14/12/24 - Mawgan Porth to Waterbeach - and Back

No alternative to linear walking

Despite an extensive library of walking books, there's only a single route along this part of the South West Coast Path. That is a fully linear walk that runs from Newquay to Portcothan, where you catch the bus back.

There are no inland paths to make circular walks feasible.

We headed North yesterday, so it makes sense to head south towards Newquay. A mere 5 miles away, yet the return bus takes about an hour. We'll bail out at Watergate Beach, have a tea and sausage bap (tenner to tourists) and then retrace our steps. High cliffs around the inaccessible Beacon Cove. Geocaches placed just the wrong side of dangerous. Some sort of cross country race causing plenty of giving way on the narrow paths. The reward? Well Watergate Beach must surely be a contender for Britain's best. The views from the cafe bring a tear to your eye.

Here's the photos;

Mawgan Porth from the other side.

Beacon Cove

On the Cliffs over Watergate Beach

Down on the Beach

Walk Details

Distance - 6 Miles

Geocaches - 2

13/12/24 - Merrymoor Inn, Mawgan Porth

A-List Celebrity Neighbours

Please allow me to boast, just a little bit. Our dog-sitting exploits have taken us to new heights, that surely have ruined us. It was rather tough to get out of bed this morning.

Those are my feet

We have Kate Blanchett next door. We have Chris Martin, supposedly moving in a few doors down. Yet our property possibly trumps them all. Can you feel smugness from a blog?

Walk past the hot tub, hop over a wall and we're on the South West Coast Path. The dramatic section of the SWCP. Where its impossible to get down to the beaches of Whitestone Cove and Pentire Steps. Too precipitous, and in the case of the former - cliff erosion.

Still, its a bracing walk from Mawgan Porth to Porth Mear. A lack of inland paths results in rather a balloon shaped walked, but superb all the same.

North on the SWCP

Our responsibilities for this week, Ruby and Wolf.  And Mrs M

Wolf on Porth Mear

The National Trust Pentire Farm allows for some variety before we come back the way we went for a mess about on Mawgan Porth Beach, and of course, the pub.

Behind a Waterfall

Mawgan Porth Beach

The Merrymoor Inn, family run for 62 years. A huge car park, where they have avoided threatening patrons with fining if they don't input car registration numbers. Mulled wine, mince pies on the bar and Skinners Jingle Knocker at £4 a pint.

I hope Kate and Chris appreciate this level of service to the community.

I'm fixed, Chris, totally fixed

Walk Details

Distance - 7 Miles

Geocaches - 3 and an ALC

10/12/24 - Hanbury Hall

Things I Grew Up With Are Now Museum Exhibits

First proper usage of my National Trust Membership. The closest attraction, Hanbury Hall. A place I have walked around, but never set foot inside.

Today's walk is functional. Muddy countryside, an ascent of Pipers Hill for the church and back down through the grounds.

The Inspiration for Lower Loxley Hall in the Archers

Allowed in, as I had brought a change of shoes.

Mud to Pipers Hill

St Mary the Virgin

Let's go through the round window

Back in an hour. Through the National Trust's Checkpoint Charlie and adorned with a sticker to prove membership. Its a tour through the rooms of Hanbury Hall. The Theme, Christmas past.

The exhibits? Floppy disks. Cassettes. Ghetto Blasters. Smash Hits. 

And this bad boy

Basically, the things from my youth are now museum exhibits.

A gentle weep in the car before setting off for home.

Walk Details

Distance - 3 Miles

Geocaches - 0

Walk Inspiration - Jarrold, the Malverns to Warwickshire, Walk 2

05/12/24 - Cottonopolis Manchester

Two Pubs and a Dive Bar

Winner of the shortest distance for a blogged walk. It is from an official walking guide, so don't blame me for its brevity. Less than a mile, exploring Manchester's rich past as a Global Trading Centre for the Cotton Industry.

It starts at a pub and recommends stopping at another - both of which were unticked since the launch of another specific book this time last year. So much inspiration, filling my days!

A pint before I even begin at Holts, The Old Monkey.

Monkey Magic

For some reason, I always had this down as a "Fun Pub". Maybe a previous visit had it packed with students. I've never felt compelled to revisit and have often hot footed past onto more revered hostelries. A basic Holts Pub, with the football on, bright lights and just a handful of punters took me a little by surprise. 

Third in the world to check in their seasonal ale - "Deck the Holts".

Why Not at this time of Year

I've hardly got going and its time to stop again. The City Arms - the middle of three boozers - in Kennedy Street. Always worth it - the beer quality is fantastic, even if I never fail to move on from Red Willows Feckless. Seemingly permanently on. Lucky enough to get a little table in the back bar.

A break in the gaspers

Fools?  A bit harsh, I hardly know them

Best concentrate on the walk. I'm looking for Portland stone buildings. I'm looking for Neptune on the top of the Manchester Ship Canal HQ. I take my life in my own hands by dipping into Back Fold Lane at night - the former location of a pond used to punish "lewds and scolds". File under sketchy.

The End of the Walk - The Royal Exchange

Walk over and time to kill. I have an entry saved in my google maps that even eluded Matthew Curtis in his "Manchester's Best Beer Pubs and Bars" book. 

Corbieres, A dive bar..... and Manchester's "Worst Kept Secret".

Down we go!

What goes on in Corbieres? Sorry - you'll have to go yourself to find out. I will say the music is beyond excellent.

24 Hour Party People indeed.

Walk Details

Distance - 1 Mile

Geocaches - 0

Walk Inspiration - AZ Hidden Walks in Manchester, Walk 2 and Manchester's Best Beer Pubs and Bars.

05/12/24 - Yarnbury Mines, Hebden Beck for the Grassington Pubs

Christmas Cake.... with Cheese

Day 2 in North Yorkshire and another cracking half day walk.

We leave Grassington Civilisation to head upwards, discovering iron age ruins and the location of the original village.

Today's Playground

Yomping on to Yarnbury

Yes, a slight navigational error was made. I should have been further west, but we got a feel for the ancient field systems and we arrived where we needed to be. Yarnbury, for a quite delightful beck-side drop through the mine workings.

Easy navigation home

One small problem.... the overnight rain has the beck in spate. We were meant to cross at stepping stones, which are just about visible under 9" of water. As ever, the trail will provide.

Unorthodox

Too early for the Clarendon Pub in Hebden but only a couple of miles along High Lane to re-enter Grassington.

A tea-shop sounds about right. Christmas Cake sounds like an accompaniment treat. Being asked if I would like a slice a Wensleydale reminds me why this is God's Country.

Now Then..... Tea, with a Chef's Swoosh

But we read the blog for the pubs, I hear a couple of blogfans cry? Well, I've been and blogged before but here is last night's summary, with this morning's photos.

The Devonshire is a posh Timothy Taylors gastropub. When busy, it feels great. When quiet a little soulless. The beer is perfectly kept and Bolt Maker is now edging it in their range for me.

The Devonshire

The Black Horse Hotel is now in the Good Beer Guide (as is the Foresters), providing an unexpected tick. Black Sheep House, and the seasonal Blitzen was in fine condition. They have a special on the food menu. Roast Turkey and all the trimmings with Christmas Pudding to follow. I ask for the Christmas Fayre and the waitress responds with "what, like a circus?". Apparently, Christmas Fayres are not national. Good food, good service, good beer and lovely internal Christmas decorations.

Fayre Enough

We expected The Foresters to be closed, having spotted on Facebook that the long term patrons had held a leaving party last week. The new management team are already in. The earthiest pub in Grassington and filled with proper pub goers. The Landlord was still £5.40 a pint.

'Ow Much! I believe the correct response to be.

Earthy Pubness

Walk Details

Distance - 6 Miles

Walk Inspiration - Mark Reid's Walking Weekends in the Yorkshire Dales, Walk 10

Geocaches - 2

04/12/24 - River Wharfe, from Grassington to Burnsall

Return to the First Inn Way Finale

It's good to be back in this part of the world. 8, nearly 9 years since I completed my first Inn Way (to the Yorkshire Dales) at the Fountaine Inn, Linton. The exact place where this walk - from Mark Reid's Walking Weekends - also finishes.

An easy out ramble along the River Wharfe. 

Linton Mill

River Wharfe

Loup Scar

Burnsall Bridge - the head back point

The Red Lion strategically place next to the bridge, and thankfully a pre-midday opener. A decent Dark Horse Brewery, Hetton Pale Abbey the reward.

Such handsome, solid pubs in this part of the world

The return is across ancient field systems for an all body work out. So many walls, with stone stiles and little swing gates to cross.

Yorkshire Adventure Playground

Linton, with the Fountaine Inn, provides the next stop - a mere half a mile from Grassington. Move on to the Craven Bitter from Dark Horse for liquid symmetry. 

Lovely to see the Inn Way sign still resplendent on the outside of the pub. Apparently, one of the few with the book stamp clicker still attached.

From Fontaines DC to Fountaine Inn

Number 26.... and the end of an odyssey

Walk Details

Distance - 8.5 Miles

Walk Inspiration - Mark Reid's Walking Weekends in the Yorkshire Dales, walk 9 

Geocaches - 1

03/12/24 - Leeds Urban Ramble for the Good Beer Guide Pubs

The Great Facebook Sparkler Row

I joined a new group on Facebook. Great British Pubs. After initial success posting visits to the Barton Arms in Birmingham and Fleece Inn in Bretforton, I thought I'd pop something up that amused me.

Harmless Fun

Less than a week after and the battle is still raging. 750+ reactions. 326 comments, arguing about what constitutes the North, spelling but most vociferously, the head on beer. I've not seen anything like it. I think I'll stick with less controversial posts in the future.

Over a couple of days, I tried to knock off my unvisited Leeds Good Beer Guide Pubs. A great pub city.  Of course, I have already ticked Whitelocks, before anyone questions its omission.

This was structured around a Fontaines DC Gig and an interesting six mile Urban Rambler that headed North to the Universities, through shopping arcades and the pretty bits by the River Aire.  

Thornton's Arcade

Down by the River

The pubs;

Town Hall Tavern was the location of the offending sign. Other comments mentioned the irony that the prices in here were higher than London. A Timothy Taylor House, so either time to experiment with something new and lesser spotted or try and put to bed whether Boltmaker is better than Landlord.

The Town Hall Tavern

Choose your poison

The Templar next. Mrs M not entirely happy with a rather smelly lounge. I was more than happy with this Grade II listed drinking den. Not least, because we had hit Monday Night Cask Club. 

Greene King but actually OK

Ossett White Rat for £2.30

The North Bar concluded Monday nights outing. I will be forever grateful for the bar staff pointing out that my 6% NEIPA (not outrageous) would have been £9.40 a pint (very outrageous). Good grief!  Not for me, I am afraid.

Still expensive, Heart and Soul by Vocation Brewery

A better start to Tuesday, with the handsome Duck and Drake. Bang on midday and Mrs M questions whether it is actually open. Not only is it open, but already nice and busy, with punters jostling for position in front on the roaring fire.

Victorian Classic

Roosters Yankee

Almost opposite is the far less authentic Lamb and Flag. I dunno, somehow they have made a C19th century building done out in a traditional pub style feel nothing like a pub. It didnt have that lived in charm. Too sanitised. A very poor pint of Leeds Brewery Midnight Bell, which I would have surely returned had Mrs M not had an altercation about the temperature of her flat white. We don't want to be labelled problem customers, do we?

Leeds Brewery Flagship

Very strong vinegar taste in the Midnight Bell

Thornbridge to the rescue, with The Bankers Cat. Opulent, hotel bar feel, with high seats around a central bar and lots of leather. Kelham Pale Rider in perfect condition.

A bit of luxury

Finally, the rather anonymous Tapped. No photos, as little to see from the outside and a modern cafe type feel on the insider. Complete with brewing vessels. Plenty of choice of cask, keg, bottles and cans. 

Wapentake, an interesting looking delicatessen of Yorkshire delights, remains the final City Centre tick. Doesn't open until Wednesday at 9am.

Walk Details

Distance - 7 Miles

Geocaches - Many Adventure Lab Caches

Walk Inspiration - Urban Rambles