Wiltshire


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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE LOWDOWN</h2>



<p>Desperate to destress?  Then head to Hindon village &#8211; 16 miles from Salisbury and 10 from Warminster &#8211; for a night or two at The Lamb. Standing proud one one corner of the central crossroads, it&#8217;s no surprise that this rambling old stone pub dates back to the 12th century, and that it used to be a posting inn, supplying 300 horses for the post coaches that took all those wax-sealed love letters from London to the West Country. It&#8217;s kind of ironic, then, given its comms history, that there&#8217;s practically no phone signal here (but don&#8217;t worry, you can still wi-fi) &#8211; although that does mean that you&#8217;ve every excuse not to answer calls from work/DH/PPI companies.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE VIBE</h2>



<p>As soon as I turned into Hindon&#8217;s high street, my I starting breathing deeper than a transcendental meditation session as the tree-lined streets soothed my busy brain. I parked up on the street because the little pub car park was full &#8211; but there aren&#8217;t any parking restrictions so that wasn&#8217;t a worry. Once inside The Lamb I was struck by what a thoroughly country-classic this pub is &#8211; flagstone floors, low ceilings &amp; beams,  deep teal walls and worn wooden furniture, with mis-matched antique light fittings and ornate picture frames. I kept expecting to find a country squire slumped down the back of one of the sofas.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/07/Sitting-Room-The-Lamb-at-hindon.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-27071" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/07/Sitting-Room-The-Lamb-at-hindon.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/07/Sitting-Room-The-Lamb-at-hindon-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/07/Sitting-Room-The-Lamb-at-hindon-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/07/Sitting-Room-The-Lamb-at-hindon-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/07/Sitting-Room-The-Lamb-at-hindon-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>Or maybe a man in a kilt as there&#8217;s also a distinctly Scottish feel (thanks to the influence of a former owner, Ranald McDonal) with 100 types of whiskey behind the bar and tartan textiles here and there, and I think it probably come into its own in Winter with log fires, hot toddies and comfy battered couches.</p>



<p>Summer entertaining&#8217;s not forgotten though. There&#8217;s a Riveria-style terrace they call the &#8220;Hidden Decking&#8221; to one side of the pub with light wooden tables and chairs, festoon lights, umbrellas and a pile of snuggly blankets next to the door. Curiously, there&#8217;s also a bunting-bedecked garden (&#8220;The Lamb&#8217;s Lawn) but it&#8217;s across the road. However, I can imagine it&#8217;s popular on a sunny afternoon, particularly as the villagers use the neighbouring boules pitch.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">SCOFF &amp; QUAFF</h2>



<p>A couple of locals were propping up that very well-stocked bar with a couple of ales when I walked in, and I noticed not only a big silver bucket of rose on the bar but a tray of whiskeys too. Signs that this is a great place to party.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/07/Roses-on-the-bar-The-Lamb.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-27073" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/07/Roses-on-the-bar-The-Lamb.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/07/Roses-on-the-bar-The-Lamb-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/07/Roses-on-the-bar-The-Lamb-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/07/Roses-on-the-bar-The-Lamb-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/07/Roses-on-the-bar-The-Lamb-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>When it was time for me to eat, I was shown to one of the restaurant&#8217;s aged wooden tables and plumped for a generous bowl of Pea and Mint soup as starter, sprinkled with seeds for that extra rustic touch.</p>



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<p>This was followed by Pan Fried Hake with mash and asparagus. The food is hearty and comforting; homemade silken soup, mashed potato oozing with herb oil, and a soft, large piece of fish and well-seasoned veg. You can hear the kitchen from the restaurant (there are several spaces where you can eat, including a private dining room) and that adds to the informal atmosphere. Plus you can tell when your food&#8217;s ready.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/07/Pan-Fried-Hake-the-lamb.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-27065" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/07/Pan-Fried-Hake-the-lamb.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/07/Pan-Fried-Hake-the-lamb-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/07/Pan-Fried-Hake-the-lamb-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/07/Pan-Fried-Hake-the-lamb-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/07/Pan-Fried-Hake-the-lamb-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>For pudding I picked Panna Cotta decorated with chocolate sauce and just hit delete on my summer diet!</p>



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<h2 class="wp-block-heading">PILLOW TALK</h2>



<p>I needed a good lie down after all that, so I made my way to my bed. Again with the Scottish thing &#8211; most of the bedrooms have Highland-fling-type names such as Glenrothes and Bruichladdich (although mine was Fonthill, which could also relate to Wiltshire&#8217;s Fonthill Estate) and they&#8217;re decorated with heavy walnut furniture, checks and stag head motifs. There are 18 rooms  in total (there&#8217;s no number 13, so the final number is 19) and most of them are above the pub &#8211; but mine was in the old stable block outside &#8211; perfect if you don&#8217;t want far to totter far after a night&#8217;s carousing in the courtyard, but not so ideal if you&#8217;re after a quiet early night.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1125" src="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/08/BEDROOM_THE_LAMB.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-27202" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/08/BEDROOM_THE_LAMB.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/08/BEDROOM_THE_LAMB-800x600.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/08/BEDROOM_THE_LAMB-1000x750.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/08/BEDROOM_THE_LAMB-768x576.jpg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/08/BEDROOM_THE_LAMB-700x525.jpg 700w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>One of the most genius aspects of the rooms is the air-con &#8211; much needed in the heated summers of Britain&#8217;s climate change. I also liked the pile of old suitcases used as a bedside table and the fact that there were Bramley Products in my bathroom, made in nearby Semley. I think I fiddled around with the remote control for a while but couldn&#8217;t find Netflix, so slipped off into beauty sleep.</p>



<p>Breakfast came too soon, thanks to the blissful bed that was determined to make me to lie in longer, but I hauled myself up all in the name of duty and my mission to eat a full english. Served in the main dining room, the bacon and eggs was as you&#8217;d expect &#8211; good quality &#8211; but actually nothing exceptional. Still it included all the classics and set me up for a day&#8217;s sightseeing.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">OUT AND ABOUT</h2>



<p>Although Hindon itself is small, there&#8217;s a village shop straight out of Midsommer Murders (without the whodunnit), a pretty church and a stylish furniture maker&#8217;s <a rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="Matthew Burt (opens in a new tab)" href="https://matthewburt.com/" target="_blank">Matthew Burt</a>. The Lamb can give you plenty of advice about local walks too because Hindon is smack bang in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB).</p>



<p>Salisbury is a half hour drive away, with its cathedral that includes a copy of the Magna Carta and plenty of indie shops, bars and restaurants. It&#8217;s also a great place to base yourself if you&#8217;d like to explore the Stonehenge area, Longleat and Centre Parcs. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1500" src="https://wilts.muddystilettos.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/08/Salisbury-cathedral.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-27215" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/08/Salisbury-cathedral.jpeg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/08/Salisbury-cathedral-800x800.jpeg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/08/Salisbury-cathedral-1000x1000.jpeg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/08/Salisbury-cathedral-400x400.jpeg 400w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/08/Salisbury-cathedral-768x768.jpeg 768w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/08/Salisbury-cathedral-525x525.jpeg 525w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/08/Salisbury-cathedral-500x500.jpeg 500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2022/08/Salisbury-cathedral-1100x1100.jpeg 1100w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">THE MUDDY VERDICT</h2>



<p><strong>GOOD FOR:</strong> Lazy country weekends with friends or family &#8211; dogs (additional charge) and kids are very much welcome (under twos go free). Also brilliant as a base from which to explore Wiltshire and know you can scoff a hearty, home-cooked meal at the end of a busy day. </p>



<p><strong>NOT FOR:</strong> High glamour, dance music and high heels &#8211; this is very much an Aran jumper and wellies vibe.</p>



<p><strong>THE DAMAGE: </strong>From £110 a night for a double. Book direct for the best rates. Free cancellation up to 12pm the day before, excludes saver rate. Bedroom rates are payable on arrival, no pre-payment needed. Credit card only needed to guarantee the booking.</p>



<p><em><a href="https://www.lambhindon.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener" aria-label="The Lamb at Hindon (opens in a new tab)">The Lamb at Hindon</a>, High Street, Hindon, Salisbury, SP3 6DP, Tel: </em><a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=the+lamb+at+hindon+breakfast&amp;oq=the+la&amp;aqs=chrome.2.69i57j0i67j35i39j46i67i175i199j35i39j0i67j69i60l2.4730j0j7&amp;sourceid=chrome&amp;ie=UTF-8#"><em>01747 820573</em></a></p>


Muddy review: The Lamb at Hindon

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