The Thomas Lord might just be the perfect pub for the summer. The food's great and the staff are lovely, but the beer garden is the best bit. A kitchen garden which supplies the restaurant. An outdoor pizza oven. They even have their own chickens and quails running about. Perfect for families and hardened drinkers alike. The location means that a dedicated driver is a must. Unless you stay in a yurt at one of the nearby trout lakes.
High Street, West Meon, Hampshire, GU32 1LN
Google map: tinyurl.com/345p7uo
We stopped for lunch at this little farm shop cafe (near Haslemere in Surrey), and had the best cup of coffee I have ever tasted - and I have tried a lot of coffees! I got talking to the owner, and he has looked for (and obviously found) a company that roasts the beans in some sort of special way (he explained, and it was interesting, but the details are a haze now). Then he has a machine that slices the beans in a way that doesn't release the (bitter) oils. After that, he'd researched the best water to use (de-ionised)... and so on. This guy is a real treasure.
Headley Road, Grayshott, Hants
01428 712777 (shop/restaurant)
www.applegarthfarm.co.uk/cafe/
Very nice roast beef and Yorkshire pud.
East Clandon, Surrey
One of my favourite places to go where I live has got to be Craggy Island; the indoor climbing centre in Guildford. I love it because it’s somewhere I can go with my Dad, just the two of us, or maybe three if my sister tags along. Even though my Mum isn’t keen on the actual sport, she always encourages us from the Island cafe, which sells excellent and wonderfully gooey brownies. These always go down brilliantly after a hard climb!
The climbing itself is always rewarding, and you get a great buzz when you reach the top of the wacky walls, which range in difficulty. To warm up my muscles, I always start with traversing, which is basically working your way across a horizontal wall without falling off. This is great fun and my Dad can use the auto belay device which allows him to take a break from holding my rope. Afterwards I often try bouldering, where I can climb without a rope and practice my skills on the wall. For me, this is a great way to unwind with my family!
Kate Schneider (age 12).
Craggy Island Indoor Climbing Centre, Unit 9, Cobbett Park, Slyfield Industrial Estate, Moorfield Road, Guildford GU1 1RU
Tel: 01483 566 880
www.craggy-island.com
Send your feedback or queries to been.there@guardian.co.uk
Search Been there
Your tips about Guildford
Guildford basics
- Population:
- 0.129m
- Currency:
- Pound (£)
- Time zone:
- GMT
- Dialling code:
- 44 (0) 1483
Most popular tips about Guildford
Posted by Kate Schneider
Posted by Hokeypokey
Posted by LDunton
Posted by hammerthyme