Look at the photo above. Not only do you see what looks like a micropub, you’ll also notice a complete absence of moving traffic. In fact, in half an hour walking the mean streets of Newcastleton I saw less cars pass me than I saw pints pulled in the whole of my trip to… Continue reading OCCASIONAL REAL ALE AVAILABILITY IN NEWCASTLETON
Author: retiredmartin
Retired NHS, doing long walks around UK and the world to record the great bits. Focused on Good Beer Guide pubs and live music.
BYE BYE BUCCLEUCH, BYE BYE BORDERS
Mrs RM finishes her Scottish IT assignment this week. I’ll be pleased to have her home. It does mean the end of six months spent in country house hotels like the Buccleuch (“book-loo“) and views like this on St Cuthberts Way. We don’t have views like that in Waterbeach. It’s very flat. I made Mrs… Continue reading BYE BYE BUCCLEUCH, BYE BYE BORDERS
BORDERING ON THE MAGICAL
My last Scottish Borders tick, which some of you Dave will remember being unexpectedly closed on the busiest lunchtime of the year so far, causing me to be unexpectedly grumpy. Most people would never return, but I don’t have that luxury if I’m ever going achieve the prize, so a month later I’m back. But… Continue reading BORDERING ON THE MAGICAL
PRE-EMPTIVE BELHAVEN & ICE CREAM TICKS IN DUNBAR
Reading new posts from BRAPA, LifeAfterFootball and PubHermit this morning* reminded me there’s more to life than ticking pubs. There’s pinking in Navigator maps, brass bands and Matthew Le Tissier, too. And ice cream. I’m not a great pudding person, unusually for a boy from the Fens, where every other pub had a revolving dessert… Continue reading PRE-EMPTIVE BELHAVEN & ICE CREAM TICKS IN DUNBAR
NO DOOM BAR IN DUNBAR
Well, perhaps there is. I didn’t do a thorough stocktake. I’d hate to think that Dunbarians (?) are missing out on the UK’s best-selling ale. Some good looking pubs though, as I headed back to the coast for my other GBG tick (that I was hoping wasn’t working on a 12-2 timetable). Perhaps the keg… Continue reading NO DOOM BAR IN DUNBAR
BELHAVEN ON THE ROCKS
Contrary to popular belief, I don’t do this blog just to keep Russ out of trouble, keeping him indoors drafting “witty” responses. Writing this rubbish is therapeutic, apparently, and trying to match photos to scruffy notes and construct a narrative invigorating. Next up, Dunbar. Yes, the Dunbar just visited by Duncan. A short day trip… Continue reading BELHAVEN ON THE ROCKS
BASS ROCK
Not that “Bass”, unless Sir Hew Hamilton-Dalrymple, has a secret stash across the water from North Berwick. My Dad had been to North Berwick to play golf, so he was one up on me. He never told me about the other “tourist attraction” in town. I’ve no idea what beer they store under the “Law”.… Continue reading BASS ROCK
EAST LINTON – DON’T GO CHASING WATERFALLS
I’m really getting into dangerous territory here, criticising beer quality in Scotland. But I’m not alone. And while local branches feel (understandably) unable to comment on quality, instead counting the pumps*, I have no such restrictions. Next stop, East Linton’s Steakhouse, providing a rare relief from the beer desert along the A1 into Edinburgh. Another… Continue reading EAST LINTON – DON’T GO CHASING WATERFALLS
HADDINGTON HANDWASH HORROR
Six days spent in Melrose over the last two weeks with the estimable Mrs RM has proved just enough to finish the Scottish Borders and Lothians, my first “foreign” GBG counties. More than that, it’s enabled me to visit places I’d only read about excitedly in books (well, the GBG). Like Prestonpans. And Haddington. But… Continue reading HADDINGTON HANDWASH HORROR
PUBS NEAR LOW NEWTON-BY-THE-SEA THAT AREN’T THE SHIP
Not a lot to say about the next two Northumberland pubs, Mrs RM quaffing a quick half and letting me sip the dregs, washed down by a soda water*. Frankly, I sense the OS extract will keep Russ going for weeks, anyway. When “Football Hole” and “Jenny Bells Carr” aren’t even the best of it,… Continue reading PUBS NEAR LOW NEWTON-BY-THE-SEA THAT AREN’T THE SHIP
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