the Long Man. Continue on the Wealdway towards Jevington, through Friston Forest and along Charleston Bottom. Head north to Litlington at Charleston Manor, where there are views to the White Horse.