04/07/25 - A Crewe Pub Crawl

Judging

A pub crawl that was generated from a post in the British Pubs Facebook page. I used the Bar Trek App to plot the recommendations. Traveled up to Winsford for some Adventure Lab Caches and by the time I arrived at Crewe, there was only an hour to spare.

A return journey, but over the passing months, I have forgotten which were Good Beer Recommendations and which were merely recommended by locals. I am sure that I will be able to work it on the ground.

First stop is an early opener, The Crewe Dog. Hosted in one of those indoor markets that the North does so well. A small collection of eateries and Asian supermarkets, with a central area of high tables and stools for consuming your purchases.

Not Brew Dog

Service was tricky. The bar was unmanned. I had a wander around, hoping to determine how Thai Basil differs from Italian Basil. I came back. Still unmanned. Problems with the San Miguel tap.

Eventual service, and my Cask Merlin's Gold was in ropey condition. A little murky, little buts floating in it if you looked too closely. Not in the bible.

More success at Hops, where world's collide. Crewe is a little bereft of Geocaches but there is one in the front beer garden. 

Geocaching and Chouffing

As you can see, this is a Belgian specialty house, with an extensive bottle menu and several on draught. But they also love traditional British dispense, with a selection of curated cask beers. Hard to make up my mind, but in the interest of scarcity, I went for the hunchbacked gnome. Good Beer Guide and an Orval Ambassador - just like my much loved Tripel Bs in Worcester. 22 others exist in the UK. Maybe I should create a Google Map?

I honestly thought that The Borough Arms was closed down. If ever a place deserved an external lick of paint. Mrs M would have been tutting, but I am riding solo and can venture where I choose.

Freehouse since (and last painted) 1867

And what a gem!  A beer oasis, with all the beauty inside.

All my friends have been there

Upstairs, downstairs and a rather nice patio garden. At least 8 cask ales on and as usual, I peak rather too early. The Thornbridge Crackendale was absolutely superb but then I clocked a reason to stay for two.

How to get in the Good Beer Guide - Import the best of the Midlands

Superb and straight into my Top 10 pubs in the UK. The benefit of the two drink stop is that by the time I have finished, Tom's Tap House and Brewery around the corner is open.

Industrial Drinking

A few quirky touches to raise it above the usual Industrial Unit Tap Room. A sense of humour - with the electronic board pronouncing "Today's Evil Keg Filth".  A second screen details the Cask and a surprising varied selection of ciders. Which I could not resist. A schooner of a cider from Ross on Wye.

Indoor space, outdoor space and hybrid, where you can sit in a shipping container. Likely to be more lively during the regular evening events, I was made very welcome by Tom's Dad. He took me for the pub ticker I am and asked "Where Next?". I saw the slight eye-roll when I said "The Earl of Chester" and left with his words, "You really need to try Ebeneezer's" as I left.

What is wrong with the Earl of Chester I wondered? 

A relatively long walk - but in the vague direction of the station - and I found an unassuming back street terraced pub. Entered, no punters and on a sparsely populated bar, I swear to God I only saw Carling.

Like Homer Simpson's dad, I did the hat off, 360 degree turn, hat back on to wonder how this got added to the list? Was someone on British Pubs pranking tourists? Something to ponder on a repeat visit to Ebeneezer's.

It's only at home, two days later and blogging that I determine that it is in the Good Beer Guide. I must have stumbled on an unused bar. 

Twice I have judged a book by its cover. One day, I will learn to give things a little more time. 

19/11/22 - Greater Manchester Ringway - Stage 5

Start - Middlewood Railway Station

Finish -  Strines

Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3, Stage 4

Distance - 7 Miles

Geocaches - 1  

Walk Inspiration

2022 saw decent progress made on the Greater Manchester Ringway, a 186 mile route around the Greater Manchester Boundary.

This is Stage 5 and from a walker's perspective, the best yet.

I can prove this from the proper "Peak District" signage that highlights the paths. And all of this walk is proper "boots on" countryside.

Peak Signage

Middlewood station provides the start. The only station I can think of that is more remote is a key scene in Trainspotting. There is nothing there, but it doesn't stop a couple alighting and pulling their wheeled suitcase along the Middlewood Way. Who knows where they are going on holiday along a disused railway line.

I know where I am going - a short section of the Cheshire Ring. Inspiration for a future walk. Not that I haven't got enough inspiration to last a lifetime.

Cheshire Ring, along the Macclesfield Canal

The highlight - and majority - of this walk is Lyme Park. A National Trust property, the largest in Cheshire and location for the 1995 adaptation of Pride and Prejudice. Other facts available at the drop of a Google Search.

For the tourist, it's a £6 entry fee but the public footpaths are available to the bargain hunting rambler.  Up to the gates and then to the hunting lodge - the Cage - enveloped in Autumn gloom.

Lyme Park House

The Cage

Strines - the end of this stage - is somewhere below.  The fog lifts. A golf course requires traversing but the misery is alleviated by a shack selling both beer, hot drinks, soup and bacon rolls. Card accepted.

Strines and the Golf Course somewhere in the gloom

I could blame the cup of tea for me getting lost, but the golf club need to take some responsibility.  As usual, they are keen to point out where you can't walk but not so good at the signage for the public footpaths.  

And you need confidence to cross a fairway if you are not 100% sure. Eventually I find the Peak Forest Canal and need to work out how best to get to the Micro Pubs of Marple.

The bus appears more frequent than the hourly trains.

23/07/22 - Greater Manchester Ringway - Stage 4 - Bramhall to Middlewood

Start - Bramhall Railway Station

Finish -  Middlewood Railway Station

Previous Stages - Stage 1, Stage 2, Stage 3

Distance - 7.5 Miles

Geocaches - 4 and an Adventure Lab Cache 

Walk Inspiration

Familiar ground on Stage 4 of the Greater Manchester Ringway.  Finishing off the town centre Adventure Lab Cache and heading out on the same path to Bramhall Hall.  This time, however, I am provided with a good view.

Bramhall in view

Last time, I headed west to Didsbury - for the pubs. This time, I am heading east and doing the walk as the designer intended. Its familiar terrain along Lady Brook and into a nature reserve called the Happy Valley.  I hear series 3 is set for release in 2023.

The terrain is woodland and stream

It's pleasant walking - along with the dogs of a leafy Stockport suburb. Little to bring you in way of photos. Even a circuit of Poynton Lake proves unphotogenic. I maybe should have brought shots of houses with bigger garages than other peoples houses.

I do determine that I am in East Cheshire.  Which was unexpected.

Middlwood station is the end of the walk - with trains every two hours (Sat afternoon) to Piccadilly.  It's that wild, I think it may be a request stop. No signs to tell you which platform is for Manchester but fortunately, a signal to consult Google.

No pubs - but my Rover Ticket will get me to Chorlton for an afternoon of Good Beer Guide Ticking.

22/05/21 - Three Shires Head

Distance - 8 Miles

Geocaches - 10

Walk Inspiration - Country Walking Magazine, Spring 2021, Walk 27

Here we have a classic Peak District walk that really deserved better conditions.  May 2021 just keeps on delivering.  Despite a weather forecast promising dryness, we sit in the car at Clough House Car Park for 10 minutes, listening to the rain bounce off the roof of the car.  Motivation to get on our boots is possibly at an all time low.  Nothing to do with an Afternoon drinking in Manchester, the day before.

Still, we are here and we need to get on.

Instantly, we are out into the Peak wilds, climbing along Cumberland Brook to its waterfall.

Loving the Peak District Signage

Cumberland Brook Waterfall

The highlight of the walk is Three Shires Head.  Located on the River Dane - its a couple of pack horse bridges and waterfalls, famous for being where Derbyshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire all meet.  Even on a poor weather day, I couldn't get a photo without muggles dicking around in the water.

Better Photos on the Internet

Some stunning views on the Dane Valley Way (another LDP to google) and the chance of refreshments at Gradbach Mill.  There is a little coffee shop but as its only doing takeaways, we decide to defer refreshment until we get back to the pub at Wildboarclough.  As you read this, I'm sure you will be shaking your head going "that was a mistake".

Today's Playground - The Dane Valley Way

Gradmach Mill

A small section of a very impressive looking Geocache Trail provides distraction on the way back.  Looking for tubs in rocks on wild moorland does a wonderful job of taking Mrs M's mind off the fact she could be wrapped up under the purple throw on a Premier Inn Hypnos Mattress.

One of us is Happy

Views to Shutlingsloe on the Return

I'd completed my research on the Crag Inn in Wildboarclough - the Google Maps Opening Hours were a slight concern, but this was a Saturday Afternoon and we felt blessed.

Nothing had prepared me for the two large vans emblazoned with "Demolition Services" on the side.  We still went closer but couldn't shout over the noise from the digger hacking away at the frontage to tell if this was a temporary closure or something more sinister.

For once, the Internet cannot help.  Their last FB post is simply the Peak District in the Snow.  Last December.

Things can only improve when we get to Buxton!

23/03/19 - Drinking in Macclesfield

Bars / Pubs - 5
Good Beer Guide Ticks - #375, 376


Regular blog fans will know that if I am alone and in a strange place, I will be ticking off all the Good Beer Guide Pubs in that strange place.   Tonight, I am with two friends, who as much as they like their beer, are not as obsessed by lists.   It will be interesting to see if they agree with the bible.

First off, our accommodation.   Meticulous research (and budgets) has us in the Travelodge.   Google Maps shows that parking is directly opposite the hotel.   Normally.

The Carny have come to town

Its carny carnage.   Gangs of teenage kids, vaping the middle of the road.   Incoherent PA announcer presumably saying things like "Scream if you want to go faster".   Over a Craig David back beat.   I have to take the photo from inside the foyer, in case a youth screams paedo at me.   Paul and Gav do the honours.

We need a drink.

The Treacle Tap, Sutherland Street, Pentrick Brewing Soma

I'm fairly sure that Paul and Gav have not been to a Micro Pub before.   It's kind of nice to see how they handle it.   A stare at the bar pumps, provides no inspiration.   A longer stare at the chalkboard to read the kegs.   Paul buckles first and says "I'll have what your having".   Gav goes off piste and orders a German Wheat Beer and then has his confidence shattered by being asked if he wants a half, a 2/3rd or a pint.   He settles for a half, as the 2/3rd is the same as the pint - due to till error.

We enjoyed the complementary nuts.

Inside a former Saddlery Shop

George and Dragon, Sutherland Street, Robinsons Unicorn

These two visits were on the way from where we eventually parked to the hotel.   Tiled flooring led us to a standard pub experience.   Robinsons is never the most exciting of beer ranges, but the Unicorn was in perfect condition and the chat was centered about the collective noun for three of them.

A blessing of Unicorns.

Waters Green Tavern, Waters Green, Barnsley Bitter

All 5 Macclesfield Good Beer Guide entries are loaded into Google Maps.  We've ticked off one at the Treacle Tap and this is the 2nd. 

A traditional boozer, with traditional punters offering a wide range of ales.   No chalkboards offering descriptions but little jam jars showing the colour.

In the Midlands we have a range of pubs under the stewardship of Black Country Ales.   This no nonsense approach to pubbing reminded me very much of them.

Last of tonight's photos.

Voodoo Cocktail Bar, Mill Street, Brooklyn Lager

This is where things get a little odd.   We stopped at a functional but instantly forgettable locals pub (White Lion?) and then, having googled best Indian in Macclesfield, had our tea at the Gurkha Dining Rooms.

Embolden by hot spices and replacing the sweat lost from a 12 mile walk with real ale, my companions demand that I do not drag them another mile to the Park Tavern for what they suggest might be another "old mans pub"

Ever keen to maintain morale, I put myself in their hands.

This is the first time I have been to a bar that bases its decor on a hybrid between the Mexican Day of the Dead and Voodoo.   To make sure all religious bases are covered, a number of the walls have upside down crucifixes.

Black magic is indeed at work.   My lager was brown.

Mash Guru, Black Wallgate, Marble Arch Brewery Bitter

It's good to open yourself up to new experiences.   This is an absolute cracking little cellar bar, where the promise of live music seduced us.

And who would have thought it would also have Pint of the Night.    Most respectable beer fans have Manchester's Marble Arch as a destination visit.   It was a surprise to find one of their brews in a club setting, kept in such great condition.

The band came on at 10:30.   They did not disappoint.  An eclectic and appreciative crowd covering a broad age range made for a cracking atmosphere.

We stayed long enough to ensure they had turned the waltzers off back at home.

23/03/19 - Shining Tor, Cat and Fiddle No More

Distance - 12 Miles
Walk Inspiration - Trail Magazine, April 2005, Walk 3
Geocaches - 6
Pub - None

In normal conditions, this would be the best walk in an occasional series "Adventurous Pub Walks in the Peak District".   You can guess what's coming.   The only pub on route has been closed for four years.

A real shame.   The Cat and Fiddle is that iconic, its even named on the OS Map.   It was the 2nd highest pub in England.  Who knows where that accolade is held now?   I'm glad to have visited it in my early blogging days.

The scenery and walking remain as timelessly excellent as ever.

Due to Sat Nav confusion, where I mistook my cars directions at a hair pin bend near Derbyshire Bridge for "drive along a public footpath", we don't make the suggested parking at Errwood Reservoir.   With the C&F dominating the view on its high ridge, we make for a lay-by there instead.   Its adds maybe a mile and a half to the overall walk.   At the end of the day, not all members of my party are entirely happy with this.

The bit of bonus path on top of Stake Side

We head down Stake Side, across moorland and then through woods to reach a minor road at Goyt's Moss.   Acting the good Samaritans, three of us help push a camper van that has got trapped in mud.  It contained the most laid back antipodeans you could hope to meet.   I am not 100% sure they even wanted assistance, but once Paul had decided we were helping, that was that.

More Moorland walking up the other side of the valley, where we take advantage of the open access rules to head dead North along Burbage Edge.   Stunning views to the right over Buxton.

Views over Buxton

Wildmoorstone Brook provides more superb walking to Errwood Reservoir.   Bleak, lonely and blissfully quiet.

2/3rds of the Camper Van Rescuers

Errwood Reservoir

A near complete Circuit of Errwood reservoir and we're up into the grounds of Errwood Hall - a collection of Victorian ruins.   We don't get to see the main ruins of the hall but on the way to Pym Chair, the footpath does take us to a little curio.

The Shrine

Entry can be gained.   There's some religious iconography and a little book to record your visit, where we learn that someone has got engaged there today.   I'm more interested in the little book in the nearby geocache.

Pym Chair provides endless views over the moorland and a long, straight and often flagstoned footpath past Cat's Tor to Shining Tor - the highest point in Cheshire.

Shining Tor, with the more handsome Shutlingsloe in the background

There's not much to mark the flat summit of Shining Tor - a trig point the otherside of a wall and a much needed bench to finish lunch off and to toast a county top with Paul's single malt.

We'll say nothing of the grumbling once we exceed the 10 miles that I said the walk would be.

Back at the Cat and Fiddle to record it for posterity.   There may be a chance it will reopen.  The fixtures and fittings are all there - a peer through the windows revealed the furniture and a pool table, rendering the pub with a feel of abandonment similar to the Marie Celeste. 

2nd Highest (former) pub in England

Stone Inlay

Gav, feeling fiddled on this particular Real Ale Pub Walk

13/01/19 - Holmes Chapel Bottle Bank

Distance - 4.5 Miles
Geocaches - 24
Good Beer Guide Tick - #359


Today's walk could have left me in no position to gain Good Beer Guide Tick #359.   I have a feeling that even after a small amount of rain, this would be a quagmire.  We've had very little recent rainfall and I still feel like I have half of Cheshire stuck on my boots.

Holmes Chapel has a place in my heart.   I spent over a year working at Radbrook Hall for Barclays and even after testing all local hotels, Cranage Hall was the place of choice.   For restaurants and entertainment, we used to head north to Knutsford.  Holmes Chapel itself remained relatively undiscovered but noticing they have an Entry in the GBG, I set it as today's walking base.

A 24 Geocache trail had something to do with this.   I need to get 2019's numbers kicked off, only having found 2 last week. 

The trail is well thought out and the hides are simple enough, with a few variations - inlcuding a great one that involves a dog lead and a tool.   Non caching blog readers - use your imagination :-)

The walk passes a variety of terrain - the boggy hams of the River Dene, dairy fields, some woodland, Jodrell Bank and Twemlow Viaduct.    All Cheshire Gentle.

I managed to find 24 but not all on the trail.   Thanks to Johnboy-A1 for the first round of the year.

Walk is a loop - starting alongside the River Dene

What I am here for

Jodrell Bank from a Dairy Field

Twemlow Viaduct

A quick bang of the boots and I am off to look for refreshment.

The Bottle Bank is a about as unpubby a building that you could hope to find.   In fact, it took me a while on Google Maps Street View to even identify the former Natwest Building as my target.   The Barrels should have given it away.   Divine inspiration provided outside.

Not so lonely

My initial thoughts were "Oh No, another micro pub".   It rubs it in when there's a proper pub building over the road.

Gazing at an Ember from a Micro - How very 2019

But there is more to the bottle shop than meets the eye.   The front room is as expected - a half off licence, half bar but the casks are proper hand pulls, rather than gravity fed barrels and the chalk board identifies 4 cask and around 8 keg.   I had neglected to bring my glasses with me so hastily made a keg decision of a North Brewing Co. Small Stout.

An interesting beer - very fizzy and very cold.

A look around to see what to report on...  plenty of fridges, music (hurrah!  Courtney Barnett taking away the fridge hum), a little table mounted pot to pop in crisp packets and a rack of (expensive) gins that you could purchase on premise and have safely stored in the ex-banks vaults for future consumption.

Gin Palace - £12.50 corkage charge

So this prompted further exploration to find the vaults and low and behold, a whole new and very pubby room around the back.

Safe Keeping

The hand pulled cask, Courtney and pubby back room have left me to declare that this indeed the finest Micro found on my travels.

16/12/18 - White Nancy's All Round at the Vale Inn, Bollington

Distance - 11 Miles
Geocaches - 23
Walk Inspiration - Adventurous Pub Walks in the Peak District, Walk 8
Good Beer Guide Tick Number 353 - The Vale Inn, Bollington

This certainly was an adventurous pub walk.   My guide, written in 2004, suggests the Highwayman near Rainow as the pub of choice.   It's described as a Thwaites pub offering nice Chicken Burritos.  It's now a private dwelling.   The current supply situation of Mexican food with Lancastrian beer remains unknown.

Not to worry, I have a Good Beer Guide pub waiting for me in Bollington at the end of this superb walk across the edge of the Peak District.

It's a real cracker, offering variety, views and plenty of Geocaches - I reached my annual goal of 1000 finds, with the 23 found today.  The reason that I picked this particular route was to get to White Nancy, a ridge top memorial to either Waterloo or a man's deceased daughter, that can be seen from all directions in the local area.

Early stages are along the canal - when I can find it.   Bollington has a canal in the air, so even though I can see that I am close on the OS Map, I need a local's advice to climb through the "hole in the wall" to arrive at the aqueduct.

First cache of the day on that Information Board to the Left

Canalside Mills

The Canal is left at Bridge 30, to traverse agricultural land.  The destination is quite clear, the Saddle of Kerridge is a distinct ridge, which hosts White Nancy at its northernmost end.   The climb is gentle but the rewards are outstanding.   Views in all directions, including Jodrell bank, the Cheshire Plain and Manchester in the distance.

The Cheshire Plain

Manchester in the Distance

The Reward - Up close with White Nancy

Descend from the Ridge to pick up Oakenbank Lane, the very perimeter of the Peak District.  More fields lead to the dead pub, where refreshment could have been found pre-2010 when Whatpub says it closed.   According to them, a victim of its own Gastropub pretensions.

Easy Boundary Walking

Not worth walking any closer to a dead pub - shown on the right

Load of photos of the Peak District at its finest, but I'm sure you get the idea.   I work my way to Pott Shrigley, where the congregation are turning up for a carol service and then drop down from on high.  The canal and a disused railway line return me to Bollington.

Carol Singing adding a festive feel to the walk

Light fading on the canal.  Its midday in December

Middlewood Way - a disused Railway line - 11 miles from Macclesfield to Marple

Its not as if the walk needed any improvement but I am not going to argue with a Good Beer Guide Tick welcoming my return to civilisation.

And once again, the Bible provides great inspiration.   The pub is a small, single room building nestling in a row of terraced house.  You would be incorrect in thinking its not anything special.

The Inconspicuous Vale Inn

Without research, you wouldn't necessarily know is that its the tap room for the Bollington Brewing Company.

On offer are around half a dozen of their ales.  I took my time in selection but there could only be one choice when I saw the pale called White Nancy.    It added a certain completeness to the day.

2nd White Nancy of the Day

The pubs a real cracker - a fitting end to an exceptional walk.   The beer was as good as it gets and everyone, except me, was enjoying a what sounded a superb menu.  I overheard orders for Black Pudding Pies and Mustard Mash, as I sat at the bar, eavesdropping.

If only I had more time.