July 2024. Craster. Despite the drizzle, an absolute joy of a Saturday on the Northumbrian coast. At risk of this blog turning into “The Hairy Bikers but in a reasonably-priced car“, I have to bring you the culinary highlights, which oddly don’t involve a cheese and onion bap and a packet of Pipers. Having turned… Continue reading FROM BAMBURGH TO CRASTER

July 2024. Bamburgh. Like the night “Red” endures when Andy escapes via Raquel, I spent a tortured night in Wooler wondering about my next tick. The Castle Inn, Bamburgh ? What Pub has no record it, though there’s a Bamburgh Castle in Seahouses, and I’m worried I’m looking at a GBG cock-up. Well, not really,… Continue reading BAMBURGH CASTLE . OR IS IT ?

July 2024. Wooler. Mrs RM retired to her four poster bed and spa bath at the Black Bull, leaving me to get a second Wooler GBG tick in an hour 5 minutes away. How does Wooler go from zero Guide entries to two (2) overnight ? Well, it’s their turn, I guess. The Tankerville Arms… Continue reading RED SQUIRRELS, RARE TICKS IN WOOLER

July 2024. Wooler. Terrifyingly close to that Scottish border, as we reach our destination at Wooler. I almost suggested a trip across to Coldstream when it seemed our hotel only served quiche, but the pub there only offered real ale in summer, and we’d already had summer last Thursday. The Black Bull seems to be… Continue reading WOOLER, WOOLER, WOOLER, UH (REMIX)

July 2024. Alnwick. I’d left Mrs RM at the eastern entrance to Alnwick gardens, with clear instructions to leave by the town exit so she could visit the Tenantry Column, and Barter Books. Press PLAY to see the main attraction of Barter Books. A rare example of a station waiting room not being converted into… Continue reading A POTTER AROUND ALNWICK

July 2024. Alnwick. I’d been putting off an assault on Northumbria’s new pubs for a while since The Great Completion, didn’t do any north of Newcastle in GBG23, but everything fell in our favour for a rare weekend of ticking excess last weekend. Two to come at our stop for the stop for the night… Continue reading ANARCHY IN ALNWICK

July 2024. Morpeth. Mrs RM was already in a mood when we reached Northumberland. Just up the road from that rowing club newbie is Barnacre Alpacas, and Mrs RM had her heart set on saying hello to this little newbie. But, having driven to a remote location near Hadrian’s Wall, we find no alpacas on… Continue reading IN WHICH MRS RM SEEKS TO HUMILIATE MR RM IN MORPETH

July 2024. Morpeth. A day of snatched halves on the way to Wooler, where I’d snagged the accommodation bargain on another weekend of outrageous UK hotel pricing. Morpeth is the smart stop 20 minutes north of Newcastle Central, akin to Marple or Ely I guess. I thought I’d been loads of times, but there’s only… Continue reading PLEASED TO MEET YOU, MORPETH

July 2024. Newcastle. A stressful 5 days down in Waterbeach, and returning to Sheffield last Thursday I felt in urgent need of a few quiet days at home a night somewhere completely different. Actually, what I wanted was a few new Northumberland Beer Guide ticks, and by noon on Friday we were passing the Angel… Continue reading TICK ON THE TYNE (AMATEUR ROWING CLUB) IT’S ALL MINE

July 2024. Cambridge. The “problem” with walking as fast as I do is that it frees up time for an extra half in a busy schedule. Stafford Paul will be familiar with this “problem”, though I expect he’d have skipped “Dirty Hanks” on my route back from Cambridge’s colleges to the station. “Dirty Hanks” ?… Continue reading NO CASK, STAY FOR HALF OF GAMMA RAY