Once a smugglers’ haven, Pin Mill is a real ‘honeypot’ and can
get extremely busy on nice days. This is fuelled by the wonderful
17th century Butt and Oyster pub, which sits right on the water’s
edge, offering spectacular views, wonderful food (the pub is famous
for seafood) and even serving pints to sailors in their yachts
through the window at high tides!
Pin Mill is made especially famous for two reasons. Fans of the BBC
Lovejoy series may recognise the pub from the TV series. Pin Mill
was also the setting for Arthur Ransome’s book ‘We Didn’t Mean to
Go To Sea’. Arthur Ransome himself held a thank you dinner for all
the staff of King’s boat yard, after they had built his new boat
which was called the Selina King.
The village is also the setting for E. Arnot Robinson’s book
‘Ordinary Families’, written in the early 20th century and based on
her own life in the village. Aside from the pub, there is a lovely
walk, following the Stour and Orwell Path from Pin Mill eastwards,
which passes through some beautiful National Trust woodland. You
also get a splendid view of the slightly eccentric houseboats,
another feature which, love them or loathe them, give Pin Mill its
unique character. Most of them are converted Thames barges.
The village is accessible from a small road leading off the B1456
at the Forester’s Arms, but this narrow road often gets congested
during the holiday season, so great care needs to be taken. Parking
is available in the pay and display car park – 30p per hour. One
hour should be sufficient for the cache and a quick drink in the
Butt and Oyster.
