| Re: The tale of rail aie trails Posted by Chris from Nailsea at 16:52, 10th October 2026 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
See also a previous topic, which Coffee Shop forum member Kernow Otter reminded me about:
Can't for the life of me find what I recall was a specific thread on 'pubs near stations' ...
It took even me a while, but I have now found it for you, Kernow Otter: see https://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=15910.0
That topic was originally specific to Wetherspoons at railway stations, but it did indeed expand to cover 'public houses near the railways' generally.
CfN.

| The tale of rail aie trails Posted by grahame at 06:02, 10th October 2026 | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Google's assistant tells me
An ale trail by rail is a self-guided or organized pub crawl where you travel by train between historic station pubs, micro-breweries, and village inns.
Popular UK Rail Ale Trails
* TransPennine Real Ale Trail: Spans West Yorkshire and Tameside, connecting famous spots like the Stalybridge Buffet Bar and Huddersfield's Kings Head.
* Devon & Cornwall Branch Lines: Scenic coastal and rural routes—such as the Tarka Line and Tamar Valley Line—where collecting pub stamps on a leaflet earns you a free T-shirt.
* Crouch Valley Rail Ale Trail: A 16.5-mile Essex coastal route from Wickford to Southminster featuring brewery taps and micropubs.
* Watercress Line Real Ale Train (RAT): A dedicated rolling steam-train experience through the Hampshire countryside featuring an onboard bar car.
Popular UK Rail Ale Trails
* TransPennine Real Ale Trail: Spans West Yorkshire and Tameside, connecting famous spots like the Stalybridge Buffet Bar and Huddersfield's Kings Head.
* Devon & Cornwall Branch Lines: Scenic coastal and rural routes—such as the Tarka Line and Tamar Valley Line—where collecting pub stamps on a leaflet earns you a free T-shirt.
* Crouch Valley Rail Ale Trail: A 16.5-mile Essex coastal route from Wickford to Southminster featuring brewery taps and micropubs.
* Watercress Line Real Ale Train (RAT): A dedicated rolling steam-train experience through the Hampshire countryside featuring an onboard bar car.
Came up for my "on this day", but with a "~" in front of it which is my flag for an approximate date. Never done a trail (not thrilled with getting myself inebriated) but I will grab the odd pint at The Railway, The Rose and Crown or the Queen's Tap while awaiting my train. With an improvement to our local trains up to an appropriate level for the line, there might be a negative effect on business at these places.














