Last weekend Pippa, Rod and myself went for a drive in the country. We all felt like a bit of fresh air. We were attempting to get to Brighton but the weather got progressively worse the further south we drove. After we hit full rain we stopped at a little town called Ardingly in the Ouse Valley.

Basically Rod was looking for a pub for lunch and to warm up, so he decided to try this town because there seemed to be a hand full of tourist attractions marked on the map and it was not too far off the road.

Success, we found Ardingly and a little pub called the 'Oak Inn'. It was a low ceilinged pub with wattle and daub walls and a chimney we could sit in as it was so big. The fire was warm and the pub was comfortable and the staff were friendly.

Rod and Pippa have worked out a 'Pub Guide'. Each pub they go to is given a score out of 5. 1 point if dogs are welcome inside and out. 1 point for nice atmosphere (this includes the clientèle), 1 point for the staff, 1 point for the food, and if the food scores a point then value for money is the potential 5th point. Occasionally we award 1/2 points for example if the dog is allowed outside only, or the atmosphere is great , but the clientèle are crap. Value for money is generally that we like pub meals for under 7 pounds, but if the food is exceptional the cost can rise without loosing a point.

Currently we have 3 pubs that scored 5/5, and 1 has scored 2/5, currently the lowest. We think the hardest point to score is the point for me, the dog. I want to feel welcome and be inside as well, after all I am as house trained as anyone else.

Back to Ardingly. The rain persisted through lunch so we decide not to attempt to go to Brighton as the seaside in this weather is terrible. But the muddy paddocks are great. Thus we ended up at the Viaduct and crossed the farmers paddock. Pippa and Rod got so much mud on their shoes that it became difficult to walk. But we all managed to get to the viaduct and it was worth it.

Built in the 1820s to link the London to Brighton rail line it spans the Ouse Valley with 30 odd arches. All made of brick, though the rusty tarnish does give it a look of iron.

After the viaduct we trekked around the paddock to avoid the deeper mud and made our way back to the car. Heater on, de-mister on full and back up the road to London. The only downer of the day was Rod shoving me in the shower and washing all the mud off I tried so hard to collect.