DO you remember Adlestrop?

Thanks to the poet Edward Thomas, almost everyone remembers it as the place where the express-train drew up unwontedly in late June.

Sadly, the railway station and the bare platform is no longer there. Only the railway sign Adlestrop hangs proudly over one of the original railway benches now.

But as it was late June, and the willow-herb and meadowsweet were out, my friend Kate and I decided this was the place to visit for one of her amazing walks. Which is why we left our cars outside The Fox Inn, Lower Oddington, and walked first to the attractive little village of Adlestrop, with its thatched post office and memorial to a railway station long gone.

Naturally, we paid homage to Edward Thomas by reading the poem inscribed on the bench, before striding out on the rest of our walk, By the way, you get to Lower Oddington by taking the A424 from Burford to Stow, and then a right-hand turn to Icomb - it's signposted from there. As a volunteer Cotswold warden, Kate regularly walks the Cotswolds to check fences, stiles, and gates, reporting back if any need attention.

Having done this walk a couple of years back, she was able to guide us into meadows, green lanes, and shaded woods, through which little brooks rippled over rocks and tree roots. It was perfect. Indeed, thanks to her, it proved to be one of the best walks ever.

Having passed through Daylesford, and a very stylish stud farm, we arrived back at The Fox Inn, five-and-a-half miles later, and definitely in need of a long cool refreshing drink.

The walk inspired me to order Cotswold Way, brewed by the Wickwar brewing company, in Gloucestershire, which uses local hops and pure Cotswold water. It's a rich amber, smooth, well-balanced brew, which proved so refreshing it went down in a couple of gulps. Kate went for a pint of Stowford cider, and that vanished just as quickly.

The Fox Inn, with its flagstone floors and creeper clad building, which dates back to the 11th century, is one of those pubs that the American visitors dream about. It offers everything, including atmosphere. Yes, this pub really does ooze atmosphere, generated in part by the very hard-working landlord, who was not afraid to knuckle under and help clear the tables.

We'd booked a table in the bar area for two adults and two dogs, but it was so hot we took up the offer of a table in the patio and garden area, where the dogs could slump under the table and snooze contentedly while we enjoyed lunch. Kate chose a starter of sauteed lambs kidneys with creamed sherry and chive sauce (£6.25), which she topped up with French bread (£1.65) and a mixed leaf salad (£1.85). I went for the rare roast beef and Yorkshire pudding with all the trimmings, at £11.95, pictured, as it was Sunday, and I'm a traditionalist. It was absolutely delicious, so tender that I could have cut it with a spoon, and the potatoes were fresh from the oven, and not the chip fryer as is so often the case.

When we requested water, it arrived iced in a splendid metal jug, all frosty and glittering. The dogs had drunk copious amounts of water from the River Evenlode, so they didn't seem at all fussed about drinking more.

Other items on the menu can be found by going to the pub's website www.foxinn.net/sample.php It was too hot to finish the meal with coffee, so we left with just enough time to visit the nearby 11th-century St Nicholas Church, famed for its magnificent medieval wall paintings. It proved fascinating - Kate and I were particularly struck by the amazing Jacobean pulpit set high on a single pillar. The dogs remained in the church yard sleeping off their walk.