Rail ale trail
Encyclopedia
Tourism
Tourism is travel for recreational, leisure or business purposes. The World Tourism Organization defines tourists as people "traveling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business and other purposes".Tourism has become a...
to a rural area, by encouraging people to visit a series of pubs that are close to railway stations along a railway line. Participants are rewarded for visiting the pubs by train. In doing this they increase the number of passengers on the railway and bring money into the local economy. The scheme is supported by the Campaign for Real Ale
Campaign for Real Ale
The Campaign for Real Ale is an independent voluntary consumer organisation based in St Albans, England, whose main aims are promoting real ale, real cider and the traditional British pub...
. The ale
Beer
Beer is the world's most widely consumed andprobably oldest alcoholic beverage; it is the third most popular drink overall, after water and tea. It is produced by the brewing and fermentation of sugars, mainly derived from malted cereal grains, most commonly malted barley and malted wheat...
is often brewed locally and many of the pubs offer food as well.
Each trail is publicised by a free booklet that is distributed through stations and local outlets, and which is also available for downloading from the internet. Each time a pub is visited the booklet is stamped, provided a valid rail ticket is shown when a purchase is made. Once sufficient stamps have been collected, the booklet can be exchanged for merchandise specific for each trail, such as a t-shirt
T-shirt
A T-shirt is a style of shirt. A T-shirt is buttonless and collarless, with short sleeves and frequently a round neck line....
or badge.
History
The first rail ale trails were those promoted by the Devon and Cornwall Rail PartnershipDevon and Cornwall Rail Partnership
The Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership is the largest Community Rail Partnership in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1991 to promote the use of, and improvements to, rural railways in Devon and Cornwall, and also to promote the places served in order to improve the local economy.The...
in Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
and Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, England. In the 1980s the local railway management had promoted travel to pubs close to stations using the tag line "Let us drive you to the pub". Some incentives were offered to railway passengers to use certain pubs.
Trails in Devon and Cornwall
Tarka Line
The Tarka LineTarka Line
The Tarka Line is a railway line from Exeter to Barnstaple in Devon, England. The line follows the River Creedy, River Yeo and River Taw for some of its route...
Rail Ale Trail was the first to be launched in 2002. The "Beer Engine" at Newton St Cyres railway station
Newton St Cyres railway station
Newton St Cyres railway station is a railway station serving the village of Newton St Cyres, Devon, England, UK. It is served and operated by First Great Western.-Services:...
had pioneered the use of rail travel to bring drinkers to its bar. It opened in 1985 in the old railway hotel opposite the station and was soon offering a discount on production of a rail ticket.
The trail originally covered 16 pubs, and increased to a peak of 19, but one has since closed. There are five pubs in Exeter
Exeter
Exeter is a historic city in Devon, England. It lies within the ceremonial county of Devon, of which it is the county town as well as the home of Devon County Council. Currently the administrative area has the status of a non-metropolitan district, and is therefore under the administration of the...
and four in Barnstaple
Barnstaple
Barnstaple is a town and civil parish in the local government district of North Devon in the county of Devon, England, UK. It lies west southwest of Bristol, north of Plymouth and northwest of the county town of Exeter. The old spelling Barnstable is now obsolete.It is the main town of the...
, with one each at Newton St Cyres railway station
Newton St Cyres railway station
Newton St Cyres railway station is a railway station serving the village of Newton St Cyres, Devon, England, UK. It is served and operated by First Great Western.-Services:...
, Crediton railway station
Crediton railway station
Crediton railway station is a railway station serving the town of Crediton in Devon, England.It is the current junction of the Tarka and Dartmoor lines, though the two lines run parallel until Coleford Junction at Penstone near Coleford .-History:The station, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel,...
, Yeoford railway station
Yeoford railway station
Yeoford railway station is a rural station on the Tarka Line serving the village of Yeoford in Devon, England. It is served by trains between and Exeter.- History :...
, Copplestone
Copplestone
Copplestone is a village and civil parish in Mid Devon in the English county of Devon. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 894....
, Morchard Road railway station
Morchard Road railway station
Morchard Road railway station is located in the village of Down St Mary in Devon, England. It is named after the village of Morchard Bishop which lies a few miles to the north-east...
, Lapford
Lapford
Lapford is a village and civil parish in Mid Devon in the English county of Devon. It has a population of 993.-Pubs:There is one pub in the village...
, Eggesford railway station
Eggesford railway station
Eggesford railway station is a rural station on the serving the village of Eggesford and surrounding villages in Devon, England. Despite its name, the station is actually in the neighbouring civil parish of Chawleigh...
, Portsmouth Arms railway station
Portsmouth Arms railway station
Portsmouth Arms railway station is a small wayside station on the Tarka Line north of Exeter St. David's station and served by trains running between Exeter and Barnstaple...
, and Umberleigh
Umberleigh
Umberleigh is a small village in North Devon in England. It shares an ecclesiastical parish with nearby Atherington, but is part of the civil parish of Chittlehampton.-Rail transport:...
.
The collecting of 5, 10 or 18 stamps entitles the participant to claim Tarka Line Rail Trail merchandise.
Maritime Line
The Maritime LineMaritime Line
The Maritime Line is a railway line that runs in the valley of the River Fal from Truro to Falmouth on the south coast of Cornwall, United Kingdom.-History:...
Rail Ale Trail was the second to be launched, in 2003, covering 14 pubs. There are four pubs in Truro
Truro
Truro is a city and civil parish in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The city is the centre for administration, leisure and retail in Cornwall, with a population recorded in the 2001 census of 17,431. Truro urban statistical area, which includes parts of surrounding parishes, has a 2001 census...
, one in Perranwell, three in Penryn
Penryn, Cornwall
Penryn is a civil parish and town in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It is situated on the Penryn River about one mile northwest of Falmouth...
, and six in Falmouth
Falmouth, Cornwall
Falmouth is a town, civil parish and port on the River Fal on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. It has a total resident population of 21,635.Falmouth is the terminus of the A39, which begins some 200 miles away in Bath, Somerset....
– two of which are close to Penmere railway station
Penmere railway station
The Penmere railway station serves the northern part of Falmouth, Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is on the Maritime Line from to . The services are operated by First Great Western and the station is within walking distance of the top of The Moor in the centre of the town.-History:The station was...
, and four in the town centre.
Maritime Line Rail Ale Trail merchandise is awarded for 5, 10 or 14 stamps.
Looe Valley Line
The Looe Valley LineLooe Valley Line
The Looe Valley Line is an community railway from Liskeard to Looe in Cornwall, United Kingdom, that follows the valley of the East Looe River for much of its course...
Rail Ale Trail was the third pilot scheme, launched early in 2004, and covering 11 pubs between Liskeard
Liskeard railway station
Liskeard station serves the town of Liskeard in Cornwall, England. The station is west of Plymouth on the Cornish Main Line and it is the junction for the Looe Valley Line.-History:-Cornwall Railway:...
and Looe
Looe railway station
Looe railway station serves the twin towns of East and West Looe, in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The station is the terminus of the scenic Looe Valley Line south of Liskeard.- History :...
. Seven of the pubs are in Looe and two in Liskeard. The remaining pubs are "Ye Old Plough House Inn" at Duloe
Duloe, Cornwall
Duloe is a village and civil parish in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated approximately four miles south of Liskeard at .-Parish church:...
, a 30 minute walk from Causeland railway station
Causeland railway station
Causeland railway station is an intermediate station south of Liskeard on the scenic Looe Valley Line in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom.It serves the hamlet of Causeland and the surrounding area is known for the variety of its wildlife, such as the European Kingfisher and Himalayan Balsam...
, and the "Polruan Country House Hotel" near Sandplace railway station
Sandplace railway station
Sandplace railway station is an intermediate station on the scenic Looe Valley Line in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The station serves the hamlet of Sandplace and is south of Liskeard....
. The latter is one of the most difficult pub stamps to collect due to its limited opening times.
A collection of 9 or 11 stamps entitles the participant to claim Looe Valley Line Rail Trail merchandise.
Tamar Valley Line
The Tamar Valley LineTamar Valley Line
The Tamar Valley Line is a railway line from Devonport in Plymouth Devon, to Gunnislake in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The line follows the River Tamar for much of its route.-History:...
Rail Ale Trail has featured 18 pubs since its launch late in 2004. Five are in Plymouth
Plymouth
Plymouth is a city and unitary authority area on the coast of Devon, England, about south-west of London. It is built between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound...
city centre and a further three in the suburbs near Devonport
Devonport railway station
Devonport railway station serves the Devonport area of Plymouth, Devon, England. The station is west of Plymouth railway station on the Cornish Main Line. It is operated by First Great Western.-History:...
and St Budeaux Victoria Road
St Budeaux Victoria Road railway station
St Budeaux Victoria Road railway station is a suburban station in St Budeaux, Plymouth, Devon, England. It is operated by First Great Western but is unstaffed.-History:...
railway stations. There are single pubs to visit at Bere Ferrers
Bere Ferrers
Bere Ferrers, sometimes called Beerferris, is a village and civil parish on the Bere peninsula in West Devon in the English county of Devon. It has a population of 3,066, and is located to the north of Plymouth, on the west bank of the River Tavy...
and Bere Alston
Bere Alston
Bere Alston is a small village in West Devon in the county of Devon in England. It forms part of the civil parish of Bere Ferrers.-History and geography:...
, two in Calstock
Calstock
Calstock is civil parish and a large village in south east Cornwall, England, United Kingdom, on the border with Devon. The village is situated on the River Tamar south west of Tavistock and north of Plymouth....
and six in Gunnislake
Gunnislake
Gunnislake is a large village in east Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is situated in the Tamar Valley approximately ten miles north of Plymouth...
.
Tamar Valley Line Rail Ale Trail Merchandise is exchanged for 6, 10 or 18 stamps.
St Ives Bay Line
The St Ives Bay LineSt Ives Bay Line
The St Ives Bay Line is a railway line from to in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It was opened in 1877, the last new broad gauge passenger railway to be constructed in the country...
Rail Ale Trail was launched on 3 June 2005 with 14 pubs. Five are in St Ives
St Ives, Cornwall
St Ives is a seaside town, civil parish and port in Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town lies north of Penzance and west of Camborne on the coast of the Celtic Sea. In former times it was commercially dependent on fishing. The decline in fishing, however, caused a shift in commercial...
, one in Lelant
Lelant
Lelant is a village in west Cornwall, England, UK. It is on the west side of the River Hayle estuary about 2½ miles southeast of St Ives and one mile west of Hayle....
, two close to Lelant Saltings railway station
Lelant Saltings railway station
Lelant Saltings railway station was opened on 27 May 1978 to provide a park and ride facility for visitors to St Ives. It is situated on the A3074 road close to the junction with the A30 near the foot of the hill up to Lelant village.-History:...
and one near St Erth railway station
St Erth railway station
St Erth railway station is situated at Rose-an-Grouse in Cornwall, United Kingdom. It serves the nearby village of St Erth, which is about away, and is the junction for the St Ives Bay Line to St Ives.-History:...
. The five remaining pubs are in Penzance
Penzance
Penzance is a town, civil parish, and port in Cornwall, England, in the United Kingdom. It is the most westerly major town in Cornwall and is approximately 75 miles west of Plymouth and 300 miles west-southwest of London...
which is usually reached by changing trains at St Erth onto the Cornish Main Line
Cornish Main Line
The Cornish Main Line is a railway line in the United Kingdom, which forms the backbone for rail services in Cornwall, as well as providing a direct line to London.- History :...
, although there are also a very few through trains from St Ives railway station.
Participants with 6, 10 or 14 stamps can claim St Ives Bay Line Rail Ale Trail merchandise.
Atlantic Coast Line
The most recent of the Devon and Cornwall rail ale trails is the Atlantic Coast LineAtlantic Coast Line, Cornwall
The Atlantic Coast Line is a community railway line in Cornwall, United Kingdom. The line runs from the English Channel at Par, to the Atlantic Ocean at Newquay.-Route:The Atlantic Coast Line starts from Par station, in the village and port of Par...
from Par
Par railway station
Par Station is a railway station serving the village and port of Par, Cornwall, England in the United Kingdom. It is the junction for the Atlantic Coast Line to Newquay. The station is operated by First Great Western, and served by trains operated by both First Great Western and...
to Newquay
Newquay railway station
Newquay railway station is the terminus of the Atlantic Coast Line that runs from Par railway station. It is operated by First Great Western and is situated close to the town centre and beaches in Newquay, Cornwall, England, UK.-History:...
. It was launched in 2005 with 16 pubs but one has since closed. There are three in Newquay, two near St Columb Road railway station
St Columb Road railway station
St Columb Road railway station, on the Atlantic Coast Line, serves the village of St Columb Road in Cornwall, UK.-History:The first railway here was a horse-worked line from Newquay Harbour to Hendra Crazey...
, six in and around Par
Par, Cornwall
Par is a town and fishing port with a harbour on the south coast of Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The town is situated in the civil parish of Tywardreath and Par and is approximately east of St Austell. Par has a population of around 1,400.....
, and one each at Quintrell Downs
Quintrell Downs
Quintrell Downs is a village in Cornwall, UK, close to Newquay, at the junction of the A392 and A3058 roads. It is named after the surrounding area of moorland.The village is served by Quintrell Downs railway station....
, Roche
Roche, Cornwall
Roche is a civil parish and village in mid-Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The village gets its name from a granite outcrop east of the village. Roche is the Norman-French word for Rock....
, Bugle
Bugle, Cornwall
Bugle is a village in central Cornwall, United Kingdom. It is in the parish of Treverbyn and is situated about five miles north of St Austell on the A391 road....
and Luxulyan
Luxulyan
Luxulyan , also spelled Luxullian or Luxulian, is a village and civil parish in central Cornwall, United Kingdom. The village lies four miles northeast of St Austell and six miles south of Bodmin...
.
Merchandise can be claimed for 5, 10 or 15 stamps.
Abbey Line
A collection of 16 pubs in St AlbansSt Albans
St Albans is a city in southern Hertfordshire, England, around north of central London, which forms the main urban area of the City and District of St Albans. It is a historic market town, and is now a sought-after dormitory town within the London commuter belt...
, Bricket Wood
Bricket Wood
Bricket Wood is a village in the county of Hertfordshire, England, approximately 4½ miles from St Albans. It is part of the parish of St Stephen. Its railway station is served by a London Midland service that runs between St Albans Abbey and Watford Junction stations.Close to the village stands...
, Park Street
Park Street, Hertfordshire
Park Street is a village on the outskirts of St Albans, Hertfordshire.-Location:Park Street is situated approximately 2½ miles south of St Albans along the Watling Street, the old Roman road from London to Chester and Holyhead. It lies south of the A405 North Orbital Road and on Watling Street...
and Watford
Watford
Watford is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, England, situated northwest of central London and within the bounds of the M25 motorway. The borough is separated from Greater London to the south by the urbanised parish of Watford Rural in the Three Rivers District.Watford was created as an urban...
, Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire
Hertfordshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England. The county town is Hertford.The county is one of the Home Counties and lies inland, bordered by Greater London , Buckinghamshire , Bedfordshire , Cambridgeshire and...
. Participants are encouraged to collect a stamp from each of the pubs, with the reward for doing so a specially designed Rail Ale T-shirt showing the Abbey Line Rail Ale Trail logo.
Blackpool
A rail ale trail on the South Fylde LineBlackpool Branch Line
The Blackpool Branch Line runs from Preston to Blackpool. The line diverges at Kirkham and Wesham junction - a double track branch runs to Blackpool North station , while a single track branch runs to Blackpool South station.-Preston to Blackpool North:The route is used by the bulk of Blackpool's...
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
was launched on 28 June 2006 with 14 pubs.
Heart of Wales
The Heart of Wales LineHeart of Wales Line
The Heart of Wales Line is a railway line running from Craven Arms in Shropshire to Llanelli in South Wales. It runs, as the name suggests, through some of the heartlands of Wales. It serves a number of rural centres en route, including several once fashionable spa towns, including Llandrindod Wells...
from Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, to Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
, Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, featured a rail ale trail in 2007
North TransPennine
The North TransPennine Ale Trail from StalybridgeStalybridge
Stalybridge is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside in Greater Manchester, England, with a population of 22,568. Historically a part of Cheshire, it is east of Manchester city centre and northwest of Glossop. With the construction of a cotton mill in 1776, Stalybridge became one of...
to Batley
Batley
Batley is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. It lies southeast of Bradford, southwest of Leeds and north of Dewsbury, near the M62 motorway. It has a population of 49,448 . Other nearby towns include Morley to the northeast, Ossett to the southeast...
features 9 Real Ale pubs, all of which located within short walking distance from the stations. This trail was featured on the BBC2 programme, Oz and James Drink to Britain
Oz and James Drink to Britain
Oz and James Drink to Britain is a BBC television series in which wine writer Oz Clarke and motor journalist James May travel through Britain and Ireland to discover the array of available alcoholic drinks...
Regatta Line
The Regatta Line from TwyfordTwyford railway station
Twyford railway station is a railway station in the village of Twyford, Berkshire, England.It is served by local services operated by First Great Western from , east, to...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
, to Henley-on-Thames
Henley-on-Thames railway station
Henley-on-Thames railway station is a terminal railway station in the town of Henley-upon-Thames in Oxfordshire, England.The station is served by local services operated by First Great Western on the Henley Branch Line from on the Great Western Main Line about to the south.-Service:There is a...
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, is planning to launch a rail ale trail in October 2007. The current guide to the line lists 22 pubs along the route.
Wherry Lines
A scheme called "Ale Track" operates on the Wherry LinesWherry Lines
The Wherry Lines are railway lines in England, from Norwich to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft. These lines pass through The Broads. The line is part of the Network Rail Strategic Route 7, SRS 07.11 and is classified as a rural line...
from to and . Ten pubs are involved, which are accessible from the stations on the line. Participating pubs also offer a discount for train ticket holders.
Wessex
Wessex TrainsWessex Trains
Wessex Trains was the primary passenger rail operator in the South West of England. The company operated trains in the region bounded by Penzance, Cardiff, Gloucester, Worcester and Brighton...
ran a Bristol to Weymouth
Heart of Wessex Line
The Heart of Wessex Line, also known as the Bristol to Weymouth line, is a United Kingdom railway line that runs from Bristol to Westbury to Weymouth...
Rail Ale Trail from 2005 but closed at the end of its rail franchise in 2006. Merchandise was offered for 10, 15 or 20 stamps of the 28 featured pubs which made this trail unusual in not expecting participants to visit every single pub; the award for 20 stamps included complementary tickets for a return journey anywhere on Wessex Trains services but these were only valid until the end of that franchise on 31 March 2006 – First Great Western
First Great Western
First Great Western is the operating name of First Greater Western Ltd, a British train operating company owned by FirstGroup that serves Greater London, the South East, South West and West Midlands regions of England, and South Wales....
have not repeated the offer. Four of the pubs were in Bristol
Bristol
Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...
, three in Bath, Somerset, two in Frome
Frome
Frome is a town and civil parish in northeast Somerset, England. Located at the eastern end of the Mendip Hills, the town is built on uneven high ground, and centres around the River Frome. The town is approximately south of Bath, east of the county town, Taunton and west of London. In the 2001...
, two in Dorchester, and four in Weymouth. The remaining 13 were situated one each in Keynsham
Keynsham
Keynsham is a town and civil parish between Bristol and Bath in Somerset, south-west England. It has a population of 15,533.It was listed in the Domesday Book as Cainesham, which is believed to mean the home of Saint Keyne....
, Freshford
Freshford
Freshford is a village and civil parish in the Avon valley south-east of Bath, in the county of Somerset, England. The parish has a population of 530...
, at Avoncliff railway station
Avoncliff railway station
Avoncliff railway station serves the hamlet of Avoncliff, Wiltshire. It also serves the nearby villages of Westwood and Winsley, and Turleigh hamlet...
, in Bradford-on-Avon, Trowbridge
Trowbridge
Trowbridge is the county town of Wiltshire, England, situated on the River Biss in the west of the county, approximately 12 miles southeast of Bath, Somerset....
, Westbury
Westbury, Wiltshire
Westbury is a town and civil parish in the west of the English county of Wiltshire, most famous for the Westbury White Horse.-Name:The most likely origin of the West- in Westbury is simply that the town is near the western edge of the county of Wiltshire, the bounds of which have been much the same...
, Bruton
Bruton
Bruton is a town and civil parish in Somerset, England, situated on the River Brue seven miles south-east of Shepton Mallet, just south of Snakelake Hill and Coombe Hill, ten miles north-west of Gillingham and twelve miles south-west of Frome in the South Somerset district. The town has a...
, Castle Cary
Castle Cary
Castle Cary is a market town and civil parish in south Somerset, England, north west of Wincanton and south of Shepton Mallet.The town is situated on the River Cary, a tributary of the Parrett.-History:...
, Yeovil
Yeovil
Yeovil is a town and civil parish in south Somerset, England. The parish had a population of 27,949 at the 2001 census, although the wider urban area had a population of 42,140...
, Thornford
Thornford
Thornford is a village in north west Dorset, England, situated in the Yeo valley four miles south west of Sherborne. Thornford is in Thornhackett Parish, a combined parish comprising the villages of Thornford and Beer Hackett....
, Yetminster
Yetminster
Yetminster is a village in the English county of Dorset. It lies within the West Dorset administrative district of the county, about five miles south-west of the town of Sherborne. It is sited on the River Wriggle, a tributary of the River Yeo, and is built almost entirely of honey-coloured...
, Chetnole
Chetnole
Chetnole is a village in west Dorset, England, seven miles south of Sherborne. There are around 128 houses in the village. It has a public house in the heart of the village called The Chetnole Inn which is in the Michelin Guide, and was named The Best Freehouse in the UK by the Great British Pub...
, Maiden Newton
Maiden Newton
Maiden Newton is a village and civil parish in west Dorset, England, north of Dorchester. Located on the River Frome, the village has a population of 952 , of whom 29.7% are retired. Maiden Newton railway station, which serves the village, is situated on the Heart of Wessex Line...
. These towns are mainly in Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
and Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
.