Short read special day. One more new tick from the Solway coast, and another surprisingly traditional one. Nice bit of north Gower-like coastline, seemingly the playground of all of Carlisle’s retirees. We all like a good mud flat, don’t we ? And most folk like a traditional looking wet-led boozer in the middle of nowhere,… Continue reading HIGHLAND LADDIE
TAKING THE WALL TO THE DROVERS REST
May has been a spectacularly productive month in terms of GBG progress (wait and see), but ultimately my success will stand or fall on making inroads into those counties you can’t do on an overnighter, and which don’t have branches of “Lush” to tempt Mrs RM to drive me there. Like Cumbria. Look at all… Continue reading TAKING THE WALL TO THE DROVERS REST
PROPER PUBS IN CARLISLE
Next stop, Carlisle, which feels like New York after a week travelling round the Borders. Look ! The McVitie’s factory (sorry Mrs RM, I didn’t bring you back a discounted packet of digestives). Oh, look ! A Bass mirror (no Bass). Oh look ! An open pub. I’d forgotten what they look like. I… Continue reading PROPER PUBS IN CARLISLE
OCCASIONAL REAL ALE AVAILABILITY IN NEWCASTLETON
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
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
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