Fancy turning your next pint into a pub break? Cask Marque’s Ale Trails are a great way to discover new pubs, sample well-kept cask ales and explore a destination along the way.
Cask Ale Week, taking place this September, is the perfect excuse to try one. But the trails don’t stop there – you can find and follow Ale Trails on the CaskFinder app throughout the year. We’ve picked a couple to get you started, along with some great pubs to stay in nearby.
Take on the World’s Biggest Ale Trail
If you like the idea of ticking off pubs as you travel, you can join Cask Marque’s World’s Biggest Ale Trail through the CaskFinder app.
Every Cask Marque accredited pub displays a certificate with a QR code. Simply scan the code using the app when you visit and the pub is added to your total. As your number of visits grows, there are prizes to collect along the way, with rewards ranging from badges and glasses to clothing and special beer experiences.
It’s a fun way to keep track of the pubs you’ve visited, discover somewhere new and add an extra challenge to your travels. And, of course, you don’t have to squeeze them all into one trip – the World’s Biggest Ale Trail runs throughout the year.
If you’re planning to tick off a few pubs further from home, why not turn the journey into a short break and find a pub with rooms for the night?
Explore the Bury St Edmunds Ale Trail
For a combination of beer, pubs and centuries of history, head for the Bury St Edmunds Ale Trail. This self-guided journey through the town’s impressive brewing heritage takes you to historic pubs, award-winning real ales and characterful craft beer bars, with plenty to discover along the way.
Pick up an Ale Trail map around the town or follow the trail on the CaskFinder app and choose your own route between stops. With pubs dotted around the historic centre, you can take things at your own pace, stopping off to explore the town in between pints.
And with so much to see beyond the trail, from Bury St Edmunds’ historic streets and landmarks to its shops and restaurants, it’s well worth making more than a day of it. Stay overnight in one of the town’s pubs with rooms and you can enjoy the trail without having to think about the journey home.
Where to stay in Bury St Edmunds
The Bushel offers a convenient base for enjoying Bury St Edmunds and its pubs, giving you somewhere comfortable to retreat to after following the trail.
For another traditional pub stay, The Fox Inn makes a great base for combining the Ale Trail with a leisurely break in this historic Suffolk town.
You can also check into The Dog & Partridge, allowing you to enjoy the atmosphere of a British pub long after you’ve finished exploring the trail.
Follow the JW Lees Ale Trail
Fans of a crisp pint have plenty to discover on the JW Lees Ale Trail, which brings together 70 great pubs across the region.
Available through the CaskFinder app, the trail takes you from cosy country pubs pouring beautifully kept cask ales to lively town pubs where you’ll find craft lagers, good food and entertainment alongside the beer.
There’s an extra incentive to get exploring, too. Visit 10 pubs on the trail and you’ll earn a £10 e-voucher to spend at selected JW Lees pubs.
Whether you tackle ten stops over a weekend, make the trail part of a longer break or gradually tick off pubs throughout the year, it’s a great way to discover more of the JW Lees estate.
Make a stay of it
If you’d rather not worry about the journey home, Stay in a Pub features JW Lees pubs with rooms, making it easy to combine a few stops on the trail with an overnight stay.
Spend the day exploring, settle in for dinner and another pint, then simply head upstairs when the evening comes to an end.
Make a break of your next Ale Trail
Cask Ale Week is a great excuse to get started this September, celebrating cask beer and the pubs that serve it. But with Ale Trails and the World’s Biggest Ale Trail available through the CaskFinder app throughout the year, your next pub adventure can happen whenever you fancy it.
Whether you’re spending a weekend exploring Bury St Edmunds, working your way through the JW Lees Ale Trail or simply adding another Cask Marque pub to your total, there’s no need to make it a day trip.
Find a pub with rooms, stay the night and make a break of your next Ale Trail.
