I’d managed fifteen GBG ticks in Norfolk and Cumbria last week, the pace I’ll need to keep up to complete the Guide, but the Stag at Dufton was a good place to call it quits for the week. With Curthwaite curtailing operations, I couldn’t complete Cumbria (alliteration !), and several of the Eden Valley pubs… Continue reading TOP 100 PUBS – THE DUFTON STAG
BARKING, BORROWED PLATES AND BOWNESS-ON-SOLWAY
I’d always wanted to go to Bowness-on-Solway, but somehow it had avoided me. Its loss, I guess. The Hadrian’s Wall walk starts here, rather than Carlisle, so I feel we cheated last year. I was quite keen to walk a bit now, but Mrs RM declared it “much too cold*, bitter, ugh“, and since she… Continue reading BARKING, BORROWED PLATES AND BOWNESS-ON-SOLWAY
TIMMY TAYLOR DARK
Thwarted in Curthwaite last Saturday, but redemption came 10 minutes later at Moorhouse’s Royal Oak. You see ? Google Maps collecting all this personal data about me and Mrs RM; it’ll probably start sending me adverts for houses in the west of Carlisle soon. There’s some nice houses, and some decent pubs, like Great Orton’s… Continue reading TIMMY TAYLOR DARK
“We’re refurbishing, call back later”
“He’s not STILL moaning about opening hours, surely !” You lot love it. Only today a post I wrote about a Margate craft bar in 2018 is getting read, probably in Moldova. And the Royal Oak in Curthwaite was an absolute gem for lovers of unexpectedly closed pubs. The Royal Oak is a dining pub… Continue reading “We’re refurbishing, call back later”
WORKINGTON “UPPIES AND DOWNIES”
The day before Mad Friday 2019 I stayed the night in Workington, a feat oddly unrecognised in the New Years Honours. The Conservatives had just taken the Parliamentary seat, and I predicted great things for an unsung Cumbrian town. And sure enough, two years later they had their own Travelodge, costing barely more than the… Continue reading WORKINGTON “UPPIES AND DOWNIES”
“How are you supposed to find out opening times, then ?” – The Lemon Posset on the door issue.
So many pubs to tell you about and I’m only “dropping” (ugh) one post a day, basically the Kate Bush of blogging when I should be the Van Morrison. Or something. Last Friday our second “near Workington” tick was in the flat farmland of Tallantire, somewhere I guarantee you will NEVER go. Mrs RM has… Continue reading “How are you supposed to find out opening times, then ?” – The Lemon Posset on the door issue.
CRISP NIGHT AT THE COCKERMOUTH COMMUNITY PUB
The drive from tourist Lake District through Ambleside and Keswick and Bassenthwaite Lake to Workington, the jewel of the west. “Jewel” as in Jewel Kilcher, faded beauty from Payson, Utah, of course. I think it fairest to say Mrs RM “tolerated” this trip to Workie on the basis that I could clear the two later… Continue reading CRISP NIGHT AT THE COCKERMOUTH COMMUNITY PUB
BPP (BEATRIX POTTER PINT)
A quick look at our accommodation options last Friday revealed the downside of travelling to the Lakes at Easter. These were the options around Coniston, Ambleside and Windermere. How do people afford to holiday in this country ? Budget hotel prices have rocketed this last year. Still. There’s always Workington. While Mrs RM dreamed of… Continue reading BPP (BEATRIX POTTER PINT)
CONISTON (FED AND) WATERED
I didn’t sleep very comfortably last Thursday in our campervan parked on Drigg beach, but it saved about £90 and that’s £90 for halves of Loweswater Gold and a container of Singapore Rice. Friday was a gorgeous day, and catching the Lakes just before the schools broke up meant an easy drive from coast to… Continue reading CONISTON (FED AND) WATERED
THE SOUTH LAKES BASS REGULATIONS
National Bass Day is on Saturday (16th). I shan’t be celebrating; it’s a callous and poorly conceived attempt to distract attention from my birthday (22 December) and of course Doom Bar Day. I didn’t find any Bass in Cumbria last week. No doubt someone will check the Wickingman’s master spreadsheet for me to find out… Continue reading THE SOUTH LAKES BASS REGULATIONS
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