Salisbury - Exeter
Rail Ale Trail

Explore the scenic line between Salisbury and Exeter, stopping off at pubs along the way to enjoy locally brewed ales and top food.

The trail is self-guided. Win a T-shirt by getting 10 stamps on your printable stamp sheet.

STAMP SHEET

Salisbury-Exeter Rail Ale Trail launch event at The Vine, Honiton

Launching the trail at The Vine Inn, Honiton

Pubs on the trail

Opening hours may change. Check before travel.

SALISBURY

Haunch of Venison

Probably the oldest hostelry in Salisbury and certainly the most haunted. Oak beams, flagstone floors and open fires. A CAMRA real ale pub.

1 Minster St, Salisbury, SP1 1TB

13min walk from the station (map)

01722 411313

Website | WhatPub

Food: Yes

Opening hours (call to check)

Mon-Thu: 11am-10.30pm
Fri-Sat: 11am-midnight
Sun: 11am-10pm

TISBURY

The Benett Arms

Positioned overlooking the village high street, a lively local pub at the heart of the community.

High St, Tisbury, SP3 6PD

7min walk from the station (map)

01747 870428

Facebook | WhatPub

Food: No

Opening hours (call to check)

3pm - close, seven days a week

The Boot Inn

17th Century inn that strives to maintain a traditonal approach to the social scene while providing an extensive good value bar menu.

High St, Tisbury, SP3 6PS

10min walk from the station (map)

01747 870363

WhatPub

Food: Yes

Opening hours (call to check)

Mon-Tues: 5.30pm - close
Wed-Sat: 12pm-3.30pm and 5.30pm - close
Sun: 12pm-3.30pm

Please check with the pub for food service times.

GILLINGHAM

The Phoenix Inn

Grade II listed pub serving local real ales and a 10 minute walk from the station.

The Square, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4AY

10min walk from the station (map)

01747 823277

WhatPub

Food: No

Opening hours (call to check)

Mon-Tues: 12pm-11pm
Wed: 11am-11pm
Thu: 12pm-11pm
Fri-Sat: 11am-11pm
Sun: 12pm-11pm

The Red Lion

A classic 16th Century Grade II listed town pub with oak beams. Serving a selection of cask ales. A short walk from the station.

23 High St, Gillingham, Dorset, SP8 4AA

9min walk from the station (map)

01747 229177

Website | WhatPub

Food: Yes

Opening hours (call to check)

12pm-11pm seven days a week

SHAFTESBURY (bus from Gillingham station - daytime only)

The Ship Inn

A Grade II listed traditional award winning CAMRA pub serving real ales, lagers & draught Guinness. Cosy & friendly.

24 Bleke St, Shaftesbury, SP7 8JZ

20-25min from Gillingham station on bus CR2 or CR2M (map)

01747 853219

WhatPub

Food: No

Opening hours (call to check)

Mon-Fri: 1pm-11pm
Sat-Sun: 12pm-11.30pm

SHERBORNE

The Digby Tap

Traditional 17th Century pub near the station with flagstone floors and open fire serving cask ales. Past CAMRA pub of the year winner.

Cooks Lane (off Digby Rd), Sherborne, DT9 3NS

4min walk from the station (map)

01935 813148

Website | WhatPub

Food: Lunchtimes only

Opening hours (call to check)

Mon-Sat: 11am-11pm
Sun: 12pm-11pm

CREWKERNE

The Globe Inn

A traditional 17th Century village inn serving real ale and close to the station.

Middle St, Misterton, Crewkerne, TA18 8LX

10min walk from the station (map)

01460 72941

Facebook | WhatPub

Food: Yes

Opening hours (call to check)

Mon: Closed
Tues: 4.30pm-8pm

Wed: 4.30pm-10pm
Thu: 4.30pm-11pm
Fri: 4pm-11pm
Sat: 3pm-11pm
Sun: 12pm-7pm

AXMINSTER

The Ale Way - Reopened 8 August 2024

The Ale Way micropub, based right at Axminster station, stocks a continually changing line of independent real ales, fresh craft beers and delicious ciders.

Axminister railway station, EX13 5PF

Located at the station itself

07488 277251

Website | WhatPub

Food: No

Opening hours (call to check)

Mon-Wed: Closed
Thu, Fri, Sat: 12 noon-9pm
Sun: Closed

Axminster Inn

The Axminster Inn is a friendly traditional pub, lying just off the town centre, with a real log fire for the winter months, and a lovely enclosed beer garden to enjoy in the warmer weather.

Exeter & East Devon CAMRA branch Pub of the Year 2022.

Silver St, Axminster, EX13 5AH

11min walk from the station (map)

01297 34947

Website | WhatPub

Food: No

Opening hours (call to check)

Mon-Fri: 11am-11pm
Sat: 11am-midnight
Sun: 12pm-11pm

The Castle Inn

Public house with restaurant, castle themed charity garden, dog friendly public bar and great selection of homemade food and ales.

Castle Hill, Axminster, EX13 5NN

12min walk from the station (map)

01297 35119

Facebook | WhatPub

Food: Every day 12.30-9pm

Opening hours (call to check)

Mon: 12pm-midnight
Tues-Sat: 11am-midnight
Sun: 12pm-midnight

HONITON

Vine Inn

Tucked away down an alleyway off the high street, this is a cosy family-run pub with a pretty cottage garden.

Vine Passage, Honiton, EX14 1NN

8min walk from the station (map)

01404 42889

Facebook | WhatPub

Food: Lunchtimes, Mon-Sat

Opening hours (call to check)

Mon-Fri: 10am-3pm and 6pm-11pm
Sat: 10am-11pm
Sun: 12pm-4pm and 7pm-10pm

Food at lunchtimes only, Mon-Sat (no evening food, no Sunday lunch)

FENITON

Nog Inn

This pub is right opposite the railway station and is an old fashioned, friendly, locals village pub.

Feniton, EX14 3BT

Right opposite the station

01404 850210

CAMRA profile

Food: No

Opening hours (call to check)

Mon-Thu: Closed
Fri-Sun: 1pm-4pm and 7pm-10pm

Any changes to these hours will be posted on the pub's CAMRA page. Also worth phoning to check.

WHIMPLE

New Fountain Inn

A newly restored Free House in the heart of the East Devon countryside, a short walk from Whimple station. Prides itself on providing the warmest of welcomes.

Church Road, Whimple, EX5 2TA

8min walk from the station (map)

01404 643730

Website | WhatPub

Food: Yes (Wed-Sun*)

Opening hours (call to check)

11am-11pm seven days a week

*Food served:

Wed-Fri: 12pm-2.30pm and 5.30pm-8.30pm
Sat: 12pm-2.30pm and 6pm-9pm
Sun: 12pm-6pm

CRANBROOK

The Cranberry Farm

A Hall and Woodhouse Classic house serving Badger beers and serving delicious meals all day.

Badger Way, Cranbrook, EX5 7FN

25min walk from the station (map)

01404 823946

Website | WhatPub

Food: Yes

Opening hours (call to check)

Mon-Fri: 11.30am-10.30pm
Sat: 11.30am-11pm
Sun: 11.30am-10.30pm

PINHOE

Heart of Oak

A family friendly pub, 3 mins walk from the station. Photo courtesy of whatpub.com

34 Main Road, Pinhoe, EX4 8HS

7min walk from the station (map)

01392 467329

Website | WhatPub

Food: Yes (12-3pm daily)

Opening hours (call to check)

Mon-Fri: 8.30am-11pm
Sat: 10am-11pm
Sun: 12pm-10.30pm

EXETER

Exeter Brewery Taproom

Taproom bar located within Exeter Brewery serving a range of ales they produce.

Cowley Bridge Road, Exeter, EX4 4NX

6min walk from Exeter St Davids (map)

01392 259059

Website | WhatPub

Food: Yes

Opening hours (call to check)

Thu & Fri: from 5pm

The Mill on the Exe

Large waterside pub with fantastic position next to Blackaller Weir.

Bonhay Road, Exeter, EX4 3AB

10min walk from Exeter Central (map)

01392 214464

Website | WhatPub

Food: Yes

Opening hours (call to check)

Mon-Sat: 8am-11pm
Sun: 8am-10.30pm

The White Hart Hotel

Old coaching inn that is one of Exeter’s best kept secrets.

66 South Street, Exeter, EX1 1EE

11min walk from Exeter Central (map)

01392 279897

Website | WhatPub

Food: Yes

Opening hours (call to check)

Mon-Sat: 12pm-11pm
Sun: 12pm-10.30pm

Take it easy: The trail is intended to be enjoyed at a leisurely pace and not all in one day. Please drink responsibly and respect your fellow pubgoers, rail passengers and staff. Cheers!

Take it easy: Enjoy the trail at a leisurely pace and not all in one day. Please drink responsibly and respect other pubgoers, rail passengers and staff. Cheers!

Salisbury-Exeter Rail Ale Trail t-shirts

Win a T-shirt

Collect 10 stamps from pubs on the trail, then email or post in your sheet (with proof of train tickets) to win a fab T-shirt.

Print out the stamp sheet (one copy per person) to get started.

T-shirt colour may vary from shown.

Win a T-shirt

Collect 10 stamps from pubs on the trail, then email or post in your sheet (with proof of train tickets) to win a fab T-shirt.

Print out the stamp sheet (one copy per person) to get started.

T-shirt colour may vary from shown.

Train tickets

If you're travelling in a party of 3 or more, buy your train tickets together to save a third with the GroupSave discount.

If you're doing the trail solo or with a friend, a railcard is an alternative way to save a third.

If travelling after midday, an Evening Out Return is another way to save on many shorter journeys. The sister Sunday Out Return works all day on Sundays. Both can be used in combination with a railcard to save even more.

Buy your tickets online or at station ticket offices. For groups of 10 or more, book via SWR group travel.

Top tips

Plan ahead

Think how long you might spend in each pub and how this fits with train times.

Check with pubs

Opening hours can change (especially in winter), so please call pubs to check. Let them know if bringing a large group.

Bring your stamp sheet

Print one per person and show it to pub staff (pick a quiet time where possible) to get it stamped.

Have a timetable to hand

Save, screenshot or print the train timetable PDF in case mobile signal is patchy.

Getting to the station

Get walking & bus times from the Traveline journey planner, or look up parking.

Stamping the Salisbury-Exeter Rail Ale Trail sheet

Questions? The trail is run by the Devon & Cornwall Rail Partnership (DCRP) and Blackmore Vale Community Rail Partnership, working with South Western Railway. Email railaletrails@dcrp.org.uk or call the DCRP office on 01752 584777.