A rail ale trail is a marketing exercise in the United Kingdom that is designed to promote tourism to a rural area, by encouraging people to visit a series of pubs that are close to stations along a railway line. Participants are rewarded for visiting the pubs by train. In doing this they increase the number of passengers on the railway and bring money into the local economy. The scheme is often supported by the Campaign for Real Ale. The beer is usually brewed locally and many of the pubs offer food as well.
Each trail is publicised by a free booklet that is distributed through stations and local outlets, and which is also available for downloading from the internet. Each time a pub is visited the booklet is stamped, provided a valid rail ticket is shown when a purchase is made. Once sufficient stamps have been collected, the booklet can be exchanged for merchandise specific to each trail, such as a T-shirt or badge.
History
On 1 October 1977 the first rail ale trail was run by Gerald Daniels, of Crookham Travel under the name "Rail Ale Ramble". A chartered train with 598 passengers ran from London to Bath, Somerset and Oxford. More than thirty years later Crookham Travel still run Rail Ale Rambles. Meanwhile, the term "rail ale" has been adopted by organisations such as the Devon and Cornwall Rail Partnership, who promote rural train routes in the English West Country. In the 1980s the local railway management had promoted travel to pubs close to stations using the tag line "Let us drive you to the pub". Some incentives were offered to railway passengers to use certain pubs.
In Devon and Cornwall
Tarka Line
The Tarka Line Rail Ale Trail was the first to be launched in 2002. The "Beer Engine" at Newton St Cyres railway station had pioneered the use of rail travel to bring drinkers to its bar. It opened in 1985 in the old railway hotel opposite the station and was soon offering a discount on production of a rail ticket.
The trail originally covered 16 pubs, and increased to a peak of 19, but one has since closed. There are five pubs in Exeter and four in Barnstaple, with one each at Newton St Cyres railway station, Crediton railway station, Yeoford railway station, Copplestone, Morchard Road railway station, Lapford, Eggesford railway station, Portsmouth Arms railway station, and Umberleigh. The collecting of 5, 10 or 18 stamps entitles the participant to claim Tarka Line Rail Trail merchandise.
Maritime Line
The Maritime Line Rail Ale Trail was the second to be launched, in 2003, covering 14 pubs. There are four pubs in Truro, one in Perranwell, three in Penryn, and six in Falmouth – two of which are close to Penmere railway station, and four in the town centre.
Looe Valley Line
The Looe Valley Line Rail Ale Trail was the third pilot scheme, launched early in 2004, and covering 11 pubs between Liskeard and Looe. Seven of the pubs are in Looe and two in Liskeard. The remaining pubs are "Ye Old Plough House Inn" at Duloe, a 30-minute walk from Causeland railway station, and the "Polruan Country House Hotel" near Sandplace railway station.
Tamar Valley Line
The Tamar Valley Line Rail Ale Trail launched late in 2004 and contains 17 pubs. Six are in Plymouth city centre and a further three in the suburbs near Devonport and St Budeaux Victoria Road railway stations. There are single pubs to visit at Bere Ferrers and Bere Alston, one in Calstock and five in Gunnislake.
St Ives Bay Line
The St Ives Bay Line Rail Ale Trail was launched on 3 June 2005 with 14 pubs. Five are in St Ives, one in Lelant, two close to Lelant Saltings railway station and one near St Erth railway station. The five remaining pubs are in Penzance which is usually reached by changing trains at St Erth onto the Cornish Main Line, although there are also a very few through trains from St Ives railway station.
Atlantic Coast Line
The most recent of the Devon and Cornwall rail ale trails is the Atlantic Coast Line from Par to Newquay. It was launched in 2005 with 16 pubs but one has since closed. There are three in Newquay, two near St Columb Road railway station, six in and around Par, and one each at Quintrell Downs, Roche, Bugle and Luxulyan.
Elsewhere
Abbey Line
A collection of 16 pubs in St Albans, Bricket Wood, Park Street and Watford, Hertfordshire. Participants are encouraged to collect a stamp from each of the pubs, with the reward for doing so a specially designed Rail Ale T-shirt showing the Abbey Line Rail Ale Trail logo.
Blackpool
A rail ale trail on the South Fylde Line in Lancashire was launched on 28 June 2006 with 14 pubs.