EVERY NOW AND THEN, we feel the need to leave London, and sample the country life. Recently, we decided to visit Buntingford, a small town in Hertfordshire and to eat lunch at a pub nearby. Using the Internet, we chose one at random. It was the Sword Inn Hand in the hamlet of Westmill, which is a few miles south of Buntingford.

It was an excellent choice for two reasons. First, Westmill is a neat, picturesque little settlement. Secondly, the pub served excellent food in a pleasant ambience and, more importantly, the staff were friendly and extremely obliging. The pub has been in existence since the 14th century but looks as if it has been modified considerably since then. It is next door to the grounds of the medieval parish church, which was locked when we were in Westmill.

After visiting some family members in nearby Baldock, we returned to London, having had a satisfactory few hours’ experience of country life.