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

02/12/24 - The Chequers, Ticknall

Peaky Blinders, The Movie

Breaking up a journey to the North. We'll come to the debate I had on Facebook about sparklers on a later blog, but its probably wise to firstly define the North.

Geography

Monday Lunch time - what will we find open for post walk refreshment? The Guide Book's choice was The Wheel Inn. Alan Winfields PuG review giving it a mere five stars. And he loved pubs.

A lot can happen in 14 years since AF crossed the threshold

Believe it or not, it has only actually been closed since August 2020. Stars Pubs and Bars are indicating that they will bring this mid C18th Century pub back to life if they can find a tenant. 

I already knew it was closed but my research did not go as far as spotting that the Staff of Life doesn't open on Mondays. 

Looking like it could be one of those days!

Thank the lord for the Chequers... and what a set of opening hours.

Gap in the Market Spotted!  All day Monday!

Our walk was as enjoyable as you could hope for on a driech day.  A geocache laden march around Calke Abbey and Staunton Harold Reservoir.

Calke Abbey under Scaffold

 

Honestly, this was the best reservoir shot I managed

Calke abbey is National Trust owned and we couldn't believe how many visitors they had by the cars we spotted in the distance. As we got closer, we realised the vehicles were actually trucks. When we reached the buildings, we could see lots of signs to catering tents and bouncers at strategic locations. On entry, our friendly bouncer would only confirm that filming was taking place but was not allowed to divulge on what.

Give Mrs M a mince pie, coffee and a little bit of WiFi and she can provide the answer to anything.

They're still wringing a dollar out of the Peaky Blinder franchise, despite everyone in Birmingham being sick to death with the murals and every pub town in Great Britain, sick to death of the endless themed pub crawls. Men in flat caps on Madri making us all shudder.

Mrs M working out this is the closest she will ever be to Cillian Murphy

Back to the proper refreshment at the Chequers and what a joy it was.

Through the door and finding a free table is impossible due to the coal fire instantly steaming my glasses. It is beyond packed. The banter is top drawer. We have discovered Monday Beer Club, after I ask "is there nothing else to do in Ticknall?"

Bass, a superb ham cob and plenty of conversation.

Unexpectedly, one of the best pub visits of the year.

Bass, not Madri - should have waited to show you the cob!

Walk Details

Distance - 6.25 Miles

Geocaches - 14

Walk Inspiration - Pub Walks in Derbyshire, Walk 28