{"id":20973,"date":"2020-08-29T13:24:09","date_gmt":"2020-08-29T13:24:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/?p=20973"},"modified":"2020-08-29T13:24:09","modified_gmt":"2020-08-29T13:24:09","slug":"the-greyhound-on-the-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/the-greyhound-on-the-test\/","title":{"rendered":"The Greyhound on the Test"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Greyhound<\/p>\n

As someone who travels quite a lot in “normal times” (anyone else getting sick of any phrase containing the word “normal”?), it’s amazing how otherworldly a stay somewhere close to home can feel after some 26+ weeks mostly staring at the same four walls…\u00a0 \u00a0I am not joking about the “close to home part either” – our chosen place of rest for the weekend?\u00a0 The Greyhound on the Test<\/a> – a mere seven miles up the road in Stockbridge…<\/p>\n

As many people are probably sick of hearing, I am not always<\/em> over the moon to be back.\u00a0 \u00a0We all found it difficult when after several years away we moved back to our “own country”\u00a0 but had to initially live in an area completely alien to us and that we had little connection with.\u00a0 \u00a0 So, on the days that my “I wish I was abroad again” rose-tinted glasses start to creep up my nose again, I thank my lucky stars that we are now at least in a part of the UK that is<\/em> completely familiar and<\/em> happens to contain a vast proportion of our friends and family – that really makes a huge difference let me tell you…<\/p>\n

Having roots working their way back into place for a while not only helps us feel a little more settled, but has the added bonus of memories relived when revisiting familiar places.\u00a0 \u00a0 Stockbridge is one of those places, as I would visit with my grandparents as a small child (it’s their closest town)…\u00a0 \u00a0Despite the one main High Street feeling a little busier, and the usual businesses and buildings having changed direction or disappeared over the years, it’s easy to picture it exactly as it was, and it will always remain one of the places that I have a soft spot for…<\/p>\n

\"Leet<\/p>\n

Anyway, back in the darker more depressing months of our captivity, I booked a birthday break in this rather lovely Stockbridge riverside pub\/hotel now renowned for its rather lovely food.\u00a0 \u00a0After 26+ weeks of homeschooling, I would have been happy in a leaky tent mind you, but thankfully our room (The Leet 2) was anything but tent-like, and I would have been very happy to stay for a considerably longer period of time than the two nights that we had.\u00a0 \u00a0 With its own separate entrance to the pub and its own private courtyard, it made for a really lovely, and much needed peaceful weekend break…<\/p>\n

\"Greyhound<\/p>\n

The Greyhound has stood on the banks of the River Test in one guise or another for over 600 years.\u00a0 \u00a0 This area has always been noted for its trout fishing (it’s referred to in history books stretching back centuries) and the Greyhound owns over 70 beats which I am told (not being an angler I have no idea) is an impressive amount.\u00a0 \u00a0 Given the current “circumstances” this glorious riverside outdoor space made our stay all the more special.\u00a0 \u00a0Mr R disappeared from time to time to critique the angling action going on from a couple of the other guests.\u00a0 \u00a0I am sure he wouldn’t have minded doing a spot of fishing himself (he did used to another life ago), but as he’s mostly been tucked away in his garden office with massively increased working hours, he can do that next stay instead as this stay it was time for us to catch up, just the two of us (thanks Granny)…<\/p>\n

\"River<\/p>\n

\"Greyhound<\/p>\n

Our weekend started perched by the firepit with a G&T overlooking dreamy River Test scenery, before retiring inside to the restaurant (currently only open to residents, everyone else gets to eat in the magnificent stretch tent outside) to be treated to an evening of sharing plates and good wine (more on the food on my WinchesterEats blog as soon as I finish writing it up)…<\/p>\n

\"Greyhound\"<\/p>\n

\"Greyhound\"<\/p>\n

A packed breakfast tray was left on the doorstep the following morning which set us up for our morning’s “walk” which ended up being 11km across some of the most stunning Hampshire countryside (albeit in squeaky welly boots).\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0With masses of branches laden with blackberries and sloes, there was a distinct Autumn feel to the air, which felt somewhat bittersweet given the odd year that 2020 has been so far, it just feels like it’s been so long but so short at the same time…<\/p>\n

\"Grey\"<\/p>\n

If you are interested, we attempted to follow this specific walk<\/a><\/em> but went wrong somewhere before finally ending up on the old disused Sprat and Winkle Train line (thought to be named by seafood carried along it) which used to run from Andover to Redbridge.\u00a0 \u00a0 I imagined it must have been derelict for at least a century, but on mentioning it to my Mum later on, it turns out she used to catch it to college back in the early Sixties!!\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Afterwards we cut back across stunning marshland by then willing the church spire in the distance to hurry up and get closer as it was the finish line!!\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0The Garden of the Three Cups Garden proved a good place for a well-deserved drink before we popped next door to Prego for plate of Italian Cheeses and good Italian red wine…<\/p>\n

\"Greyhound<\/p>\n

\"Greyhound<\/p>\n

And that was as far as we ventured for the entire weekend… The remainder of our Saturday we spent in our little piece of riverside heaven before a really lovely three-course meal in the restaurant that evening.\u00a0 \u00a0It actually felt like a holiday x 1000 especially with no-one else to answer to after months of feeling like some kind of human search engine (anyone else asked thousands of odd questions a day by their entire family?) and no conversations constantly being interrupted by any small people (as much as I will miss them all when they finally go back to school!)…<\/p>\n

\"Greyhound<\/p>\n

\"Greyhound<\/p>\n

\"Greyhound<\/p>\n

Our Summer 2020 travels might be relatively quiet compared to our “normal life”, but I will remember this year for time well spent with loved ones, and The Greyhound on the Test made for the perfect weekend getaway and now forms part of those memories to also relive one day.\u00a0 It was a great reminder as to why we are lucky to be back in this part of the world too…<\/p>\n

\"Sunday
Sunday Morning Full English…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A weekend full of rest and recuperation, exploring, and good food and drink quite literally on our doorstep and not an airport in sight!!\u00a0 Perfect…<\/p>\n

The Greyhound on the Test Hotel<\/strong>\u00a031 High Street, Stockbridge, Hampshire SO20 6EY
\nT: 01264 810833 | E:\u00a0info@thegreyhoundonthetest.co.uk<\/a><\/p>\n

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