Seaton to Sidmouth

26/5/12 A bus straight to our starting point won't happen very often. I doubt there will be a closer pub to the arrival point either.

The Vault Bar has one door on the front and one next to the bus stop. Two pints of Potholer (4.3%), the Spitfire was off, for £5.60 and game of pool were our pleasant starters for the day.

A few years ago, we had walked to Beer along the rocks. Being more sensible now, we stuck to path and soon descended for our second of the day.

The Anchor Inn nestles just above the beach. It was busy and the landlord hadn't enough time to change a barrel of his own beer. So we had two pints of Otter Bitter (3.6%) for £6.60.

Then it was onwards and upwards towards Branscombe. This section of the path hadn't been particularly mentioned as picturesque, but I was impressed.

The geological changes were obvious and made for an interesting backdrop. The undercliff section was more spectacular than the previous, more renown section.

We were hungry as we approached Branscombe. The cafe offered a relatively small pasty to take away for £3.95. I managed to resist that, but Sid couldn't. Then it was up and down a few times, including a small stretch actually on a beach. The last climb was particularly steep steps, but from there it was a gentle descent  to the footbridge over the Sid and along the front.

Dukes is set back from the front, but has a beer garden that opens onto it. We sat inside and had a Bays Springtime (4.5%) and Doom Bar (4%) for £6.70. Seemed more like a bar than a pub.

The Marine is a sports pub. There were various sports on different screens making it difficult to stand anywhere without blocking someone's view, so we played pool. We had a Break Water (4.6%) and Branoc (3.8%) for £6.60. The photo was taken as an after-thought as we hurried for the bus to Honiton after a hot day's walking.

Lyme Regis to Seaton

19/5/12 We started the day at the White Hart in Colyford waiting for the X53 connection to Lyme. The Wheelwright were cleaning their pipes. Once in Lyme we grabbed a sandwich and started along the modernised Marine Parade towards the Cobb. First pub was the Royal Standard.

Two more pints of Palmers Copper and Best for £6.70. It was a sunny day, so people were outside and the staff seemed happy. We had a game of pool. Just a few yard away is the Harbour Inn.

It's not as bad as it looks. For some reason, the Path goes along a back street here rather than the front. A pint of Tribute (4.2%) and Otter Ale (4.5%) for £6.60. Stay indoors and you're allowed proper glasses. Just a few more yards and we're at the Cobb Arms.

Again, there were more people out than in. Another game of pool to go with our Copper and Best again for £6.70, but it did feel a bit more like a pub.

Then the walking bit. We had been waiting for some reasonable weather as this 'undercliff' stretch is supposed to be a bit muddy, slippy etc. We found it ok. There were signs warning of the nature of the walk and a duration of three to four hours. There are occasional glimpses of both the sea and the cliff, but most of the route is through trees.

We emerged at the other end some two and a half hours later despite stopping four times for Sid to do some watering. Descending through an empty golf course, we crossed the river Axe and then along the front at Seaton.

Just time for one in the Hook and Parrot before the last bus home. A Green King IPA (3.6%) and Doom Bar for £5.60. It seemed a bit quiet, but I guess it was Saturday tea time.

Seatown to Lyme Regis

21/04/12 A wet April. I checked the forecast just in case and it looked like we might get away with. A late call to Sid and we went for it. We parked in Chideock again and could here the thunder moving away in the distance as we walked along the lane towards Seatown and then up the signposted diversion towards Golden Cap.

Portland Bill had been in our sights for a long time and Golden Cap had been the next target. This looking back towards Chesil Beach

and this looking forward to Charmouth, Lyme Regis and Devon.

Approaching Charmouth, there were notices about another diversion. We came across the landslip, but carried on as the alternative was not obvious. We knew that there was a major diversion inland between Charmouth and Lyme Regis, but had hoped the beach might have been an alternative. It didn't look like it, so inland we went passing the A35 roundabout at the entrance to Charmouth for the second out of four times that day. No pub on the path yet. We passed through the golf course and then descended into Lyme Regis.

As we approached the sea front we found our first ale houses of the day.

The Pilot Boat was more of an eating place. Palmers Copper Ale (3.7%) and 200 (5%) for £6.75. Sid has had enough Palmers now. The Rock Point Inn had a few more drinkers in it. The only Real option was two pints of Sharps Spring Cask Pilsner (4.2%) for £6.30, which were quite refreshing.

Then it was time for the X53 back to Chideock and the short journey home.

Abbotsbury to Seatown

06/04/12 Parked in Chideock and X53 to Abbotsbury. Plenty of footpaths around the village and we guessed correctly which one was the Coast Path. The path follows a track behind the beach for some way. As it is beside the reed beds, it is flat and quick time was made past Bexington and Burton Bradstock. At the mouth of the River Bride we were directed upstream to the holiday park, but we could see a footpath sign on the opposite side. So we crossed nearer the beach and were then faced with this dilemma,

do we stay on the beach to West Bay or climb the official footpath route? The sand was ok to start with, but did soften as we approached the resort.

The West Bay had Palmers Copper Ale (3.7%) and IPA (4.2%) for £6.35. Nice enough place, but the restaurant was a bit pricey for us. Then another dilemma. The Bridport Arms and particularly the George are close to path, but not on it. So it was on past the food shacks around the harbour. We resisted the temptations of tracks that avoided the ups and downs and were soon in sight of the Anchor in Seatown.

With Golden Cap behind it, the pub looked tempting. But it is not quite on the path as it diverts inland. We went in anyway and sat in the garden with the same beer again, for 15p more, before returning to Chideock.

Ferrybridge to Swannery

31/03/12 A new year and time to resume the pubcrawl with a leg with no pubs. Actually we had bypassed this place in Weymouth because we had already had enough when we reached it.

The Old Rooms Inn is next to the New Rooms Inn. But that is now a coffee house. We had a Tom Brown (4%) and Reverend James (4.5%) for £5.70, probably. Sid wasn't sure and the bar staff didn't seem to be either. Beer was nice. Part of the Orchid pub chain.

We then parked in Wyke Regis before returning to the Ferrybridge and resuming the walk. This leg follows the Fleet Lagoon most of the way. The novelty of walking on the hard, dry path between holiday parks and looking across the water at the large bank of pebbles that is Chesil Beach wore off quite quickly. The signs giving the distance to Abbotsbury seemed to fluctuate in their accuracy. The path eventually headed inland before a descent towards Abbotsbury.

We left the path just past the swannery and went to the Ilchester Arms for a couple of expensive pints. Then it was the X53 back towards Wyke Regis and the Albert Inn.

Portland

8/11/11. This was supposed to be another Berrys trip, but they cancelled the day before. So I drove to near the Ferrybridge. That pub was closed, it was 10:40, so we strolled along the causeway towards Portland. We had been able to see this large rock for most of our walk and we were now starting to look up at it. Arriving into the town of Portland, past the buildings for the Olympics, Chesil Beach was also getting larger.

It was only 11:10 on a wet November Tuesday morning, but the Little Ship was open. Two pints of Doom Bar for £5.80. The locals thought that we had come to burgle their houses, but they were chatty nevertheless. Then it was on to the Cove House Inn.

A slightly more upmarket pub right on the beach. A Ringwood Best (3.8%) and Broadside (4.7%) for £6.40. Two pints before midday wasn't a bad start. As we left to start the climb upwards, so the weather closed in. By the time we were on top, it was wet and windy. We decide to go around clockwise. The old quarries and military buildings made it feel quite desolate and bleak. The path stays on top most of the way until we reached Church Ope Cove.

They do like their sheds on Portland. It was then on to Portland Bill.

The sign encouragingly tells us that we had only done 49 miles with 581 to go. So we carry on back up the west side.

The rain had stopped now, but the path down into Portland town was still a little tricky. This place was closed on the way in, but that was three and a half hours earlier and we were thirsty again.

The sign says Royal Victoria Lounge, but it might be called the Masons and Mariners. No real ale, so we had to settle for a John Smiths and Guinness for £6.20. The current landlord and a previous bankrupt one had an acrimonious discussion while we were there. Then it was back across the causeway to the Ferrybridge Inn for two pints of Bombardier (4.1%) at £6.20.

Weymouth

20/10/11. Berrys to Weymouth for the day was the plan. We arrived on time only to be told that the driver wanted to leave early again. We continued along from where the path leaves the roadside and followed the beach towards the Esplanade. As the title of the blog shows, we only feel the need to visit pubs and not every bar. But differentiating between the two would be today's challenge. Moby Dicks claimed to be a pub, so in we went.

Once down inside it, it felt like a pub too. Cornish Coaster (3.6%) and Doom Bar (4%)  for £5.95 was a pleasant morning start. On we went, past some bars, until we came to the Dorothy Inn. Sounds like a pub, so in we go.

It was more like a bar on the inside, bleak with some real ale things on the wall, but no real ale. Taunton and Addlestones Cloudy cider for £6.40 was quickly quaffed as we moved on. We went past some more bars before coming to the ferry crossing. I thought that the official path might take us across there, but instead signs directed us down Custom House Quay. The George Inn was next.

A nice pub busy with locals and tourists. We had Copper Ale (3.6%) and Doom Bar for £5.50 and should have had something to eat, but we pressed on. The Ship Inn was not very far away.

A Hall and Woodhouse place, but the beer was alright. Fursty Ferret (4.4%) and Badger (4%) for £6.40. Next door, underneath some scaffolding, was the Royal Oak.

It wasn't welcoming on the inside either. I had to convince the barmaid that my pint was no good and so we both ended up having Ammonites (4.2%) for £6.20. Then it was on across the bridge to the Kings Arms.

The barmaid seemed a little disinterested here too. A Flying Scotsman (4%) and Directors (4.8%) for £6.10 ensued. Six pints/pubs in a little over two hours on an empty stomach was taking its toll by now. I needed some fresh air and so we pushed on towards Nothe and Portland Harbour. We went a little astray when we ignored a sign saying that the path was closed some 400m ahead and we ended up scrambling onto the beach before rejoining the path. On arrival at the Ferrybidge, we decided to get the bus back to our coach home. After all we had to get back for skittles that night.