This week is all about the start of the new school year, digging out the uniforms that have been hid away for 6 weeks, trying on new shoes, apprehensive and excited children and maybe some exhausted parents. This week we caught up with The Real Ale Trail who have something planned for you tired mums and dads (aunties, uncles, grandparents etc). Although this one is based in the Vale of Glamorgan they have one planned in the new year for the Swansea area, so we thought we’d see what it’s all about.
Wales Ales took the opportunity to catch up with Shelly Barratt of The Real Ale Trail Company who came up with a novel idea to bring new customers to a number of small local rural pubs and has been running various Ale Trails throughout the country since the first one in North East Wales in 2010.
The Real Ale Trail is essentially a bus based beer festival taking you around a number of pubs you might not normally go to, “The first ever event eight years ago was small, the buses were quite empty as they shuttled good-spirited folk around one wet Saturday to 7 country traditional Welsh pubs. Landlords were very happy with their new found popularity and customers enjoyed not having to worry about driving.”
They now have eight Trails running twice a year all over Wales and are always on the look out for new Trails, including possibly adding West Wales.
After proving a big hit up in the hills in North Wales, the Real Ale Trail arrived in the Vale of Glamorgan early 2018. The buses took the trailers around the wonderful countryside of South Wales and to its finest watering holes; a good time was had by all.
“This is now the 4th trail to hit the VOG this Saturday September 7th. Each trail usually takes a different path, so 
there’s always something new to experience. The trails are about connecting people to rural pubs and tasting the local real ales made in that region. This time around we are not visiting the dizzy highs of Bridgend, or going as far up as Llanharry we have shortened the trail but we are travelling over to Llantwit and Wick for a nosey around at some rather fine drinking establishments.”
So if you fancy exploring new pubs and enjoy some fantastic countryside views, but don’t fancy the hassle of driving then why not Hail the Ale Trail! You can purchase tickets for the Ale Trail by visiting their website www.realaletail.co.uk
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