Rambling, farther afield from Coventry

The strongest and the best cider I have ever drank was while walking the South West Coast Path, at a village called Worth Matravers. The pub was called "The Square and Compass" They had a selection of 8 or 9 ciders that were served straight from the barrel. My favourite was a pear cider called Perry.

I live not far from the Square and Compass at Worth Matravers. It is just outside Wareham, Dorset. I can confirm that the cider is still good!

" I live not far from the Square and Compass at Worth Matravers. It is just outside Wareham, Dorset. I can confirm that the cider is still good!" Hi Rob, I remember the first time I visited the S&C, there were chickens running free in the lounge.

Hi Mick, there are not too many places left like the Square and Compass. It has been in the Newman family for generations and been in every edition of the CAMRA Good Beer Guide. You would be surprised at the number of Coventrians that live down here. We even have a Dorset Sky Blues supporters group on Facebook which has nearly two hundred members!

All planning is now done for my next adventure. Starting May 12th. 44 miles of coast path from Cromer to Lowestoft over 4 nights. Wild camping, so we hope it dries up a bit !!

Is this trip solo or are you travelling with your kids? 44miles- I'm very impressed. We'll be over in Norfolk but not until September. We've recently finished watching lovely documentary about Norfolk and Suffolk, narrated by Bill Nighy which made us want to jump on a plane to visit all the places he did.

Hi Linda. no, not solo. It is the usual 3 of us. One to carry the tent outer, one to carry the tent inner and one for poles and pegs. We should cover the 44 miles over 3 days as long as we can keep out of the pub.

Hello, I've been visiting a dear friend who is now being treated in Rugby St Cross hospital. The journey aboard the Coventry bus 85 matches anything that Shearings or any other tour operators can match. Variations in the routes during the day, with services from Pool Meadow, all calling at Walsgrave hospital. The return journey the bus was full. I will tell you a bit more about the journey later to day. It matches any tour bus.

Hello, I will start a new post to describe the Coventry bus 85. It has variations to it's route which needs to be understood if exploring mid route locations. I will explain that as we venture. For ease of access in Coventry, also the out in the sticks locations on route, this has to be my No1 recommendation for a summer day outing. Pass the sweets round please.

Talking of comfort on transport Philip, have you seen or even managed to travel on one of the new West Midland Railway trains ? I saw one a few days ago across some fields, I did not know what it was at the time, just a nice clean, long, orange and black train. Any opinions ?

Those units are becoming more common nowadays when it's not a disruption day. They are regular on the Nuneaton to Leamington journey.

Hello, To say I've enjoyed a hectic day is putting it mildly, but it's been enjoyable even though I'm now whacked. Whacked, but relaxing as I catch up with forum activity. I'm going to avoid going all technical with the bus 85 timetable anomalies, instead tell you of what really pleased me travelling to St Cross hospital on Friday. You wouldn't know that I have a fascination with railways hey, but that's where I will start. Easenhall Cutting Anyone having difficulty loading the map, that's a modern photo of Easenhall cutting. The bus route passes over the railway line (Rugby to Nuneaton, known as the Trent Valley line), as it makes its way along the Brinklow Rd. Oh, that's interesting I can hear everyone yawning, Oh, a railway line, big deal! Well, whilst steam trains ruled the roost, this was the site of Easenhall troughs. The throughs were situated in the centre of the running lines, stretching for about a mile, full of water. Providing the train was travelling faster than forty miles per hour, the fireman would lower the scoop mechanism housed under the tender, so as to scoop up around three thousand gallons in fifteen seconds. If the loco was travelling at sixty, a mile a minute, it all had to be accomplished in much less time than a minute. This was one of my thrills as a trainspotter, cycling to the overbridge that the bus travels over, park my bike up & watch the express trains scoop the water up. The guard would make sure that all of the windows in the leading coach were well shut, as occasionally I would feel some spray sat high up on the embankment. Ok, on with your bread & cheese. I'm going to have some in a bit, my Sunday night supper. Hope you like that. Info, what the troughs looked like. Scoop in action.