There are few things in life so perfect as a leg-stretching walk through stunning countryside followed by a much-desired pint and hearty meal. And with that in mind, staying in one of our country pubs with rooms could be the best way to spend your weekend. Let’s be honest, in the UK you’re pretty spoilt for choice when it comes to picture perfect rural landscapes.
Rural Pubs
Whether you’re after a jaunt through luscious hills, a wildlife trail or a hike atop dramatic cliffs; trundling around the archetypal English countryside is one of life’s simple pleasures. What about getting out on a cycle path cut through a patchwork of hop fields, orchards and ancient woodland or just grabbing that book you’ve been meaning to read while perched on a pub bench overlooking photogenic landscapes? Whatever you choose to do, you can be sure that all of this country splendour is never more than a stone’s throw from a good pub. It always has been; the only difference now is those pubs have gone all high-end on us. Rural pubs have been injected with an elegant touch usually only seen in boutique hotels, top chefs have been recruited to serve up gastronomic delights and country pubs with accommodation have seriously upped their game in the style stakes with sumptuous four poster beds and freestanding bathtubs becoming the norm.
Despite the demand for luxury rooms in our country pub hotels, those clever owners have managed to retain their building’s original charm and character. Still expect pale stone pubs with flagstone floors, exposed brickwork and wooden beams, and of course a cosy sofa to sink into with your pint or a champagne cocktail if you so fancy, but likewise, expect vintage furnishings, palettes of muted French greys and bookcases lined with antiquarian books.
Whatever the season, a visit to one of these country pubs with rooms is as good as you would hope. Serious hiking around the Yorkshire Dales in the autumn, pony trekking around the New Forest in the summer, ambling around Cotswold villages and gurgling rivers in spring, followed up with a stunning supper and a stay in a stylishly revamped and oh-so-comfortable room is just about as perfect as it gets. So, pull on those welly boots, pack your compass and don’t forget your glad rags for that wonderful meal you so deserve at the end of it. Now, just breathe in that fresh country air.
