The Rugglestone On one of the hottest days of the year(so far!) numerous members from South Devon and Exeter and East Devon branches set off to visit Widecombe and Bovey Tracey by bus.
Most of us met at Newton Abbot Bus Station, after a traditional breakfast at the Richard Hopkins, to join the 11.20 Stagecoach 39 bus to Bovey Tracey. Fortunately it was a full size single decker, by the end of the day there would be over 20 of us. This has to be a post Covid record for a mid week social.

When the bus arrived in Bovey, in became the 271 and continued to Widecombe. On arrival we all set off to walk the short distance down to The Rugglestone. By now it was 12.30, the car park was full, any shaded seating outside was taken and there was a queue to the bar that stretched outside. Fortunately when we got our beers there were plenty of seats in the nice cool bar. The choice of beers was: Dartmoor Legend, Otter Bright and Teignworthy Moor all served by gravity from casks behind the bar.

The Old Inn The next call required a walk back up the hill to the village centre and the Old Inn, a large Hall & Woodhouse pub, serving Jail Ale and Badger Tanglefoot, the choice of many. The opportunity was taken in a sunny garden for the official trip photo, there are only three members missing from it.

It was soon time to catch the Hoppa back to Bovey. One of our regulars, Martin 'the bag' arrived on it, having been to the pubs in Bovey, he was now going to do Widecombe, an upside down day for him, but he seemed happy enough!

The Bell Inn was the first calling point where the choice was between South Hams Wild Blonde, Dartmoor Legend and Doom Bar. The pub itself was covered in scaffolding, but there was a stunning garden to the rear where many of us gathered. The next call was the Cromwell Arms, although a few of our number, myself included had to catch the next 39 back to Newton Abbot, so we could get home on the same day.
For once all our buses turned up and on time, well done Stagecoach..

It was encouraging to see so many members on a mid week social, especially the new members we had not met before!

Our next social event will be on Saturday 27th August and will take the form of a visit to Staverton Station for the annual Beer Festival, always a good day out! See the Diary

The Haytor Hoppa team Martin(right) arrives as we leave! In the Bell Inn Part of the Bell Inn garden