Journal · June 2026 · 4 min read
Our Favourite Country Pubs Near the Cabin
A good country pub is half the reason to come to Berkshire. The lanes around the cabin are dotted with them, from canal-side inns to village locals with proper fires and proper roasts.
These are the ones we send guests to. All within an easy drive of Squirrels' Nest.
The Dundas Arms, Kintbury
A Grade II listed Georgian inn on the banks of the Kennet, the Dundas Arms sits on its own lock island where the river and the canal meet. The look is relaxed country house, with deep colours and good bathrooms if you stay over, and the terrace by the water is the place to be on a warm afternoon. Walk in along the towpath and you will have earned your lunch twice over.
The Bunk Inn, Curridge
Tucked into the village of Curridge, the Bunk Inn is the one for a long, generous meal. It holds an AA four-star rating and two rosettes for its food, and has a handful of comfortable rooms. Unhurried, welcoming, and well worth booking ahead at the weekend.
The Crab & Boar, Chieveley
A rural inn in a lovely setting north of Newbury, the Crab and Boar is built for walkers. There are a small number of cosy, contemporary rooms, some with their own outdoor hot tubs, and the kind of food you want after a long day on the Downs.
The Pheasant and the Berkshire Arms
Two more worth knowing. The Pheasant is a beautifully refurbished inn looking out over the Berkshire Downs, all pale rooms and careful cooking. The Berkshire Arms keeps things simpler, with an honest menu of pub classics and a friendly welcome. Between them you will not go hungry.
A note on booking
Sunday lunch in particular fills up quickly out here, so it is always worth ringing ahead. Most of these are a ten to twenty minute drive from the cabin, and several sit right on a good walk if you would like to make a day of it.
Make it your weekend.
Squirrels' Nest is a cosy one-bedroom cabin in the heart of it all, minutes from these walks, pubs and days out.