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The Rail Ale Ramble
People
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Crookham
Travel
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Quality Tours with
Taste since 1977
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Forthcoming
Tours & Events
All tours start from London unless stated otherwise, but may
sometimes be joined en-route
RAIL ALE RAMBLES: Our RARs (primarily day trips by train,
sometimes with an overnight option), to interesting real ale breweries and
pubs, remain our mainstay and we have now organised over 200 of them since
1977. These tours may be arranged at quite short notice, so check back
often.
WEEKEND EXPLORERS: Long weekend trips,
in the UK and Europe, visiting interesting breweries and pubs with added
rail or cultural interest such as steam railways, narrow gauge lines, tram
systems, funiculars, boat travel or museums.
EXPLORER HOLIDAYS: 1 or 2 weeks or
perhaps longer, to destinations primarily in Britain but occasionally to
Europe and beyond, usually with brewery visits and rail interest.
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2023 and 2024
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Since
the pandemic, we have successfully run twelve full RARs and small-scale
day trips, two Weekend Explorers and one full Explorer Holiday. This year
we have run a number of Real Ale Rambles (including the major milestone
of our 200th RAR!) and an extended holiday to South West
Scotland. We are running at least one more RAR this year (visiting Arkell’s fine
steam brewery in their 180th year of brewing), as well as
planning a full holiday to Devon for spring 2024. Other RARs may be
planned for later this year – make sure you are on our mailing list
(contact us on crookhamtravel@gmail.com to be the
first to hear of these and future tours!).
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This RAR
is packed with interesting places to visit, starting at Reading Station
where we'll be joining our coach. During the day, we will visit the
following:
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Our first stop will be to the excellent Carters Rest in Wroughton (GBG), a pub which can trace its routes
back to 1671 and today sells a wide range (normally six - four
off-season) cask ales. As well as a pint, a local bakery's large soft
roll will be included.
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 Next,
the highlight of the day: a visit to Arkell's fine
steam brewery in Kingsdown, Swindon. There
we'll have a private tour and hear their very interesting tale – this is
an important year for them as they are celebrating 180 years of brewing
fine ales.
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 After
this, we'll head to the Broadtown Brewery's
former brewery site and current tap room – the Hop Chapel, themed
as a monastic style tap room, beautifully completed with ornate reclaimed
wood, vintage glass panelling, stained-glass windows and a pipe organ
where you’ll enjoy an included pint and an interesting tale.
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Our final stop for an included pint will
be at The Five
Bells (GBG) in Royal Wootton Bassett, a busy
and cosy traditional thatched local with a beamed ceiling and open fires,
dating from the late 17th Century.
All
good things have to come to a close so you’ll be taken back to Reading
Station to arrive by about 20:30, where the tour ends. Included is
private coach travel, a pint in both pubs, a
filled lunchtime roll and the Arkell's Brewery
visit – plus a guaranteed great day out with other friends of GDD!
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Please contact us at crookhamtravel@gmail.com
for the booking form
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RAR 201 is
in the planning stage and we will publish detail as soon as they are
available.
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Details later
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An Explorer visit to East
Devon. The programme has not yet
been finalised but will include:
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Several brewery visits and scenery via four days coaching, door-to
door;
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One way River Exe cruise to Topsham with real ale on board - see
the trains from the river!
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Seaton Tramway and depot;
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Pecorama with its hugely expanded narrow gauge
railway;
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Five nights stay in Exmouth at the 3* Royal Beacon Hotel with two
brewpubs and a 'Spoons in town. The Meeting Point will be at Exeter St.
David’s station.
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Details later
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In April
2024 the Brewery History Society (BHS) are running a trip to Belgium based
in Antwerp and we are assisting them in planning the itinerary. They are
likely to be visiting Brouwerij Het Anker, Brouwerij Malheur, Brouwerij Duvel Moortgat, Brouwerij De Koninck, Antwerpse Brouw Compagnie and the Huisbrouwerij De Halve Maan amongst others. They may be able to accommodate some of us too if
spaces allows – if you are interested in joining this trip which is
likely to be running in the week commencing Monday 15th April
2024, please contact Tony Fox-Griffith to register your interest.
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If you are considering joining the BHS in this tour, please
contact Tony Fox-Griffith at crookhamtravel@gmail.com
to register your interest
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CROOKHAM TRAVEL
11 Attlee Gardens, Church Crookham, Fleet, Hampshire GU52 6PH
Telephone: 07766 663579
email: crookhamtravel@gmail.com
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Page last
revised: 17 September 2023
Visitors since April 2008:
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