It may be a little off the beaten track, in the hamlet of Frithsden, near Hemel Hempstead, but we reckon the Alford Arms is well worth the trip. In a wooded valley, overlooked by the Chilterns, it combines the charm of a trusty local boozer at the front, with a slick modern restaurant at the back. A perfect pit stop on a ramble around Ashridge, you’ll feel as at home here in your muddy walking boots as you will dressed up for dinner. Expect a warm welcome, friendly banter, and the odd pooch snuggled up by the bar. Plus there’s a lovely terrace to laze about in during summer.

As for the food, Head Chef Jamie whips up classic dishes with special twists, using fresh, seasonal and local produce. Whether it’s cheese from Bedfordshire’s Bevistan Dairy, lamb and beef from Native Beef in the Chess Valley, honey from Berkhamsted Bees, artisan sourdough from Culture Bakery in Tring, or wild garlic and forest fruits foraged from the surrounding woodlands, the Alford Arms take ‘local’  literally. That goes for the beers on offer, too. There’s also plenty for vegetarians, as well as lots of free-from options and expert advice on menu choices for allergens. What’s more, the Alford Arms was voted Best Destination Pub in our very own Muddy Awards in 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2023 and it’s been named Hertfordshire Dining Pub of the Year no fewer than twelve times, by The Good Pub Guide.