For years I’ve been taking my cheese and chutney sandwiches with me when I go for walks partly in fear of not being able to pick up something on route. I’m doing less high level walking now that I used to so thought I’d see what it was like to risk finding somewhere by chance when I was feeling peckish. So far things have turned out very well. Here’s the places I’ve bumped into.
Queen’s Head, Chepstow
The Queen’s Head is a real pub beyond question. It has been CAMRA’s Gwent Pub of the Year since 2013. I had some lovely JPR Pale Ale from the Grey Trees brewery in Aberdare. Its the only pub I’ve been to where the locals were complaining (jokingly) aobut us drinking the beer – they were concerned it was going to run out soon.
Cwtch, Chepstow
It was time for a break for me leading a u3a group around Chepstow and seek some sustenance. We spotted this café tucked away and had some delicious caramel crunch cake and a couple of coffees. Good friendly service. I was a bit shocked by the bill but I think that’s maybe because I had assumed as it was served from a hatch I was expecting it to be less but can’t complain about the quality.
Black Boy, Swansea
I think the Black Boy has been there for years. I seem to remember going there in the late 1970s when I was in college. I paid another visit tonight for a friend’s 80th birthday. I got so caught up in the event that I forgot to take a photo of my fine fish and chips but luckily for me my friend is an avid fish and chip fan and photo taker!
Finnegans Inn, Barry Island
Finnegans Inn is next to the railway station on Barry Island. Having taken my Cardiff u3a Slow Train Coming group for a tour of Barry Island and putting them on the train home it was time to unwind by having a Guinness. And very good it tasted too!
Chippy on the Beach, Barry Island
After exploring Friar’s Point it was time for a break before we all headed around Nell’s Point to Jackson’s Bay. The group broke up and I went to ‘Chippy on the Beach’ for a large sausage and chips and treated myself to some gravy to go with it.
Cross Inn, Cwmfelin
I arrived at Garth station by train and walked up to Garth Hill to the east. I’d built up quite a thirst by then so headed for the Cross Inn where I had a warm welcome and two lovely pints of Cerddin Brewery beer brewed in the micro brewery next door to the pub.
Thurabread Bakery, Monmouth
I’d spent the day out geocaching, climbing trees (at my age!) and exploring churches. It was time for a treat and I happened upon the Thurabread Bakery which has been in business for over 100 years! I had a Danish pastry and a coffee to wash it down. Perfect.
Traditional Bakers, Maesteg
I was busy exploring the valley by train and alighted at Ewenny Road station, did some exploring and walked up to Maesteg and had a quick scamper around the town in search of some lunch. Lots of cafes but what I wanted was a sandwich to eat on the train home and I found a Coronation chicken on mayonnaise salad in Traditional Bakers. I thought at the time Traditional Bakers was a description of the shop rather than the name but it is cunningly both.
O’Sheas, Barry Island
I was out doing a recce for a walk I am leading next month. After arriving by train and taking a stroll around Friars Point I was feeling peckish so called into O’Sheas in the Western Arcade. Their chips are excellent. After that I headed on around to Jackson’s Bay.
Woodies, Blackwood
I’d had a good walk around Blackwood looking at the artwork including up to the impressive Chartist statue at the north end of the town. I was running out of time on my parking but had time enough to buy a tuna baguette from Woodies café. I must admit I thought they had got my order confused when it arrived as it looked like a pizza box but it was a nice touch as it also contained the salad and coleslaw.
Black Gold, Cheltenham
This was a real treat at the end of a day doing a walk around Cheltenham. Good coffee and a great peanut butter stack. Set me up for my walk back to the station and train home.
Central Cross Cafe, Cheltenham
I’d spent the morning exploring Cheltenham town centre and felt I had enough energy left to walk to Pittville Park. Suddenly, on the way, I felt hungry. Luckily I was just passing Central Cross Café. Their board said they were famous for their hot sandwiches so I had a tomato, mozzarella and pesto hot sandwich and it was indeed tasty.
Cafe Cwtch, Pontypridd
Enjoyed my visit to what seems to be a new café in Pontypridd, Café Cwtch in the YMa building on Taff Street. I had a colourful and tasty avocado breakfast.
Crumbs, Merthyr Tydfil
I’d arrived by train and been for a nice walk up to Cyfarthfa Castle and around the woods. I was heading back and what should I pass but a sandwich shop. Perfect. I had a southern fried chicken, cheese and baconnaise sauce hot panini. I think it was best described as naughty but nice.
Fagins, Taff’s Well
A local Free House serving a number of real ales and a good menu. I visited for a geocaching event we were made to feel welcome. I had a pint of Mosaic Pale Ale from the Grey Trees brewery in Aberdare and a blue cheese burger. Very nice.
Tuck Shop, Pengam
Arriving by train today, the last of four stations visited, I spotted the Tuck Shop in the distance. Perfect I though, I was getting peckish. I can see why it is called the Tuck Shop as its clientele were the local school boys. My cheese and tuna panini didn’t disappoint. Friendly service.
Potters, Newport
Time to unwind a bit after leading a party of 50 around Newport telling them something of the local history. What better than a nice pint of London Pride.
Coffee#1, Newport
Time for a coffee and a chicken paninni after taking a group around Newport. The tiredness must have got the better of me – I forgot to take a photo of the food. A nicely laid out cafe with friendly service.
Sun Valley, Newbridge
After completing a tortuous walk from Crosskeys up to Mynydd y Lan I caught the train one stop north to Newbridge. A sausage sandwich and mug of tea revived me no end. Friendly service. The cafe doubles up as the local amusement centre.
Golden Lion, Penarth
Hidden away on the back streets of Penarth this is a gem of a pub, winning numerous CAMRA awards over the years. I snuck in there for a cheeky Saturday afternoon drink and had a pint of Into the Valley brewed at the Grey Trees brewery in Aberdare.
Castle Inn, Caldicot
Nearing the end of a pleasant cold and sunny circular walk from Caldicot to Rogiet I found this pleasant pub beckoning me in. I had a pint of Old Speckled Hen and clucked for the rest of the afternoon.
Supa Thai Vegan, Newport Market
Newport Market reopened in 2022 after undergoing a massive renovation which I’m guessing some may like and others may not. At its heart is a large food court with multiple food outlets. Customers are encouraged to order via a QR code or is you are like me, you look for the outlet that is still willing to accept your order the old fashioned way – verbally, and go with them. I went to Supa Thai Vegan and had a tray of Potato Pops which were 16 fried mini potato balls served with mayo, Thai sriracha, spring onion and crispy onion and were tasty enough.
Brit, Cwmavon
This was a welcome stop on a smashing walk from Pontrhydyfen down to the M4 and back again. It was a full house here on a Saturday afternoon – sign of a good pub. I had a very tasty pint of Jemima’s Pitchfork from the Glamorgan Brewing Co.
Six Bells, Coity
I was in the area doing some geocaching which included exploring the nearby old road from Coity to Bridgend, now almost totally reclaimed by nature. I thought the Six Bells was closed when I approached but by a stroke of luck it was just opening. I had a pint of Cwrw Braf from the Tomos Watkin brewery in Swansea.
Railway, Penarth
I arrived by train and took a walk down through Alexandra Park to the pier and along the promenade before heading back up through Windsor Gardens and Sully Terrace etc. Before catching the train home I popped into the appropriately named Railway and had a nice pint of Proper Job, Cornish IPA from the St Austell Brewery.
Great Western Hotel, Abergavenny
Conveniently situated opposite the railway station so anyone arriving early for a train departure can while the time over a pint. Today I had a pint of Glamorgan Brewing Co Thunderbird bitter to round off a very pleasant day in Abergavenny with friends.
Victoria, Abergavenny
A recently refurbished and now independently-owned pub which traces its history back 200 years. I had a Jackfruit and Mushroom Pie which was jackfruit, portobello mushrooms and sprouting broccoli, topped with panko breadcrumbs and served with mash and onion gravy. That was accompanied by a pint of Camden Town Brewery Pale Ale. An interesting feature is the urinals.
Greyhound Vaults, Abergavenny
Continuing on our tour of hostilities in Abergavenny we dip off the main street and find this little gem. It used to be the tap room for the nearby Greyhound Hotel. A nice pint of Thunderbird from the Glamorgan Brewing Coat Llantrisant was had.
Chesters Wine Merchants, Abergavenny
An unusual place to start a day of sampling beer in Abergavenny but Chesters does indeed serve beer. Chesters has been in its current location for a couple of years now. It was a pleasure to meet Chester himself and to have a pint of ‘Wanna go to the Sun’ pale ale from Lost and Founded Brewers in Bristol.
Caerphilly Mountain Snack Bar
Caerphilly Mountain Snack Bar boasts it is open every day of the year and every time I’ve been its been not only open but busy. The breakfast roll deal is always a popular choice judging by those people ahead of me in the queue today but this morning I was restrained and just had a sausage bap. It tasted all the better for eating it outside in the miserable November weather at a geocaching event.
Amber’s Cafe, Beddau
I’d worked up a bit of an appetite having just delivered a talk at the nearby library about people who had been murdered by poison. Amber’s Lite Breakfast hit the spot perfectly.
Flour and Spoon, Leigh-on-Sea
Time for a bit of breakfast before giving a dear old aunt a good send off at a nearby church. I chose the eggs benedict with hollandaise, smoked salmon and paprika. And very tasty it was too. A popular cafe and bakery which also runs a baking school.
KFC, Rochford
It’s over ten years since I’ve had a traditional KFC meal (does anybody still call it Kentucky Fried Chicken?). Ashamed to say I needed a bit of help to negotiate the touch-screen ordering system. I’ll give you a hint – don’t forget to take your receipt – you’ll need it when collecting you food. It was less finger lickin’ good than I remember – but ones taste buds do get less sensitive with age.
Whitcombe Inn, Aberdare
I was heading back to the station after doing a walk around the town when it suddenly stopped raining. Time for a change of plan. I turned tail and went for a walk up around Aberdare Park instead. On the way to the station, for a second time, I found myself passing the excellent Whitcombe Inn. It would have been rude to walk past. A pint of Wye Valley Talisman beer quenched my thirst.
Spires Coffee Shop, Aberdare
Spires Coffee Shop is inside St Elvan’s Church. I was doing a recci ahead of a tour next month. Nice to find there was so much to see in Aberdare and in inside the church itself. Just remembered to take a photo before I ate all my cheese salad roll.
Aldi, Porthmadog
After a morning geocaching around Porthmadog and Tremadog I bought lunch in Aldi. I took it to Minfordd cemetery and ate it with my grandparents who have been dead 60 years. Lovely views from the cemetery towards Cnicht and the granite quarry he used to work. The BLT sandwich and Welshcakes were just the job for the journey home to South Wales.
The Australia, Porthmadog
What better way to wash down a fine fish and chip supper than with a couple of pints of Purple Moose beer at The Australia. The pub is the brewery tap and had five of their ales on draught. The brewery shop is a few doors down the road and the brewery not far away.
The Creel, Porthmadog
A smashing walk up on Yr Eifl (The Rivals) and Tre’r Ceiri Hill Fort had certainly given me a good appetite. This was a first class fish and chip supper and explains why there were queues of people outside this cafe. The Creel.
Bengal Spice, Caernarfon
After a day’s walking and cheering Wales along on the TV it was time to get some sustenance. WE chose to return to the Bengal Spice, somewhere we visited last year for a special Cobra meeting. It didn’t disappoint. My Tandoori Chicken Bhuna was very tasty.
Fic, Bethesda
Came to Bethesda to do a circular walk up to Moelyci to the west. The walk took a bit longer than expected and the Wales rugby match in the World Cup Quarter Final was about to start when we arrived back in town so we went into the first place we found to watch the game. So absorbed was I in the game that I forgot to take a picture of my Guinness. A disappointing result in the game against Argentina.
Morrisons, Caernarfon
A good place to pick up some food ahead of a day’s hill walking. The egg and cress sandwiches tasted good after a circular walk up to Moelyci from Bethesda. The cheese and onion was less tasty on top of Tre’r Ceiri Hill Fort the next day.
Tafarn y Porth, Caernarfon
Been coming here for years but I would have struggled to tell you the name of the pub. It is always just Wetherspoons to us. Busy on a Saturday night when there is live international rugby on. Less busy the following morning for breakfast but still popular enough. I must admit Wtherspoon do make a good breakfast.
Black Boy, Caernarfon
It’s become somewhat of a tradition for some of us to visit Caernarfon at this time of year and go to the Black Boy. The steak and ale pie tends to feature highly on our list. Washed down with a nice pint of Porth Neigwl IPA.
The Colliers, Efail Fach
After taking a lovely walk up into Pelenna Forest from Tonmawr, I thought I deserved a drink so stopped off in The Colliers in Efail Fach. The Felinfoel Double Dragon was most refreshing.
Queen Victoria Hotel, Blaenavon
After a good morning geocaching at Big Pit Museum and other places in Blaenavon I thought I’d find somewhere to watch the rugby. Wales were playing Georgia in the Rugby World Cup. I spotted a Felinfoel Brewery sign on the Queen Victoria so headed in. No real ale on sale unfortunately and even the Guinness was off. The John Smith’s however was surprisingly refreshing. I thought of the irony that I went all the way to Georgia and found Guinness there in the capital city Tbilisi but lucked out here in Blaenavon.
The Filling Station, Severn Beach
I’d finished my geocaching adventures for the day and was just walking back to Severn Beach and getting hungry when I spotted the Filling Station. It’s got a great proprietor; very friendly and insisted on giving me a complimentary can of coke. Thanks!
Canaletto Ice Cream, Bwlch
The Bwlch is a mountain pass between the Rhondda and Ogmore valleys. On a good day such as today it offers spectacular views. After a 5hr walk I tohught I’d treat myself to an ice cream from the Canaletto Ice Cream van. The van references Alessandro Canale, born in Italy, who along with his wife Maria lived in Cwmparc. Sheep are often seen queuing up for an ice cream – I kid you not.
Horseshoe Inn, Llangattock
We wanted to sample some Jamaican cuisine was part of my Armchair Travel Challenge and had heard about Jam-Welsh based at the Horseshoe Inn, Llangattock. We had a lovely Coconut Vegan Curry served in ½ pineapple and a Jamaican Spice Jerk Chicken Breast Burger, served with chilli & mango salsa, chips & coleslaw. I later gifted chef Raymond and Sheila a clock in the shape of Jamaica I had made earlier in the week.
Aberfan Community Centre Cafe
I was doing a recci for a walk I’m leading next month and was beginning to lose all hope of finding somewhere suitable to reccoment to peaple to have lunch when I stumbled upon this smart cafe. I didn’t spot that they served savories till after I’d ordered my coffee and wallnut cake. Never mind, there’s always next month.
Waves, Fontygary
Waves Café is within the Fontygary Leisure Park and open to the public. We arrived by train, getting off at Rhoose and then walking along the clifftop. I had a ‘functional’ lunch of cheese and potato pasty and doughnut followed by a pint of Guinness from the bar. I liked the way the pasty had a message on it – ‘I’m tidy like a pasty’, A lovely outdoor seating area overlooking the bay.
Royal Oak, Pencelli
After a very pleasant long day walking in the Brecon Beacons it was time to quench my thirst. What better than a pint of Whistle Blower from Solopian Brewery in Shrewsbury at the canal-side Royal Oak in Pencelli near Brecon.
Crown & Sceptre, Ross on Wye
After being greeted by those all too familiar words at the coffee shop nearby ‘sorry, we’re just closing’, I discovered the Crown & Sceptre was more than pleased to have my service. A very pleasant pint of Wye Valley Brewery’s Hopfather revived me after a very strenuous day geocaching on some overgrown trails. An old friend from college ran down to join me in the pub and we spent some quality time catching up and reminiscing.
Bethel Chapel Café, Pontrhydyfen
I had parked near here when setting off for my walk up a nearby hill and spotted this cafe. I was hoping it to still be open when I returned. I needn’t have worried, it was still doing good business in the afternoon. Another gem of a place with a warm welcome. I had my bara brith and mug of tea whilst being watched by Richard Burton. After that I went for a walk around the village, over the two viaducts, past Burton’s birthplace and went to see his parent’s grave where he is also remembered.
Coffee & Cream, Penrhiwceiber
A trip initially to Fernhill to find a 5* difficulty geocache was made even more difficult when I found the footpath from the station eastwards towards the hospital had been blocked off. This meant walking back to Mountain Ash and back out again and then back to Mountain Ash afterwards and working up an appetite for some lunch here at Coffee & Cream. A crispy cheese, ham and onion toasted sandwich went down very well. The café even has a little gift shop.
The Nook, Rogerstone
That was a pleasant surprise. I was taking a walk between Pye Corner and Rogerstone stations when what should I stumble upon but this gem of a place, the Nook. It was busy even in mid-week but with good service and tasty food. I had a Chorizo Brioche with pickled red cabbage, black garlic mayo and a poached egg.
Community Shop, Almondsbury
I was just beginning to feel both weary and peckish after a morning walking in the Bradley Stoke and Almondsbury area when what should I find but a community shop staffed by volunteers. Not only that but they had picnic tables outside where I could enjoy my sausage roll and lovely homemade fruit flapjack, washed down with a can of Rio Tropical.
Henbury Arms, Bristol
Had a fun day out geocaching in Bristol visiting first the Clifton Suspension bridge and then Blaise Castle and cottages and finally an event in the Henbury Arms. Disappointed to find no hand pumped beer being served so had Guinness instead. The pepperoni pizza when it arrived didn’t look too appetising but was in fact pretty tasty and freshly made. Good service too I thought.
Star Inn, Treoes
You know what it’s like. You park the car and go off in search of a geocache, turn the corner and suddenly, there staring you in the face, is a beautiful thatched pub. It didn’t disappoint. A slow-cooked steak sandwich with salad and chips. Very tasty. Accompanied by a lovely pint of Glamorgan Breweries Co Thunderbird IPA. Ignore the Brains glass. I must get into photographing the beer pump clips. And the geocache was still there when I came out to look for it.
Fontygary Shop & Deli – Rhoose
This smart deli opened in 2022 and is part of the Fontygary Leisure Park complex but open to the public. I was doing a recce walk along the cliff top ahead of brining a group to Rhoose next month. The complex had a bar, café and fish and chip shop but I chose to get a baguette and Welsh cake from the deli and wasn’t disappointed. I took it down to the beach and ate them in the sunshine with the sound of the waves lapping in.
Loaf Kitchen Bar – Ystradgynlais
Weary after a morning’s geocaching in Ystradgynlais I popped into Loaf and had a ham and cheese panini. Very tasty. It certainly revived me. They’ve a nice little garden area at the back for when the weather is fine.
Cardiff Capers 