Branch trip to Hereford and Gwatkins Cider Farm starts well with the bus leaving just after 9.30. Not two minutes into the trip and some plonker in his 4x4 decides to pull out in front of us. That could have called an end before we’ve even started. We travel down the A38 through Shenston and Sutton and then on to the M5. So far so good. I don't know if we’re making good time but the sweets being handed around make it pass by quickly. At 10:50am we leave the M5 and join the A44, briefly entering Worcester, then off onto the A449 towards Hereford.

There’s some lovely countryside here and aside from some clouds the sun makes the day feel very pleasant. Now on to the A4103 which means we're about 20 - 25 miles out of Hereford. Dave Pantry comes round with some info and tells us the brewery drop-off will be first as the cider farm is further out. Makes sense to me! Oh no, stuck behind the slowest tractor in the world but thanks to our driver, not for long. Still on the A4103, the sun hasn't given up yet but the clouds are getting bigger. I reckon we will be arriving soon. We pass an orchard, a good sign we must be getting close. Yes there's the sign for Hereford, not long now. The coach finally pulls up at 11:30am or thereabouts.

We make our way to the first stop of the day, The Barrels, 69 St. Owen Street. This pub is a lovely place which was voted Herefordshire CAMRA Pub of the Year 2003 and used to be the home of a micro brewery, the Wye Valley Brewery. Outside is a very large beer garden with a small pond and hanging baskets in full bloom - very nice indeed. The beer served here is in excellent condition, I have a pint of HPA (Hereford pale ale) @ 4.0% it's spot on, full of flavour and clearer than a sheet of glass. Everyone else says their ales also taste great.

Our next stop is the Spinning Dog Brewery which is incorporated into the Victory pub. The bar is laid out like a ship (the HMS Victory) with the nautical theme continuing throughout, and the staff here are friendly and welcoming. We take a tour of the brewery which is informative and very interesting. As you would expect from a pub with its own brewery the beer is in excellent condition.

With it now being lunch time the next port of call is somewhere to eat. We end up at a place called the Coffee Bean. Oh, it’s a bit of a disappointment as far as what is on offer, and no chips with the gammon. Sue is very upset! What with all the new age leaflets on the tables it would seem they wanted us to meditate before eating. This, at least, would have distracted us from how long it took to cook the food. However the meals turned out to be worth the wait.

We tried several other pubs afterwards but not one of them served real ales. So, disappointed, we end up back at the Barrels sitting out in the beer garden, at this time of year! We enjoy bright sunshine, good beer, good company and the slight trickle of water from a fountain in the pond. It’s now 4:25pm and just time for one last pint at the Victory. The coach is due to leave at 5:00pm so we must be quick.

Back on the coach and off we go. The coach is full of beer lovers nattering about the day or sleeping off the beer/cider consumed throughout. We almost trip over Julie's Nigel who is fast asleep. It’s now 6:30pm and the time has come for a final stop for more beer. We're in Worcestershire and a small Village called Chaddesly Corbet. The coach driver pulls up outside a pub called The Talbot Inn.

Well what can I say a great village pub. Timber framed and lots of history and character, with very friendly staff and a welcoming landlord. The beer here is in great condition, Banks's, Tom Woods and Wychwoods make a good range. We next went on to The Swan. Another lovely pub, a little bit trendy but a well kept pint of Bathams. Friendly staff and a good atmosphere make the Swan a good place to go for a beer. Finally we go back to the Talbot, with the Hobgoblin getting the better of us, a cracking pint. At 8:00pm we're back on the coach and on our way. With a clear sky and a full moon the day’s good weather carries on throughout our journey home. In short a fantastic outing, great beer, great company and great weather make the day.

Luke Lucas