Rail ale trail

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.

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, cap or badge.

The "Beer Engine" at Newton St Cyres railway station had pioneered the use of rail travel to bring drinkers to its bar.

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.

Six are in Plymouth city centre and a further three in the suburbs near Devonport and St Budeaux Victoria Road railway stations.

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.

[9] A rail ale trail on the South Fylde Line in Lancashire was launched on 28 June 2006 with 14 pubs.

[14] A scheme called "Ale Track" operates on the Wherry Lines from Norwich to Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft.

Merchandise was offered for 10, 15 or 20 stamps of the 28 featured pubs which made this trail unusual in not expecting participants to visit every single pub; the award for 20 stamps included complimentary tickets for a return journey anywhere on Wessex Trains services but these were only valid until the end of that franchise on 31 March 2006 – First Great Western have not repeated the offer.

The remaining 13 were situated one each in Keynsham, Freshford, at Avoncliff railway station, in Bradford-on-Avon, Trowbridge, Westbury, Bruton, Castle Cary, Yeovil, Thornford, Yetminster, Chetnole, Maiden Newton.