LOST IN A(SHCLYST) FOREST, ALL ALONE

Another night, another exciting pitched tent campervan in an empty layby on the edge of a forest I’d never heard of before.

You can tell it’s Devon from the high hedges.

Ashclyst is lovely, best explored at first light after the sleep of the just.

If you want to sleep in pitch darkness, come here.

Baa Baa Toure loved it,

except when an acorn fell on his head in the night. Here’s the offending acorn.

By the way, Baa Baa Toure wishes to publicly disassociate himself from the once good footballer of a similar name (no relation), but if Ya Ya needs any “product” for his party he could do worse than the Gents at the lovely New Inn in Broadclyst.

Isolated but thriving, the Landlord had seem bemused by my phone call asking if they were open. “Probably not till midnight” was the reply.

Informal, unpretentious, boisterous; like a Surrey pub inside the M25 on a Sunday afternoon, but without the Chelsea shirts.

“Oi, he’s not having the Otter, is he ?” asked the bloke 1.9m to my right, after he’d graciously let me in before his more complex order.

I hadn’t realised Otter was rationed during Covid. Or perhaps the van coming from Luppit had got stuck trying to edge past an Ocado van in the lanes.

Luckily, he seemed to be joking.

I (voluntarily) went outside and drank a gorgeously cool pint in a chunky glass in the setting sun.

Sometimes, you know, this ticking lark is almost worth the effort.

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Published by retiredmartin

Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.

19 thoughts on “LOST IN A(SHCLYST) FOREST, ALL ALONE”

      1. Got one of those, given to me not nicked, I hasten to add. Only ever nicked a beer glass once, from the Bar Rekjavik in Prague, because I was grossly overcharged and wanted some small revenge.

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  2. “You can tell it’s Devon from the high hedges.”

    And the fact that they like their ‘clysts’ from the OS map (but sadly, no cy-clyst). 😉

    “If you want to sleep in pitch darkness, come here.”

    Blimey. That photo above looks like the place Arthur found his sword thingy.

    “he could do worse than the Gents at the lovely New Inn in Broadclyst.”

    Viagara before it became popular.

    “Probably not till midnight” was the reply.”

    Heh.

    “Oi, he’s not having the Otter, is he ?” asked the bloke 1.9m to my right”

    Arm’s length has suddenly lost all of its meaning.

    “Sometimes, you know, this ticking lark is almost worth the effort.”

    Heck, it’s worth it even when you go through nothing but ‘plant pot’ visits days on end. 😉

    Cheers

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  3. Unlike that Beermat, who couldn’t spot one if they were using his head for a ball, you appear to have gone full Pub Games Blogger and captured a classic off-season skittle alley there. Just need an Aunt Sally and a Bat & Trap to confirm your Gold Star membership.

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      4. Cheese or cheese and onion has always been the choice at a canalside pub not far from me.
        Two sandwiches, and one beer, is plenty.

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