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25-08-2023, 17:31
Visit Ed's Beer Site (http://edsbeer.blogspot.com/2023/08/ive-got-binoculars-on-top-of-box-hill.html)
The Surrey Alps is one of Southern England's most impressive ranges, towering to almost a thousand feet in places. The ascent of perhaps its best known peak, Box Hill, is not to be taken lightly particularly if you've already been to BJJ training (https://kobabjj.com/) that morning. But did I let that stop me? Oh no!
My mate Dan was keen to do some navigation practice so it seemed like an excellent opportunity to do one of CAMRA's South East Pub Walks that I'd wanted to do for ages. Our start point was some way from the official start, which meant we walked even further than the route in the book. That's how heroic we are!
It also meant we passed what looked suspiciously like an old maltings to me:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDog-STSx_xrSJx20nCjM03eTgw9rqBxdsM5MldfLHuUhn_EjYqL_hS 0d8zWvaXEsrKfqR6ZEMfLqrzEQLQS8Ezp_NXcgbyJB1GpGZedF EXjdI0rKJLtyQjBxoUZFJz4oPFbzCQXvpWhBBfQzteXoeS_Q7b jadu8Fl6qsnysoymOC1UboISGYsPtubgI6/s320/IMG_20230819_114047865_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDog-STSx_xrSJx20nCjM03eTgw9rqBxdsM5MldfLHuUhn_EjYqL_hS 0d8zWvaXEsrKfqR6ZEMfLqrzEQLQS8Ezp_NXcgbyJB1GpGZedF EXjdI0rKJLtyQjBxoUZFJz4oPFbzCQXvpWhBBfQzteXoeS_Q7b jadu8Fl6qsnysoymOC1UboISGYsPtubgI6/s4080/IMG_20230819_114047865_HDR.jpg)
I suspect this is an old maltings
When tax was paid on malt people would shovel it out of the windows when they saw the tax man coming so a law was passed requiring maltings to have bars on the windows.
The route took us down tunnels...
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsn21WPrPoeTSvNxNby_voQFNIXWI1uxoI5nrMPmRtyC vxzpbix3MCZwoNOj8WxR_XhHb8ooeHCdVXELz2fyHUfv1RsKVY zSJNY5pn8JbG1B_qX8GNcDfzDoGXFGiFiBQBExDJ_BIt7_zp-iBws_FioFkfaIttLeDiuASKXX7Xz73-0rLWy_Pg2P6LQqTR/s320/IMG_20230819_134108468.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsn21WPrPoeTSvNxNby_voQFNIXWI1uxoI5nrMPmRtyC vxzpbix3MCZwoNOj8WxR_XhHb8ooeHCdVXELz2fyHUfv1RsKVY zSJNY5pn8JbG1B_qX8GNcDfzDoGXFGiFiBQBExDJ_BIt7_zp-iBws_FioFkfaIttLeDiuASKXX7Xz73-0rLWy_Pg2P6LQqTR/s4080/IMG_20230819_134108468.jpg)
over stepping stones ...
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lgsnsFWzO843J9RRtSQIICBZimpXpUHtrLTJzOOZRm vdv_dEwTaTku1j-gSTJW5hVHUCal6Uc3OPoqHlmOzchYk3tSBQZcMntRgzkMw13Mh 36lnD6zkBCMAj7sAIrhdgt5Oc4PUApwB3rcAA_AKesHyba7uLy ygdYgcuWVv5xMPVkgoajkZ3eGUSUm3D/s320/IMG_20230819_134739709.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lgsnsFWzO843J9RRtSQIICBZimpXpUHtrLTJzOOZRm vdv_dEwTaTku1j-gSTJW5hVHUCal6Uc3OPoqHlmOzchYk3tSBQZcMntRgzkMw13Mh 36lnD6zkBCMAj7sAIrhdgt5Oc4PUApwB3rcAA_AKesHyba7uLy ygdYgcuWVv5xMPVkgoajkZ3eGUSUm3D/s4080/IMG_20230819_134739709.jpg)
and up lots.
I didn't actually have any binoculars with me. I'm more a cup of splosh and a greasy dog man myself anyway, but there is a good view.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBI51uHIEkAvH1kZgIZeAyJDuS9ghfGz-E5Ed0crxDu3LlUgIZOcKQPCxJQPfxietk2sUVnEYGvgy7fCd_e h6Jv_KDSbDki1dXLe_YlXAiyRwnTe11SRKy8vDKRK5_Wu5A6EO ce-HYHd0mRdcUE3Mbvp05a6sxhEERSlhh5q-MsTXazO5K3KrYFdftcnAm/s320/IMG_20230819_140704012_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBI51uHIEkAvH1kZgIZeAyJDuS9ghfGz-E5Ed0crxDu3LlUgIZOcKQPCxJQPfxietk2sUVnEYGvgy7fCd_e h6Jv_KDSbDki1dXLe_YlXAiyRwnTe11SRKy8vDKRK5_Wu5A6EO ce-HYHd0mRdcUE3Mbvp05a6sxhEERSlhh5q-MsTXazO5K3KrYFdftcnAm/s4080/IMG_20230819_140704012_HDR.jpg)
View from Box Hill
We had a look at the fort that kept Napoleon out of London:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylTF45wBHXCWaFl-CCtmn8wPBXuWE4IPlfnztAVkLUM_3haLu-f8w79PdLxdPruyoN9TdHuJU0KAGFedv7bS9Jwy5v1PwhpOVICX cj9_pqPZAjjFjWq4wr6v2HCg66oMA1ekj-ftFu8dehSXkKaGFJiFy6FbvfF6WCuPCcix2ByVPkfVRpm-qV5Ow4o6L/s320/IMG_20230819_142206440_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylTF45wBHXCWaFl-CCtmn8wPBXuWE4IPlfnztAVkLUM_3haLu-f8w79PdLxdPruyoN9TdHuJU0KAGFedv7bS9Jwy5v1PwhpOVICX cj9_pqPZAjjFjWq4wr6v2HCg66oMA1ekj-ftFu8dehSXkKaGFJiFy6FbvfF6WCuPCcix2ByVPkfVRpm-qV5Ow4o6L/s4080/IMG_20230819_142206440_HDR.jpg)
Though from the cave art it looks like it's also the site of ancient fertility rituals:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlVeP9UPFij4eqET71ZBzir6wS4ZUwmHaQ6YH6u2pIa uM1KjheukUgj6Zqbb0IiHr2B1YAmdd8ZVre-paAmN-mfE-T3VTBjHBg9M8rLpq5UNGjlIxeDeYAzaSOSzdnYHPpFpBN43TQ2 2e4jo1q8Q4ngPA0WXd9ubuMUNccA6TzJlpDRQqhZKbU1CtLcJA/s320/IMG_20230819_142313366_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlVeP9UPFij4eqET71ZBzir6wS4ZUwmHaQ6YH6u2pIa uM1KjheukUgj6Zqbb0IiHr2B1YAmdd8ZVre-paAmN-mfE-T3VTBjHBg9M8rLpq5UNGjlIxeDeYAzaSOSzdnYHPpFpBN43TQ2 2e4jo1q8Q4ngPA0WXd9ubuMUNccA6TzJlpDRQqhZKbU1CtLcJA/s4080/IMG_20230819_142313366_HDR.jpg)
After that it was back into woods, which personally I find a lot harder to navigate than hills. You do get a better class of mushrooms in woods though:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZ-dHYvCfWwTGxa7V2oNNNeHH_oypQRSrURzWD46E2GoW8Qy_bsOw xv53RKJI_Z0dP4zV856wuJi6eAwpovuoiZpvixVdS04TRSbk2O OX5lR2nzlacNjMKVOWrUzh6pJoDCQXLuT97sZlQaEWxGSHPJz2 0zTT_pku5xZJg41AQVpJd2uC4H9RDB8GX95A/s320/IMG_20230819_144150895.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZ-dHYvCfWwTGxa7V2oNNNeHH_oypQRSrURzWD46E2GoW8Qy_bsOw xv53RKJI_Z0dP4zV856wuJi6eAwpovuoiZpvixVdS04TRSbk2O OX5lR2nzlacNjMKVOWrUzh6pJoDCQXLuT97sZlQaEWxGSHPJz2 0zTT_pku5xZJg41AQVpJd2uC4H9RDB8GX95A/s4080/IMG_20230819_144150895.jpg)
There were some unexpected sights too:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCZabgOXvq0zS4uZow2y18UXp7Qg3pww_7blY5o6Yj8 kUzGCSFHGZP8IWfn0oYx7bbkGuSfij51REfb0vmX2uEtBwApz7 gqriRDJsgSOt6eHxBCDBZyU921ftLvCkfjOsDio1tECl1Fml2_ vxpCTJIp4Om2x58hyXcA80FfZDWyiqXEbjUE1urYKW-EUu/s320/IMG_20230819_144701056_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCZabgOXvq0zS4uZow2y18UXp7Qg3pww_7blY5o6Yj8 kUzGCSFHGZP8IWfn0oYx7bbkGuSfij51REfb0vmX2uEtBwApz7 gqriRDJsgSOt6eHxBCDBZyU921ftLvCkfjOsDio1tECl1Fml2_ vxpCTJIp4Om2x58hyXcA80FfZDWyiqXEbjUE1urYKW-EUu/s4080/IMG_20230819_144701056_HDR.jpg)
I reckon a folly
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TfxuLsPct2nyQvqy--FG3ban2c-Y2asUDh0lGUQ3opoAqrQg_w3aHNJgDWKTuWuVF1TSP4jHKOEe6 61JdIPUjG9wXrYjyeWUwtNcPshWJkpaOoA7CtiB4AsRe0PWWmh MwasQZPHKLoazh7MK51P4ADXs_bXG0XRSUe-MBwSkM3zcpYPkTg7-luY8pZWZ/s320/IMG_20230819_153147397.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TfxuLsPct2nyQvqy--FG3ban2c-Y2asUDh0lGUQ3opoAqrQg_w3aHNJgDWKTuWuVF1TSP4jHKOEe6 61JdIPUjG9wXrYjyeWUwtNcPshWJkpaOoA7CtiB4AsRe0PWWmh MwasQZPHKLoazh7MK51P4ADXs_bXG0XRSUe-MBwSkM3zcpYPkTg7-luY8pZWZ/s4080/IMG_20230819_153147397.jpg)
And this was definitely folly
The late Bob Steel's pub walks have never let me down but I have to say I was getting worried as the started drawing nearer to the first pub. We had most definitely earned a pint by this stage but as I've said navigating in woods can be hard and the guide book did little to calm my nerves:
"... the confusion of paths on Mickleham Downs make it a bit of a navigational graveyard so stick to my directions carefully here if you want that beer"
Stick carefully we did until we got to what we hoped was the required "indistinct path to the left". This was the point I was most concerned would go wrong and by this stage I was quite prepared to knock on the head temporarily suspend the navigation practice and see if I could get google maps on my phone. I needn't have worried though as Bob saw us right and we got to the William IV (https://thekingwilliamiv.com/). We were told it was table service and though we didn't get any grief when we said we weren't eating I was staring to suspect the place was an abomination unto the lord. Then the beers arrived and I remembered our Mother Church values beer quality above all else.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlsBjn4OraoO24TbNK1dv57wQT7ey_p5szm5bSMF-IMHxnCYq6yXCXo7OWk0q45eDR1J9Hm7cg0mnEGIosEhW2EkUBv dkNBUWYlwn12c94v75IcGZlaTKxaIyCGRGZL7Oz1IIiVLpba_D dpXtAQ5RNtw5vo5ZWr35OUFlcCQHvgi7EnqHR8m-gN6Pmy8E/s320/IMG_20230819_154100055_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlsBjn4OraoO24TbNK1dv57wQT7ey_p5szm5bSMF-IMHxnCYq6yXCXo7OWk0q45eDR1J9Hm7cg0mnEGIosEhW2EkUBv dkNBUWYlwn12c94v75IcGZlaTKxaIyCGRGZL7Oz1IIiVLpba_D dpXtAQ5RNtw5vo5ZWr35OUFlcCQHvgi7EnqHR8m-gN6Pmy8E/s4080/IMG_20230819_154100055_HDR.jpg)
Shere Drop, Champion Beer of Britain 2019-2023
As we were heading outside a door sprang open and someone leapt out saying "Hi guys!". It was only someone from the BJJ club! Bumping into someone we know definitely boosted this places pub credentials, as bumping into people is definitely a pub thing. We were in good spirits when we left.
Soon after we had to dash across four lanes of traffic, which made getting delayed by a herd of cows next all the more surprising.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgji2Zd0bYzTrqEO0R5AgQ34xfS9xhCUZxyM5Fsi5vlrZ xZG8ghe6FH8bkKCZDu_WuY_XPIv5MCFQz4iaEdfDAg7Zprbmpv uKV5Yl0Ld5MYDE3AAaRhUnJNPX-12g8U_dD3vCtUUKVHIMd58sIE0rkubw589ejIeExv4GKJZNpop UUI-JUdNcVkOVvFuY6p/s320/IMG_20230819_161357645_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgji2Zd0bYzTrqEO0R5AgQ34xfS9xhCUZxyM5Fsi5vlrZ xZG8ghe6FH8bkKCZDu_WuY_XPIv5MCFQz4iaEdfDAg7Zprbmpv uKV5Yl0Ld5MYDE3AAaRhUnJNPX-12g8U_dD3vCtUUKVHIMd58sIE0rkubw589ejIeExv4GKJZNpop UUI-JUdNcVkOVvFuY6p/s4080/IMG_20230819_161357645_HDR.jpg)
Though not as surprising as the communist base we passed:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1VLporwx48ULv_ovYIbommIGa9ER96c4zuSUTenPAc eQtWxjYdzYfpZPbKUmCvNPgNIHSNx7M7VEpciWYJNHRqK2fps2 _I_Mf2X4xaJVT7uCc6ETPxatWY3RZcgeOWrfDClctmt4bNsDUD bUBQ0icRkoiVOjtdmzcF4QpY9Ih4ofS1sRHgsw5vB8sPjE/s320/IMG_20230819_164739393_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1VLporwx48ULv_ovYIbommIGa9ER96c4zuSUTenPAc eQtWxjYdzYfpZPbKUmCvNPgNIHSNx7M7VEpciWYJNHRqK2fps2 _I_Mf2X4xaJVT7uCc6ETPxatWY3RZcgeOWrfDClctmt4bNsDUD bUBQ0icRkoiVOjtdmzcF4QpY9Ih4ofS1sRHgsw5vB8sPjE/s4080/IMG_20230819_164739393_HDR.jpg)
Should I ever be a soldier 'neath the red flag I would fight
At least I think they were communists, what else could a red flag mean? After passing the Leatherhead Soviet I put the map, compass and guide book away as we'd been told the pub was just over a bridge and you can trust Bob. And sure enough there it was:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWd2QjK_uMY4uhYKPcr_hBu-4orAv3fPt22HG6ZV5KZOr60Kqq8Bz3qm36n6_9E7nbJC-3OjX8URw5nw7E6VmDZyLSYwSD0uSWdwStdxJDaiPPyV2RYMsrA _7o2oxWFjSpr7a4DVblWUiZ2Efa4GCkT7_himgFBHXhjJbPS4p P0QdByovBaHqBjnQXsUo/s320/IMG_20230819_170013558_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWd2QjK_uMY4uhYKPcr_hBu-4orAv3fPt22HG6ZV5KZOr60Kqq8Bz3qm36n6_9E7nbJC-3OjX8URw5nw7E6VmDZyLSYwSD0uSWdwStdxJDaiPPyV2RYMsrA _7o2oxWFjSpr7a4DVblWUiZ2Efa4GCkT7_himgFBHXhjJbPS4p P0QdByovBaHqBjnQXsUo/s4080/IMG_20230819_170013558_HDR.jpg)
Oh yes
I've wanted to go to the Running Horse for ages, after reading Alan McLeod's blog about it (https://abetterbeerblog427.com/2017/04/12/how-to-deal-with-folk-like-elynour-rummyng/). The pub's been around for ages and there's even rambling sexist doggerel written over 500 years ago by the poet laureate of the time about the then landlady. I guess that's the sort of thing people did before television or feminism were invented.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTT8FH20uIJXrPW5jy-7FLcSOW6eZpfEiO7CoLiXIFGY_uQto-Seu3VGkmykFkRFBIocexkpzxtUWSJrVxmtYDKo3znL3fZCgb2X 1E11EIN6ttOxChMNH3-zgBcgHUn5VWCnUiZMIfQQq950Qe7-XqHEswB9Q1kUh-bMUDeBXdJqR5FM_0awQDRAVHLvQ6/s320/IMG_20230819_170117633_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTT8FH20uIJXrPW5jy-7FLcSOW6eZpfEiO7CoLiXIFGY_uQto-Seu3VGkmykFkRFBIocexkpzxtUWSJrVxmtYDKo3znL3fZCgb2X 1E11EIN6ttOxChMNH3-zgBcgHUn5VWCnUiZMIfQQq950Qe7-XqHEswB9Q1kUh-bMUDeBXdJqR5FM_0awQDRAVHLvQ6/s4080/IMG_20230819_170117633_HDR.jpg)
The poem features prominently on the outside of the pub but I must confess I was more interested in the inside and more refreshment. I loitered outside a little while before entering as I had a pasty to finish and the smell of pub was wafting out of the doorway. Had it brought back any specific memories it would definitely have been a Proustian moment. But as it didn't it was just a moment when I thought "cor, bet this is a proper pub!" And indeed it was, complete with horse brasses:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK73A_J9Nx7DWq_nwVGg1aZYiYu47KdKBfpa7zWLDIEj RVgYeYpY73bFNFfS8JUCyGdrPT_LQbnm5qAcyCRytbbBrCZkPO hWblKq4tf-f8qxk_kpAs0Ok1I61e_bXB08m1dEU0aKPaePDCMYfP_BRsyHma Mt-Nip_SHcm7-fxQFVczHWrGqyTtLGlhBFnw/s320/IMG_20230819_170203055_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK73A_J9Nx7DWq_nwVGg1aZYiYu47KdKBfpa7zWLDIEj RVgYeYpY73bFNFfS8JUCyGdrPT_LQbnm5qAcyCRytbbBrCZkPO hWblKq4tf-f8qxk_kpAs0Ok1I61e_bXB08m1dEU0aKPaePDCMYfP_BRsyHma Mt-Nip_SHcm7-fxQFVczHWrGqyTtLGlhBFnw/s4080/IMG_20230819_170203055_HDR.jpg)
When we left I spotted it even had two bars and you don't get more proper pub than that. It's a Sheps pub but they had Surrey Hills on so I swerved the Spitfire and went for that. Glorious it was too.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2ybf4AXHqqkpUmQfyCTlvA1oKiu2KW_QE53dr_9E5r 9jX_TcJ6FIumhNwiD_6PCrkp4IMa8y7zw8fLs7DEgha_X1cFu8 wyxy3jf09iHbVo0Njf2k24yO0JHapF_XvItMRZG6qZ7AHuZ2IM Enz5ILxj4z4KKPpON3WyLPx-yfm-_XxghdoLaLyxuP2V0a/s320/IMG_20230819_170501910_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2ybf4AXHqqkpUmQfyCTlvA1oKiu2KW_QE53dr_9E5r 9jX_TcJ6FIumhNwiD_6PCrkp4IMa8y7zw8fLs7DEgha_X1cFu8 wyxy3jf09iHbVo0Njf2k24yO0JHapF_XvItMRZG6qZ7AHuZ2IM Enz5ILxj4z4KKPpON3WyLPx-yfm-_XxghdoLaLyxuP2V0a/s4080/IMG_20230819_170501910_HDR.jpg)
Ranmore Ale
That was the pub walk done, which definitely had a high walk to pub ratio but that's probably for the best as more beer wouldn't have helped with the heroic amount of walking we did or the navigation.
More... (http://edsbeer.blogspot.com/2023/08/ive-got-binoculars-on-top-of-box-hill.html)
The Surrey Alps is one of Southern England's most impressive ranges, towering to almost a thousand feet in places. The ascent of perhaps its best known peak, Box Hill, is not to be taken lightly particularly if you've already been to BJJ training (https://kobabjj.com/) that morning. But did I let that stop me? Oh no!
My mate Dan was keen to do some navigation practice so it seemed like an excellent opportunity to do one of CAMRA's South East Pub Walks that I'd wanted to do for ages. Our start point was some way from the official start, which meant we walked even further than the route in the book. That's how heroic we are!
It also meant we passed what looked suspiciously like an old maltings to me:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDog-STSx_xrSJx20nCjM03eTgw9rqBxdsM5MldfLHuUhn_EjYqL_hS 0d8zWvaXEsrKfqR6ZEMfLqrzEQLQS8Ezp_NXcgbyJB1GpGZedF EXjdI0rKJLtyQjBxoUZFJz4oPFbzCQXvpWhBBfQzteXoeS_Q7b jadu8Fl6qsnysoymOC1UboISGYsPtubgI6/s320/IMG_20230819_114047865_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKDog-STSx_xrSJx20nCjM03eTgw9rqBxdsM5MldfLHuUhn_EjYqL_hS 0d8zWvaXEsrKfqR6ZEMfLqrzEQLQS8Ezp_NXcgbyJB1GpGZedF EXjdI0rKJLtyQjBxoUZFJz4oPFbzCQXvpWhBBfQzteXoeS_Q7b jadu8Fl6qsnysoymOC1UboISGYsPtubgI6/s4080/IMG_20230819_114047865_HDR.jpg)
I suspect this is an old maltings
When tax was paid on malt people would shovel it out of the windows when they saw the tax man coming so a law was passed requiring maltings to have bars on the windows.
The route took us down tunnels...
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsn21WPrPoeTSvNxNby_voQFNIXWI1uxoI5nrMPmRtyC vxzpbix3MCZwoNOj8WxR_XhHb8ooeHCdVXELz2fyHUfv1RsKVY zSJNY5pn8JbG1B_qX8GNcDfzDoGXFGiFiBQBExDJ_BIt7_zp-iBws_FioFkfaIttLeDiuASKXX7Xz73-0rLWy_Pg2P6LQqTR/s320/IMG_20230819_134108468.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsn21WPrPoeTSvNxNby_voQFNIXWI1uxoI5nrMPmRtyC vxzpbix3MCZwoNOj8WxR_XhHb8ooeHCdVXELz2fyHUfv1RsKVY zSJNY5pn8JbG1B_qX8GNcDfzDoGXFGiFiBQBExDJ_BIt7_zp-iBws_FioFkfaIttLeDiuASKXX7Xz73-0rLWy_Pg2P6LQqTR/s4080/IMG_20230819_134108468.jpg)
over stepping stones ...
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lgsnsFWzO843J9RRtSQIICBZimpXpUHtrLTJzOOZRm vdv_dEwTaTku1j-gSTJW5hVHUCal6Uc3OPoqHlmOzchYk3tSBQZcMntRgzkMw13Mh 36lnD6zkBCMAj7sAIrhdgt5Oc4PUApwB3rcAA_AKesHyba7uLy ygdYgcuWVv5xMPVkgoajkZ3eGUSUm3D/s320/IMG_20230819_134739709.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2lgsnsFWzO843J9RRtSQIICBZimpXpUHtrLTJzOOZRm vdv_dEwTaTku1j-gSTJW5hVHUCal6Uc3OPoqHlmOzchYk3tSBQZcMntRgzkMw13Mh 36lnD6zkBCMAj7sAIrhdgt5Oc4PUApwB3rcAA_AKesHyba7uLy ygdYgcuWVv5xMPVkgoajkZ3eGUSUm3D/s4080/IMG_20230819_134739709.jpg)
and up lots.
I didn't actually have any binoculars with me. I'm more a cup of splosh and a greasy dog man myself anyway, but there is a good view.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBI51uHIEkAvH1kZgIZeAyJDuS9ghfGz-E5Ed0crxDu3LlUgIZOcKQPCxJQPfxietk2sUVnEYGvgy7fCd_e h6Jv_KDSbDki1dXLe_YlXAiyRwnTe11SRKy8vDKRK5_Wu5A6EO ce-HYHd0mRdcUE3Mbvp05a6sxhEERSlhh5q-MsTXazO5K3KrYFdftcnAm/s320/IMG_20230819_140704012_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBI51uHIEkAvH1kZgIZeAyJDuS9ghfGz-E5Ed0crxDu3LlUgIZOcKQPCxJQPfxietk2sUVnEYGvgy7fCd_e h6Jv_KDSbDki1dXLe_YlXAiyRwnTe11SRKy8vDKRK5_Wu5A6EO ce-HYHd0mRdcUE3Mbvp05a6sxhEERSlhh5q-MsTXazO5K3KrYFdftcnAm/s4080/IMG_20230819_140704012_HDR.jpg)
View from Box Hill
We had a look at the fort that kept Napoleon out of London:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylTF45wBHXCWaFl-CCtmn8wPBXuWE4IPlfnztAVkLUM_3haLu-f8w79PdLxdPruyoN9TdHuJU0KAGFedv7bS9Jwy5v1PwhpOVICX cj9_pqPZAjjFjWq4wr6v2HCg66oMA1ekj-ftFu8dehSXkKaGFJiFy6FbvfF6WCuPCcix2ByVPkfVRpm-qV5Ow4o6L/s320/IMG_20230819_142206440_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgylTF45wBHXCWaFl-CCtmn8wPBXuWE4IPlfnztAVkLUM_3haLu-f8w79PdLxdPruyoN9TdHuJU0KAGFedv7bS9Jwy5v1PwhpOVICX cj9_pqPZAjjFjWq4wr6v2HCg66oMA1ekj-ftFu8dehSXkKaGFJiFy6FbvfF6WCuPCcix2ByVPkfVRpm-qV5Ow4o6L/s4080/IMG_20230819_142206440_HDR.jpg)
Though from the cave art it looks like it's also the site of ancient fertility rituals:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlVeP9UPFij4eqET71ZBzir6wS4ZUwmHaQ6YH6u2pIa uM1KjheukUgj6Zqbb0IiHr2B1YAmdd8ZVre-paAmN-mfE-T3VTBjHBg9M8rLpq5UNGjlIxeDeYAzaSOSzdnYHPpFpBN43TQ2 2e4jo1q8Q4ngPA0WXd9ubuMUNccA6TzJlpDRQqhZKbU1CtLcJA/s320/IMG_20230819_142313366_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVlVeP9UPFij4eqET71ZBzir6wS4ZUwmHaQ6YH6u2pIa uM1KjheukUgj6Zqbb0IiHr2B1YAmdd8ZVre-paAmN-mfE-T3VTBjHBg9M8rLpq5UNGjlIxeDeYAzaSOSzdnYHPpFpBN43TQ2 2e4jo1q8Q4ngPA0WXd9ubuMUNccA6TzJlpDRQqhZKbU1CtLcJA/s4080/IMG_20230819_142313366_HDR.jpg)
After that it was back into woods, which personally I find a lot harder to navigate than hills. You do get a better class of mushrooms in woods though:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZ-dHYvCfWwTGxa7V2oNNNeHH_oypQRSrURzWD46E2GoW8Qy_bsOw xv53RKJI_Z0dP4zV856wuJi6eAwpovuoiZpvixVdS04TRSbk2O OX5lR2nzlacNjMKVOWrUzh6pJoDCQXLuT97sZlQaEWxGSHPJz2 0zTT_pku5xZJg41AQVpJd2uC4H9RDB8GX95A/s320/IMG_20230819_144150895.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUZ-dHYvCfWwTGxa7V2oNNNeHH_oypQRSrURzWD46E2GoW8Qy_bsOw xv53RKJI_Z0dP4zV856wuJi6eAwpovuoiZpvixVdS04TRSbk2O OX5lR2nzlacNjMKVOWrUzh6pJoDCQXLuT97sZlQaEWxGSHPJz2 0zTT_pku5xZJg41AQVpJd2uC4H9RDB8GX95A/s4080/IMG_20230819_144150895.jpg)
There were some unexpected sights too:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCZabgOXvq0zS4uZow2y18UXp7Qg3pww_7blY5o6Yj8 kUzGCSFHGZP8IWfn0oYx7bbkGuSfij51REfb0vmX2uEtBwApz7 gqriRDJsgSOt6eHxBCDBZyU921ftLvCkfjOsDio1tECl1Fml2_ vxpCTJIp4Om2x58hyXcA80FfZDWyiqXEbjUE1urYKW-EUu/s320/IMG_20230819_144701056_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLCZabgOXvq0zS4uZow2y18UXp7Qg3pww_7blY5o6Yj8 kUzGCSFHGZP8IWfn0oYx7bbkGuSfij51REfb0vmX2uEtBwApz7 gqriRDJsgSOt6eHxBCDBZyU921ftLvCkfjOsDio1tECl1Fml2_ vxpCTJIp4Om2x58hyXcA80FfZDWyiqXEbjUE1urYKW-EUu/s4080/IMG_20230819_144701056_HDR.jpg)
I reckon a folly
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TfxuLsPct2nyQvqy--FG3ban2c-Y2asUDh0lGUQ3opoAqrQg_w3aHNJgDWKTuWuVF1TSP4jHKOEe6 61JdIPUjG9wXrYjyeWUwtNcPshWJkpaOoA7CtiB4AsRe0PWWmh MwasQZPHKLoazh7MK51P4ADXs_bXG0XRSUe-MBwSkM3zcpYPkTg7-luY8pZWZ/s320/IMG_20230819_153147397.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2TfxuLsPct2nyQvqy--FG3ban2c-Y2asUDh0lGUQ3opoAqrQg_w3aHNJgDWKTuWuVF1TSP4jHKOEe6 61JdIPUjG9wXrYjyeWUwtNcPshWJkpaOoA7CtiB4AsRe0PWWmh MwasQZPHKLoazh7MK51P4ADXs_bXG0XRSUe-MBwSkM3zcpYPkTg7-luY8pZWZ/s4080/IMG_20230819_153147397.jpg)
And this was definitely folly
The late Bob Steel's pub walks have never let me down but I have to say I was getting worried as the started drawing nearer to the first pub. We had most definitely earned a pint by this stage but as I've said navigating in woods can be hard and the guide book did little to calm my nerves:
"... the confusion of paths on Mickleham Downs make it a bit of a navigational graveyard so stick to my directions carefully here if you want that beer"
Stick carefully we did until we got to what we hoped was the required "indistinct path to the left". This was the point I was most concerned would go wrong and by this stage I was quite prepared to knock on the head temporarily suspend the navigation practice and see if I could get google maps on my phone. I needn't have worried though as Bob saw us right and we got to the William IV (https://thekingwilliamiv.com/). We were told it was table service and though we didn't get any grief when we said we weren't eating I was staring to suspect the place was an abomination unto the lord. Then the beers arrived and I remembered our Mother Church values beer quality above all else.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlsBjn4OraoO24TbNK1dv57wQT7ey_p5szm5bSMF-IMHxnCYq6yXCXo7OWk0q45eDR1J9Hm7cg0mnEGIosEhW2EkUBv dkNBUWYlwn12c94v75IcGZlaTKxaIyCGRGZL7Oz1IIiVLpba_D dpXtAQ5RNtw5vo5ZWr35OUFlcCQHvgi7EnqHR8m-gN6Pmy8E/s320/IMG_20230819_154100055_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAlsBjn4OraoO24TbNK1dv57wQT7ey_p5szm5bSMF-IMHxnCYq6yXCXo7OWk0q45eDR1J9Hm7cg0mnEGIosEhW2EkUBv dkNBUWYlwn12c94v75IcGZlaTKxaIyCGRGZL7Oz1IIiVLpba_D dpXtAQ5RNtw5vo5ZWr35OUFlcCQHvgi7EnqHR8m-gN6Pmy8E/s4080/IMG_20230819_154100055_HDR.jpg)
Shere Drop, Champion Beer of Britain 2019-2023
As we were heading outside a door sprang open and someone leapt out saying "Hi guys!". It was only someone from the BJJ club! Bumping into someone we know definitely boosted this places pub credentials, as bumping into people is definitely a pub thing. We were in good spirits when we left.
Soon after we had to dash across four lanes of traffic, which made getting delayed by a herd of cows next all the more surprising.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgji2Zd0bYzTrqEO0R5AgQ34xfS9xhCUZxyM5Fsi5vlrZ xZG8ghe6FH8bkKCZDu_WuY_XPIv5MCFQz4iaEdfDAg7Zprbmpv uKV5Yl0Ld5MYDE3AAaRhUnJNPX-12g8U_dD3vCtUUKVHIMd58sIE0rkubw589ejIeExv4GKJZNpop UUI-JUdNcVkOVvFuY6p/s320/IMG_20230819_161357645_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgji2Zd0bYzTrqEO0R5AgQ34xfS9xhCUZxyM5Fsi5vlrZ xZG8ghe6FH8bkKCZDu_WuY_XPIv5MCFQz4iaEdfDAg7Zprbmpv uKV5Yl0Ld5MYDE3AAaRhUnJNPX-12g8U_dD3vCtUUKVHIMd58sIE0rkubw589ejIeExv4GKJZNpop UUI-JUdNcVkOVvFuY6p/s4080/IMG_20230819_161357645_HDR.jpg)
Though not as surprising as the communist base we passed:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1VLporwx48ULv_ovYIbommIGa9ER96c4zuSUTenPAc eQtWxjYdzYfpZPbKUmCvNPgNIHSNx7M7VEpciWYJNHRqK2fps2 _I_Mf2X4xaJVT7uCc6ETPxatWY3RZcgeOWrfDClctmt4bNsDUD bUBQ0icRkoiVOjtdmzcF4QpY9Ih4ofS1sRHgsw5vB8sPjE/s320/IMG_20230819_164739393_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiD1VLporwx48ULv_ovYIbommIGa9ER96c4zuSUTenPAc eQtWxjYdzYfpZPbKUmCvNPgNIHSNx7M7VEpciWYJNHRqK2fps2 _I_Mf2X4xaJVT7uCc6ETPxatWY3RZcgeOWrfDClctmt4bNsDUD bUBQ0icRkoiVOjtdmzcF4QpY9Ih4ofS1sRHgsw5vB8sPjE/s4080/IMG_20230819_164739393_HDR.jpg)
Should I ever be a soldier 'neath the red flag I would fight
At least I think they were communists, what else could a red flag mean? After passing the Leatherhead Soviet I put the map, compass and guide book away as we'd been told the pub was just over a bridge and you can trust Bob. And sure enough there it was:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWd2QjK_uMY4uhYKPcr_hBu-4orAv3fPt22HG6ZV5KZOr60Kqq8Bz3qm36n6_9E7nbJC-3OjX8URw5nw7E6VmDZyLSYwSD0uSWdwStdxJDaiPPyV2RYMsrA _7o2oxWFjSpr7a4DVblWUiZ2Efa4GCkT7_himgFBHXhjJbPS4p P0QdByovBaHqBjnQXsUo/s320/IMG_20230819_170013558_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHWd2QjK_uMY4uhYKPcr_hBu-4orAv3fPt22HG6ZV5KZOr60Kqq8Bz3qm36n6_9E7nbJC-3OjX8URw5nw7E6VmDZyLSYwSD0uSWdwStdxJDaiPPyV2RYMsrA _7o2oxWFjSpr7a4DVblWUiZ2Efa4GCkT7_himgFBHXhjJbPS4p P0QdByovBaHqBjnQXsUo/s4080/IMG_20230819_170013558_HDR.jpg)
Oh yes
I've wanted to go to the Running Horse for ages, after reading Alan McLeod's blog about it (https://abetterbeerblog427.com/2017/04/12/how-to-deal-with-folk-like-elynour-rummyng/). The pub's been around for ages and there's even rambling sexist doggerel written over 500 years ago by the poet laureate of the time about the then landlady. I guess that's the sort of thing people did before television or feminism were invented.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTT8FH20uIJXrPW5jy-7FLcSOW6eZpfEiO7CoLiXIFGY_uQto-Seu3VGkmykFkRFBIocexkpzxtUWSJrVxmtYDKo3znL3fZCgb2X 1E11EIN6ttOxChMNH3-zgBcgHUn5VWCnUiZMIfQQq950Qe7-XqHEswB9Q1kUh-bMUDeBXdJqR5FM_0awQDRAVHLvQ6/s320/IMG_20230819_170117633_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTT8FH20uIJXrPW5jy-7FLcSOW6eZpfEiO7CoLiXIFGY_uQto-Seu3VGkmykFkRFBIocexkpzxtUWSJrVxmtYDKo3znL3fZCgb2X 1E11EIN6ttOxChMNH3-zgBcgHUn5VWCnUiZMIfQQq950Qe7-XqHEswB9Q1kUh-bMUDeBXdJqR5FM_0awQDRAVHLvQ6/s4080/IMG_20230819_170117633_HDR.jpg)
The poem features prominently on the outside of the pub but I must confess I was more interested in the inside and more refreshment. I loitered outside a little while before entering as I had a pasty to finish and the smell of pub was wafting out of the doorway. Had it brought back any specific memories it would definitely have been a Proustian moment. But as it didn't it was just a moment when I thought "cor, bet this is a proper pub!" And indeed it was, complete with horse brasses:
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK73A_J9Nx7DWq_nwVGg1aZYiYu47KdKBfpa7zWLDIEj RVgYeYpY73bFNFfS8JUCyGdrPT_LQbnm5qAcyCRytbbBrCZkPO hWblKq4tf-f8qxk_kpAs0Ok1I61e_bXB08m1dEU0aKPaePDCMYfP_BRsyHma Mt-Nip_SHcm7-fxQFVczHWrGqyTtLGlhBFnw/s320/IMG_20230819_170203055_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK73A_J9Nx7DWq_nwVGg1aZYiYu47KdKBfpa7zWLDIEj RVgYeYpY73bFNFfS8JUCyGdrPT_LQbnm5qAcyCRytbbBrCZkPO hWblKq4tf-f8qxk_kpAs0Ok1I61e_bXB08m1dEU0aKPaePDCMYfP_BRsyHma Mt-Nip_SHcm7-fxQFVczHWrGqyTtLGlhBFnw/s4080/IMG_20230819_170203055_HDR.jpg)
When we left I spotted it even had two bars and you don't get more proper pub than that. It's a Sheps pub but they had Surrey Hills on so I swerved the Spitfire and went for that. Glorious it was too.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2ybf4AXHqqkpUmQfyCTlvA1oKiu2KW_QE53dr_9E5r 9jX_TcJ6FIumhNwiD_6PCrkp4IMa8y7zw8fLs7DEgha_X1cFu8 wyxy3jf09iHbVo0Njf2k24yO0JHapF_XvItMRZG6qZ7AHuZ2IM Enz5ILxj4z4KKPpON3WyLPx-yfm-_XxghdoLaLyxuP2V0a/s320/IMG_20230819_170501910_HDR.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib2ybf4AXHqqkpUmQfyCTlvA1oKiu2KW_QE53dr_9E5r 9jX_TcJ6FIumhNwiD_6PCrkp4IMa8y7zw8fLs7DEgha_X1cFu8 wyxy3jf09iHbVo0Njf2k24yO0JHapF_XvItMRZG6qZ7AHuZ2IM Enz5ILxj4z4KKPpON3WyLPx-yfm-_XxghdoLaLyxuP2V0a/s4080/IMG_20230819_170501910_HDR.jpg)
Ranmore Ale
That was the pub walk done, which definitely had a high walk to pub ratio but that's probably for the best as more beer wouldn't have helped with the heroic amount of walking we did or the navigation.
More... (http://edsbeer.blogspot.com/2023/08/ive-got-binoculars-on-top-of-box-hill.html)