TheWickingMan

One of my favourite places. Must get back.

Very good point re-James Arbuthnot on the Post Office and Chinook crash.

Beck Pale ale from Fell Brewery.

The best low alcohol (0.5%) beer I've tasted. Beck Pale from Fell Brewery in the Lakes. And yes I should have cleaned the glass properly.

Good to hear that Tweedies is still going strong. A good few pints sunk in there. One of those places that looks nothing special but has that 'atmosphere' thing.

Not surprised, beer was much better in the Castle last time I was in BC.

There are many pubs that will fail in the next couple of years. Not enough trade, no idea about hospitality, little idea about their market. It's a very tough world but some don't help themselves.

Timothy Taylor is one of the best brewery/pub businesses around. e.g. Devonshire at Grassington. Everything top notch.

If you're running a pub in a remote upland area know your market. Decent beer and solid fare. Massive credit due to the Station Inn, Ribblehead.

A half of Pennine Amber Nectar beer

A week on the Dales Way from Windermere to Ilkley. A few pub reflections. Micros have become the best bet in many towns for reliable beer and friendly service. The Factory, Kendal; Half n Half, Sedbergh; Friends of Ham, Ilkley all excellent.

Castleton isn't the only village having significant problems. When guides to wild swimming highlight small areas of a river as Youlgrave Lido chaos ensues. I don't think walkers are the issue.

I fear the issues will be moved to other villages in the Peak District. As usual it's the unintended consequences of any actions that create another set of problems.

Pennine Amber Nectar beer.

The Dales Way aka The Malt Path finishes with a Pennine Amber Nectar at the Black Cat, Ilkley. A washout day, a short cut in Cumbria and a bus from Bolton Abbey but 70 miles not to be sniffed at.

A wonderful pint of Timothy Taylor's Dark Mild.

An evening at the Devonshire in Grassington. A busy bar, restaurant packed, staff and beers excellent. Hospitality success by #TimothyTaylors.
Dark Mild with Liver & Onions, fuel for our last day on the #DalesWay. Ilkley beckons.

Memories of 2009 Innway. Now only the knees click @teamwalking.bsky.social

Staying at the Buck Inn, Buckden tonight. Room very good, beer very good (Rudgate Sunbeam and Bitter), food very good. Pub somewhat empty for a Friday evening. Tough this hospitality lark, even for some good guys. Off for a soaking tomorrow.

Amazing how long it's taken for big brewers to do something with iconic brands in their portfolios. Amateurs showing marketing professionals what to do.

Wensleydale beers in top condition at the George at Hubberholme on the Dales Way. J B Priestley was right, it is the loveliest village.

Local beers at the Station Inn, Ribblehead.

Last time staying in the Station Inn, Ribblehead was 2012. Massive improvement now. Friendly welcome, solid fare, good beer from Tirril, Settle and decent rooms.

Settling down for quiz night at the Half and Half, Sedbergh. Fuelled by Crag Bitter, Holy Well Blond and Beck Pale, all from Fell Brewery.

Good job you weren't filming yesterday.

Walking the Dales Way with the Howgill Fells ahead.

Tea and Victoria Sponge at Lizzie's tea shop near Lowgill Viaduct.

Beautiful weather on the Dales Way from Burneside to Sedburgh. Nothing better than finding tea shops in the middle of nowhere.

To Factory Tap in Kendal last night. Great staff, beer on top form (including the excellent Fell Beck Pale 0.5%) and pizzas from a van. Hospitality winner.
Pubs where we've recently stayed in Bowness & Burneside suggest huge numbers still to close. Empty, grubby, not particularly welcoming.

M&S Food sell it in cartons.

Catching a boat from Bowness to Ambleside on a very wet day.

Our first day walking the Dales Way will require a creative writing effort. "As we hiked out of Bowness the rain poured but our spirits were lifted". I'm sure Penguin will sign us up.

Burton Albion's new kit with associated nonsense words.

Do they think we believe this bollos? I'm sure other clubs are reaching similar comms heights.

Was it your Welsh flag at today's stage at the top of the climb?

Spot on. It's difficult to know if a pub's cask will be worth it. Friday PM, in a few pubs around Belper. Busy village pub with 3 cask perfect. Two empty town centre pubs with 6+ had stale beer. But then I was in the Derby Tup in Chesterfield last night. Huge cask range, all great.

Off to do the Dales Way next week. The bits where we catch the train and a bus should be viewed as part of our spiritual journey.

On my visits, a classic 'shouldn't be in hospitality' welcome.

Garlic harvest

The northern Mediterranean aka the Peak District continues to produce despite the drought. This year's garlic crop is bigger and earlier than ever.