June 2026. Leeds to Newlay (er, Leeds).
I bet you thought the Cask Camino had stalled at the first hurdle lock, didn’t you ?
Never underestimate Mrs RM’s tenacity and desire for blog views; Saturday saw us parked up at Apperley Bridge station (free !), 3 minutes before the train to Kirkstall Forge from which we’d walk the canal. I nearly bought the ticket the wrong way round, running to the platform (in inappropriate footwear).
We should have had a coffee at shiny Kirkstall Forge’s cafe,
as something about the canal had us dreaming of a loo stop 10 minutes later.
And a can of cider enjoyed on a swing bridge appealed greatly.
At the risk of writing like I care, you really do see life differently along the canal, mainly the rear of joggers flying past you, out of breath.
There’s a lot of words on the signs;
my only adventure in a canal boat in 1987 ended in near disaster in Stretham, as all things must.
The copious signs are so old they predate the rail station, but they do at least mark the pubs,
and although it’s barely 20 minutes into our trek I judge a stop at the Abbey at Newlay a necessity.
My best readers will remember this as the unsung GBG perennial that provided my coveted Pint of the Year late in 2025, and a Theakston/Roosters mash-up (where’s it actually brewed ? Half-way ?) sounds ideal.
Sadly, I’m driving so I get the lovely Americano with a biscuit; (“with a biscuit !” says the young lady), and Mrs RM gets the pics of a quality canalside pub that you might very well stay in all afternoon.
Particularly with a Voice of the Beehive soundtrack.
Steady trade, mainly actual, rather than pretend, walkers.
A great pub.
But a camino is a camino, not a pub crawl.
retiredmartin 