Lately, I've been exploring a little more.
I'm currently studying my MSc, having already completed my BSc here in Exeter. Add my year abroad on top and this is the fifth year that I will have officially been an Exeter student!
And I'm ashamed to say that throughout those long years, I haven't really ventured past the city centre that much.
Making most of the glorious autumn whilst the sun was still out to play meant getting my walking shoes on and having a good old hike around.
Which apparently took me to Heavitree (I know, I know, the wilds of Dartmoor are next on my list I assure you). It started as a ramble around the 12 mile Exeter Green Circle (I promise you now, I only did about 10% of it, max), turned into a bit of a lost traipse out the back of Lafrowda, falling down a rabbit hole into the Mount Pleasant area and deciding to head on out to Heavitree from there.
There was a certain amount of interest in directing us there; after all, the best antidote to a good walk in crisp air is a nice pint of ale.
My boyfriend and I are diehard Rusty Bike fans and the Fat Pig happens to be our local pub. But we'd never quite made it to any of the other outposts of the group (in case you're wondering, the Rusty Bike, Fat Pig, Tabac and Pig & Pickle are all owned by the same wonderful people).
If you like your beer local and well done, you can't go wrong at one of these places. They serve other drinks of course but their home-brews are just exquisite. We both had a half pint of the Porco Rosso, a deep, smokey ale that perfectly complemented our autumn mood.
And it would have been rude not to try the food!
The menu is rather sparse seeing as they don't have the same kitchen facilities as the larger pubs. Here, the offerings revolve around cured meats, local cheeses and homemade pickles.
We both went for sandwiches, he for the cured deli meats and I for the local cheeses.
As the barman was making them up, he leant over the counter and double checked if I approved of his cheese selection which I thought was a nice touch.
When they arrived... oh my goodness.
Let's just say, I don't understand how a cheese and chutney sandwich could ever taste that good. It was delicious. Perhaps the bartender is a particularly talented sandwich maker or perhaps it was just a winning combination of flavours and textures but the mixture of cheeses (cheddar, goats and blue, all local of course) with the fresh, sweet chutney and mixed salad leaves on huge hunks of soft bread made me want to renounce all other sandwiches forever.
We were only in there for our quick bite to eat but if you fancy hanging on for a bit longer, there's a great selection of games. I taught the Italian how to play snap (a great game if ever there was one) but it would be a brilliant place to take a group of friends to.
So don't shun this corner of Exeter, come down and have a look. You really won't be disappointed.
