The following extract comes from the Cambridge & District CAMRA newsletter 'ALE'. You might like to lobby for a similar bus service in the Stafford area, or take a trip to Cambridge. I wouldn't recommend drinking in all of the pubs on route if you were doing the whole journey by bus, let alone some of it by bike.
"South Cambridgeshire District Council would like us to remind you of their BikeBus service. What an ideal time of year to remind you! Summer is here, country pubs are beckoning, and two of the pubs that are reachable by this service, the White Horse in Barton and the Chequers in Orwell, were included on the Cambridge CAMRA 2015 Ale Trails.
Sadly, entries for the Ale Trail competition ended on 31st May, so you won’t be able to claim a CAMRA Ale Trail T- shirt, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give this innovative service a try.
To quote the South Cambs advert: “[You can] Savour the pubs of South Cambridgeshire on Sundays and bank holidays – courtesy of the BikeBus Explorer, a novel bus service which tows a 20 cycle bike trailer. Whether you wend your way by foot or cycle the BikeBus can get you closer to the host of country pubs along its route. The BikeBus travels from Cambridge rail station through Newnham and out to Gamlingay via a circular route, taking in Wimpole Estate. For details of the route map and timetable see
www.scambs.gov.uk/bikebus-explorer.”
“Along the way you’ll find The White Horse and The Hoops at Barton, The Wheatsheaf at Little Eversden (actually in Harlton –ed.), The Willow Tree at Bourn, The Chequers at Orwell, The Hardwicke Arms Hotel in Arrington, The Wheatsheaf and The Cock in Gamlingay, The Duncombe Arms at Waresely, The Crown and Cushion in Great Gransden and The Chequers in Little Gransden, where owner Bob Mitchell is happy to conduct tours of the Son of Sid
microbrewery for those arriving by BikeBus. Make an advance booking to view the brewery by phoning 01767 677 348. It’s only five pounds for a day explorer ticket, and you can get on and off the bus as many times as you like. So why not seek out and try a new watering hole this week end?”
Sounds good to me!
Other villages with pubs you might like to visit include, Croydon, The Hatleys, Comberton (The Three Horseshoes), and Harlton (The Hare & Hounds). Haslingfield (The Little Rose), Barrington (The Royal Oak) and Bourn (The Willow Tree) also lie close to the route.
For further information about these pubs visit the Cambridge CAMRA website
pubs.cambridge-camra.org.uk or the CAMRA WhatPub website
whatpub.com
Ali Cook"