Winning tip: Cwtch tearooms and shop, Pontrhydygroes, Ceredigion
In the heart of the inspiring mid-Wales countryside, surrounded by a network of delightful, often spectacular, footpaths, the Cwtch community cafe is in the old miners’ village of Pontrhydygroes. Cwtch has two meanings in Welsh – a cosy nook, and a cuddle. You don’t usually get a cuddle on arrival, but the welcome is warm and the cakes delicious. The cafe provides simple lunches and sandwiches, and doubles as a well-stocked village shop. There is everything here that a walker could desire – including good company, and even secondhand books. The surrounding landscapes include gorges, waterfalls, ancient woodlands and moorlands.
• on Facebook
Richard Hartnup
Dog and Doublet pub, Birmingham and Fazeley canal
The 15-mile walk along the towpath from Birmingham to Fazeley takes you from the Symphony Hall and the hurly burly of modernised Birmingham, past the old heavy industry of Aston, suburbs, older villages and finally into the countryside, with views across farmland, woodland and a surprisingly hilly terrain. Towards the end of the route is the Dog and Doublet pub. Right on the canal, it is a perfect place to rest your legs, drink a nice ale and have a late lunch watching the barges go by or the cows chewing the grass across the way. From there it’s only a couple more miles to Fazeley, where you can catch the 110 bus all the way back to Birmingham.
• canalrivertrust.org.uk, on Facebook
catchytitled
Amid Giants and Idols, Lyme Regis, Dorset
Walkers on the 630-mile long South West Coast Path will rejoice on reaching Amid Giants and Idols in Lyme Regis. Its coffee was so good I had to have two, resulting in a sleepless night – but it was worth it. There’s an impressive selection of beans and a taste guide. On top of that, the cafe has lovely little touches – draughtboard, a box of jokes, brainteasers and supremely comfy sofas. It also welcomes dogs.
• amidgiantsandidols.com
Stephanie Chang
Square and Compass, Worth Matravers, Dorset
The Square and Compass, between the Jurassic Coast and the Purbeck Ridgeway, is an unpretentious yet wonderful pitstop for anyone walking this beautiful part of the country. The fare is simple – ales and ciders, plus homemade pasties and pies – perfectly befitting the needs of those traversing the rugged landscapes around Corfe Castle and Swanage. The attached Fossil Museum is another quirky yet apposite part of this wonderful outpost.
• squareandcompasspub.co.uk
AntonyTosh
The Boat Inn, Ashleworth Quay, Gloucestershire
Gloriously situated on the west bank of the Severn, the Boat Inn is the kind of country pub you imagine only exists in memory. Hidden away in both space and time – shielded behind a National Trust-owned tithe barn – this cosy, nook- and cranny-filled gem is idyllic, with with a riverside beer garden and birdsong soundtrack. Popular with thirsty cyclists, it has an impressive range of cask ales and real cider with which to celebrate at the end of the Ashleworth-Hasfield walk. Hot meals are available too, for around £6.
• boatinn.wordpress.com
GemmaCorden
Holdsworth House, West Yorkshire
When bounding along the Bronte Way, by the ruined farmhouse that inspired Wuthering Heights and the Bronte parsonage home where Charlotte wrote Jane Eyre, the last thing you want is a muddy pint in a pub full of ramblers. Fortunately, you can break up this long walk with a stay at Holdsworth House, a Jacobean Mansion with beautiful gardens and truly attentive staff. It’s the perfect place to clean and dress yourself up to contemplate the powerful, dramatic literature produced by the Bronte sisters. Just like the Beatles did when they came here on John’s 24th birthday.
• doubles from £84 B&B, holdsworthhouse.co.uk
samanthamaskell
Lord Stones Cafe, North York Moors
The Lord Stones Café is a very welcome break on the Coast to Coast and Cleveland Way routes, serving soup, sandwiches and a few veggie options. You pass it at lunchtime if you start from Ingleby Cross. This is about the toughest section of both walks and it is a tremendous comfort to sit down with hot food and a brew in the dry. The magical thing about this spot is you can walk right past it if you’re descending the path from Carlton Bank. As you cross Raisdale Road and rejoin the path it is shielded from view by a small plantation of conifers: the only indication is a tiny ankle-height sign. I’ve twice found soggy hikers eating their sandwiches in the rain and directed them to it. There’s a new restaurant and a glampsite now, too.
• lordstones.com
Mike Ronson
High Paradise Farm Tea Room, North York Moors
Less than 200 metres from the Cleveland Way, High Paradise Farm is perfectly located for those undertaking the 110-mile walk and those on shorter strolls. Part of its appeal is its remoteness – the closest public road is half a mile away, so it really is only accessible by foot, bike or horse. The menu is more varied than your typical countryside cafe, with cakes, sandwiches, pizzas and platters for the hungry and a selection of hot drinks, local ales and soft drinks for the thirsty. All are served with a side of Yorkshire hospitality from Ginny, whose scone-making talents know no bounds.
• highparadise.co.uk
Sarah Martin
Snack Shack, Dungeness, Kent
One of our favourite walks is along one of the most atmospheric and alluring beaches in the south-east, the stony end to the Romney Marshes, Dungeness. On one side, the sea, and on the other some really interesting beach hut architecture. Further behind is the skulking mass of the nuclear power station, like the radioactive elephant in the room, albeit outdoors. We like to end our trudge along the shingle at the Dungeness Snack Shack. It’s a family business, and the daily catch – wholly dependent on time and tide – comes in by boat to the beach to be cooked to perfection by Kelly. My favourite is a lobster roll or, in winter when the wind makes your ears throb, the smoked cod chowder. You can take some of that fine fresh fish or a dressed crab home for dinner.
• dungenesssnackshack.net
Stella Atkins Wilson
The Robin Hood, near Borstal, Kent
The Robin Hood is a quaint pub tucked away in the Kent Downs. The surrounding woodland provide excellent off-road cycling as well as walking paths with panoramic views over the downs. A kilometre from the Bluebell hill picnic site, the Robin Hood, with its family- and dog- friendly beer garden is the perfect spot for a post-walk cider in the sunshine. Or on winter days you can enjoy a cosy armchair next to the wood-burning stove. The food is homely and comes in hungry-walker-sized portions.
• therobinhood-pub.co.uk
louisemcmillan16
The Bull in Ditchling, East Sussex
Ditchling is in the South Downs, and there are beautiful walks and views across the hills in every direction. We cross through fields to the north of the village, up to Oldland Windmill and then circling back to The Bull, which has everything you want from a pub pitstop – a long sun trap of a garden, best of local breweries on draught (when we were there, Dark Star and Kissingate), and a kitchen turning out incredibly good beef and ale pies. It’s worth planning a walk just for an excuse to end up here.
• thebullditchling.com
LTaylorM
