Weekend early starts are always going to provide for stress and sure enough getting up at before 6am proved to be the case as a last minute panic ensued realizing my watch wasn't where it should be. "Borrow mine" suggested my other half and I was grateful to only noticing later that actually it was mine all along.
Anyway, managed to make the station and the train and found the others on board for the trip upto Leeds. Arriving there we had time for a first drink, me and BJ going for coffee, the others beers and one who abstained either at the White rose on Leeds Station.
Time for the next train out along the Settle - Carlisle line to our first stop at Horton-in-Ribblesdale (see http://www.horton-in-ribblesdale.com/) , a charming village frequented by walkers. After a short five minutes walk past fields with sheep and / or chickens and / or cars parked in them we arrived at the Crown. I went for a local brew that whilst easy enough to get back home would allow me to compare it nearer to its home, Black Sheep's Black Sheep Bitter (and excellent it was.) A local asked us if we'ed been up Pen-y-Gent (which we hadn't but it appeared that it was his ice-breaker as he asked it of several others including a woman who had and had since lost her other half who had suggested they met in the pub - which one is another matter.) Our new friend helpfully informed us of the other pub further up the road so we headed off to the Golden Lion (admiring, if that's the word, the extent of the quarrying en-route.) There we found a pub just opening bedecked with Burnley football memorabilia, and sum black and white Macbeth film on telly (note to self, even my typing takin' on a Yorkshire feel pet with a bit of Geordie slipping in.) Black Sheep again here before we headed back to the Crown where this time I went for Naylor's Magnum P(ale) A(le).
Back to the station, crossing the rail tracks and the train to the next stop by Ribblehead viaduct.(here and here) where there is but one building, the Station Inn. Some of us opted first to take the brisk walk to the viaduct (an impressive piece of building) paying homage at the memorial to those killed in its construction. Its quite bleak there and getting parky so back to the pub first for Copper Dragon's Best Bitter and later Thwaites Original Best Bitter (by which time the sun was out so we went into the garden with a great view across the valley to to the viaduct (ed's note - the view from the Gents is pretty good as well "The loo with the view".) If you've ever wondered what they do with those large wooden circular things they keep cable on, well up 'ere they turn them on their sides and thence into garden tables.
Anyway, its time to start the return leg of our journey with the plan of stopping off en route back to Leeds. Keighley seemed a good plan and so we alighted there and soon found a lively community type pub in the shape of the Boltmakers Arms which had the full range of Timothy Taylor beers available. I opted for their Dark Mild as its not one you see often in my neck of the woods.
After there JF lead us round the the Crickerters Arms which had a reasonable selection of craft / imported beers both in bottle and on tap. I went for the bottled Brooklyn Brown Ale.
Back to the station and to Leeds where we had an hour before our homeards journey, so firstly we went to the Ship (Kirkstall Dissolution IPA) and finally to the Angel Inn which surprised DP due to the sheapness of the round (being a Sam Smith's pub it didn't surprise me! see here for proof its not only Leeds where they do cheap beer.) I had their Old Brewery Bitter.
All in all a good day! - Cheers Brian for organizing and many happy returns!
No comments:
Post a Comment