RambAles are our social events that combine pub visits with a gentle walk, usually in the countryside. June sees our new social secretary Mike Cooke take over on RambAle organising duties!
On 27 June the walk is from the West End Hotel in Killamarsh to Fuggle Bunny Brew House in Halfway with some of the route being on old railway trackbeds. This is in a part of our branch area we rarely visit! Get there on bus 120K, meeting time is 12:20. Details of this were in last month’s issue of Beer Matters or can be found on the website.
The 18 July walk is along the route of the Chesterfield Canal from Thorpe Salvin to Shireoaks.
We meet up at Crystal Peaks Interchange, stand CP2, for the 12.30 no. 26 bus to Thorpe Salvin. If you’re travelling from Sheffield city centre, either the 11.30 no. 120 bus from the Interchange, or the 11.45 Blue route tram from Cathedral, will get you there in plenty of time.
Alighting the 26 at Thorpe Salvin around 1.00pm, we walk just around the corner to the Parish Oven for pre-walk refreshments, following which we take the footpath through the fields down to the Chesterfield Canal, crossing over at Pudding Dyke Bridge to take the towpath eastwards, past the impressive series of Thorpe staircase locks. This area is renowned for being one of the the prettiest parts of the whole UK canal network.
At Turnerwood, we can stop for tea or coffee at Orchard Teas, overlooking the attractive basin there. Continuing our walk, we pass through Shireoaks, past the Marina, which was once the wharf for the nearby colliery, and carry on along the canal to the Lockkeeper, on the outskirts of Worksop. Time for a drink (food is available here) before we retrace our steps back towards Shireoaks. We leave the canal at the bridge over Shireoaks Road, and walk through the site of the abandoned colliery to the Ticking Clock Brewery & Taproom. Here we have around 90 minutes to relax.
After quenching our thirsts (food is also available here, usually pizzas or burgers from outside caterers), we take the short walk back to Shireoaks station and catch the 18.14 train back to Sheffield, where the option of the Sheffield Tap may compete with that of catching the next bus home!
Total mileage on foot is about 6 miles, mostly level, with no significant hills, the canal between Thorpe Salvin and Worksop is all downhill (obviously only actually downhill where the locks are). It’s just over 2 hours walking in total.
Note: Anyone needing to get back earlier can cut short the stop at Ticking Clock and catch the 17.08 train back to Sheffield.
Stagecoach’s Peak Sightseer open top bus tour launches its 2026 season on 23 May with buses running hourly on two routes from Chatsworth House. The Blue route runs to Mam Tor, Blue John Cavern, via Baslow, Calver, Grindleford, Longshaw, Hathersage, Hope and Castleton. The Red route runs on a circular route via Bakewell and Ashford In the Water. Tours operate from 10am to 6pm daily until 19 September (then Saturdays only to 10 October) and there is also a South Sheffield feeder bus at the start and end of the day offering pick ups and drop offs at Meadowhead, Woodseats, Millhouses and Totley.
The tour ticket allows you to hop on and off as much as you like and includes both open top tour routes, the feeder service and also various local Stagecoach buses including service 65 (Sheffield-Buxton via Calver) and 170 (Chesterfield to Bakewell via Baslow).
There are a number of pubs along the route and it can be a great day out doing the sightseeing in the morning then a few pubs in the afternoon.There are some absolutely epic landscapes to see from the top deck!
Peak Sightseer ticket prices (normal bus tickets/fares do not apply): adult £14, concessions £9.50, children £8.50, family £38, group of 5 adults £60. Tickets are available from the bus driver or on the Stagecoach app.
There are discounts for ticket holders at the following pubs: Bank House (Hathersage), Little John (Hathersage), Old Hall Hotel (Hope) and Peak Hotel (Castleton). The Hathersage venues offer the discounts weekdays only 10am to 5pm.
There is also a network of local buses in the area that run all year around. They charge single fares at £3 per ride or an all day Derbyshire Wayfarer pass is available – £9 bus only or £17 bus and train. Wayfarer ticket holders can buy the Peak Sightseer ticket at the concession price. Wayfarer tickets are available on the Travelmaster app as well as from the bus driver.
62 (High Peak) Castleton to Buxton: via Hope, Edale and Chapel en le Frith.
65 (Stagecoach) Sheffield to Buxton: via Grindleford, Calver, Stoney Middleton, Eyam, Foolow, Great Hucklow, Tideswell, Litton and Millers Dale
170 (Stagecoach) Chesterfield to Bakewell: via Baslow and Chatsworth
173 (Andrew’s) Bakewell to Castleton: via Great Longstone, Monsal Head, Wardlow, Litton, Tideswell, Great Hucklow, Bradwell and Hope.
218 (TM Travel) Sheffield to Bakewell: via Owler Bar, Baslow and Chatsworth
257 (Andrew’s) Sheffield to Bakewell: via Yorkshire Bridge, Bamford, Hathersage, Grindleford, Calver, Stoney Middleton, Eyam and Baslow
272 (First bus and High Peak) Sheffield to Castleton: via Fox House, Hathersage and Hope.
Transpeak (High Peak) Derby to Buxton: via Matlock, Bakewell and Ashford in the Water.
More information on the Peak Sightseer can be found online at stagecoachbus.com with details of other bus services at travelderbyshire.co.uk. Also do check out our map over the page.
For this feature we will take a look at the pubs along the Blue Sightseer route that are in the CAMRA Sheffield & District branch area – Calver Sough to Castleton.
A Sports Bar & Pub Kitchen. The dining area and bar feature exposed beams, flag stone flooring and roaring fires (in winter). Wide ranging food menu. Carvery on Sunday.
Originally three cottages on the “green” in the centre of the village, this has been a pub and hotel for the last 150 years. Panoramic views of Froggatt Edge from the garden terrace. Buses: 65, 257, BLUE
A large boutique hotel near Grindleford station with modern public bar, lounge and restaurant. Impressive views from the large garden. Casual walkers and dogs welcome. Snacks are served in the bar from 12pm-9pm. Train, Buses: 65, BLUE
Originally built to serve the nearby millstone quarry, now popular with diners. Open plan with large well furnished seating/dining areas. Extensive outdoor area partly under cover. Bus: 272, BLUE.
Comforting pub dating from the Edwardian period decorated with horse brasses and ornamental plates. The pub features a main bar area, two seated dining areas and a bar-side room around the central bar servery. The pleasant garden overlooks a stream. Bus: 272, BLUE.
Formerly a historic bank, now an award winning contemporary restaurant and bar nestling in the heart of the Peak District National Park. Bank House offers fresh locally sourced seasonal produce and the finest tipples from Europe. One cask ale available, usually a house beer from Abbeydale. Train, Bus: 257,272, BLUE
Formerly a 500 year old inn, this luxury Derbyshire hotel in the heart of the Peak District has been transformed into a pub offering a range of cask ales in their public bar. Bar is open for coffee and soft drinks from 8am, but from 11am for alcohol. Train. Buses: 257, 272, BLUE.
Large stone built pub which has had extensive internal renovations refurbishment and the new bright clean interior now has a carvery style servery, dining and seating areas and a bar area. Up to two regularly changing cask beers are on offer, often from local breweries like Thornbridge, Buxton, Ashover, Neepsend, and also four draft keg taps which are always interesting (for example craft keg beers from local breweries like Pentrich, Abbeydale, and Thornbridge). Train. Buses: 257, 272, BLUE.
Large roadside pub, open plan but with distinct areas around the island bar. There is a big screen showing sporting events and good value pool table. Dogs and walkers welcome. Buses: 173, 272, BLUE.
Old Hall Hotel, Hope
Typical village corner pub with a large open plan bar area. Traditional, relaxed and friendly atmosphere maintained. The snug features a real fire. Five B&B rooms available. Tea room adjoins building serving 7 days a week from 8am to 5pm. Beer festivals held most bank holiday weekends. Dogs and muddy boots welcome. Train. Buses: 62, 173, 272, BLUE.
Uncomplicated Greene King owned local village pub split into two drinking areas with rear car park and outdoor seating area. Dogs, walkers and families welcome. Bar snacks available. Train. Buses: 62, 173, 272, BLUE.
A traditional village inn. A central servery separates the restaurant and the bustling bar area. Names of landlords since 1746 are inscribed on low wooden beams. Accommodation offered in 10 en suite rooms. Homemade food served everyday. Walkers welcome and dogs welcome in the bar. Offers six cask beers, from local brewers. Buses: 62, 173, 272, BLUE
Self proclaimed quirky pub offering en-suite B&B accommodation, good pub food, a range of five cask beers, quiz night, live music and more. Outdoor drinking area at rear. Buses: 62, 173, 272, BLUE
The bar areas include a feature fireplace, exposed stone walls and carved wooden chairs. Stylish dining room and busy family food trade. Excellent range of cask ales including beers from several local breweries with a house ale provided by Intrepid. Buses: 62, 173, 272, BLUE.
Bulls Head, Castleton
A spacious wood panelled dining room, while leather sofas feature in the smaller bar area. High quality home cooked food. Six different Robinsons real ales are offered. Courtyard drinking area and barn for indoor/outdoor eating and drinking.
A chain pub aiming to create an authentic atmosphere with local pictures adorning the walls, candlelit tables and wooden beams. Walkers welcome. Dogs allowed in the bar and water and dog treats provided.
Cosy two roomed back street pub. The flag stoned tap room welcomes walkers and dogs, while the carpeted restaurant is for diners only. Attractive forecourt seating. Five cask beers are offered. Homemade jams, pickles and chutneys for sale using locally sourced ingredients as much as possible. Won a PubAid Community Sustainability Hero award in 2024 and 2025. The pub grows its own produce, uses solar power and keeps bees as well as doing much recycling.
ALL THE KNOWN DERBYSHIRE PEAK DISTRICT PUBS IN OUR BRANCH AREAWITH CASK ALE
Recently, I was fortunate enough to visit several breweries and taprooms in Belgium. These included several of great age and others of a more recent vintage.
Roman (Oudenaarde) showed both their now decommissioned coppers and their new shiny brewery. The brewery dates to 1545, and founder Joos Roman: a bailiff who sold beer at an inn on the main trading route from Germany to France. The current management are the 14th generation, brothers Carlo and Lode Roman.
Founded over three centuries later (1875), Verhagne (Vichte) was visited on a Sunday morning: 90% of their production is the ruby-red, Duchess be Bourgogne (6.2%)
Silly Brewery in the town of Silly is one of the smaller members of the Belgian Family Brewers Association. The brewery began in 1852 in a farm bought by Marcellin Meynsbrughen and was called Meynsbrughen Brewery until 1973. They now have a handsome town-centre site with views over France. Their logo is an agricultural worker with a scythe in one hand and a beer in the other. Their most well-known beers are Silly Saison (5%), Silly Scotch (8%), and the Enghien range.
Omer Vander Ghinste began in 1892 when Remi Vander Ghinste bought a house with brewery buildings in Bellegem for his son Omer. The family were careful with their spending as Marguerite named her son, born in 1901, “Omer” for practical reasons, so expensive bar, and brewery windows would not have to be replaced. This was the beginning of a family tradition. The latest Omer Vander Ghinste has been in charge since 1993. Their most well-known beers are Omer Blond (8%) and VanderGhinste Roodbruin (5.5%), a Flemish Red Brown.
Brasserie Cazeau (Templeuve) is heir to a legacy name, the current brewery dating from 1995. It is a real mix of the old and the new, including a wood-panelled copper, lots of stairs and many ‘interesting’ sets of pipework. About 70% of production is secondary fermented in the bottle. Beers include the Tournay range, including Blonde (6.5%), Noire (7.6%), Saison (5%), Noel (8.2%), and Triple (9.4%). We were also provided with a sample of Tourney Hop Harvest 2025 (4%) straight from the fermenting vessel. A year earlier, Brasserie ‘t Gaverhopke, an ancient farm, commenced brewing. All beers are unfiltered and refermented in the bottle.
Vicaris Brewery (Dendermonde) was founded by dental engineer Vincent Dilewyns who began brewing at home in 2000 and produced a lovely Tripel. It was never the intention to go commercial, but after success at a local event the leftover crates were sold to locals and some ended up at the 2006 national Zythos Beer Festival. The current brewery opened in 2021. Their beers are unpasteurised and unfiltered and include: Vicaris NANOo, one of the best Belgian zero-alcohol beers.
Established in 2005, De Ranke (Dottignes) also produces unpasteurised and unfiltered beers, utilising whole hops in a traditional gravity-led set-up. Brewing to sale for their heavily hopped high IBU beers (40-70) takes between 8 and 20 weeks. Their most well-known beer is XX Bitter (6%).
Deseveaux (Bossu) were set up in 2011. Production on the old family farm commencing in 2014. They specialise in brewing with buckwheat and spelt in conjunction with malted barley and wheat. 35% of production is organic. Mostly Belgian hops are used including some grown on-site (Cascade, Goldings, and Phoenix). Water, from their well, is treated before use. Their most well-known beers are the Abbaye de Saint-Ghislain and Sarazen ranges.
Chateau de Leigonon (Ciney) opened in 2024 as part of a larger complex in an ex-farm on the estate. Belgian Process Solutions installed the extensive kit. They currently brew 3-4 times/month. Beers include Ambree (5%), IPA (5.5%), and Imperial Solstice (8.1%).
Along the way, several visits were made to brewery taprooms. These included the Duvel-Moorgat Maredsous Monastery microbrewery and bar, the Taproom Brouwerij de Brabandere Brewery (Harelbeke, opened in 2025) and the Trolls & Bush Beer Restaurant and Brewery Tap for Dubuisson Brewery in Pipaix. The Borinage Brewery Tap (Boussu) provided the oddest beer name: Urine Double IPA (7%).
At the Boon Tap Room (Lambeek), Frank, the man who brought lambic back from the dead, appeared behind the bar, then joined us at our table: suffice to say his knowledge regarding foeders, sour beers and barrel aging is unsurpassed. Boon now has the world’s largest stock of lambic beer in oak barrels, 2.1 million litres. Frank retired in 2021 and his two sons now run the brewery.
Across the country are an increasing number of high-quality low alcohol beers. For example, Ramon (in a can, 0.3%) was “Beer of the Year” at the 2025 London Beer Competition. It is brewed using a specially selected yeast that minimises alcohol production while unlocking aromatic, hop-flavours.
Thanks to Podge Beer Tours and Wakefield CAMRA for arranging the two trips which included these, and several other, visits.
Following on from our series of guide to Peak District pubs in our branch area served by bus, attention turns to a bus that links Sheffield with a bit of the Peak District that isn’t on our patch (Owler Bar is Dronfield branch and Baslow/Bakewell is Chesterfield branch) but passes a few often overlooked Sheffield pubs along the way as well as providing useful connections within the Peak District.
TM Travel bus 218 runs from Sheffield to Bakewell via Sharrow, Banner Cross, Ecclesall, Totley, Owler Bar and Baslow. You can change buses in Baslow onto the Andrews 257 to Calver, Stoney Middleton and Eyam whilst in Bakewell you can pick up the Andrews 173 to Great Longstone, Monsal Head, Wardlow Mires, Litton, Tideswell and Bradwell. Some journeys operate via Chatsworth House and in the summer you can join the Peak Sightseer open top bus tours there.
The 218 runs every half hour in the daytime, seven days a week. There is also a limited evening service Monday to Saturday with the last departure from Bakewell to Sheffield at 11:10pm.
A single fare is capped at £3 per ride, alternatively a choice of all day passes are available – a day ticket just for TM Travel services costs £7.90 whilst a Derbyshire Wayfarer ticket that includes all buses in the area (except for the open top sightseeing tour) costs £9.
A traditional style multi roomed pub with large beer offering, reopened in 2015 following a sympathetic refurbishment. The changing beer range is sourced mainly from local and regional micro breweries, with six cask beers and up to 11 craft keg beers. There is also a quality spirits offering. The large beer garden has a heated, covered area.
Operated by Thornbidge Brewery. Formerly three rooms around a central bar but now opened out but retaining distinct areas. A conservatory leads into the pleasant garden. A total of eight cask ales are offered, with two regular Thornbridge beers, an additional six changing Thornbridge beers, and two guest beers. Small library in the front left corner. Card payment only
Micropub which has six hand pumps and 12 keg lines, serving a rotating list of guest beers, often locally sourced. One hand pump is usually for cider. Two of the keg lines are dedicated to a cider and a low alcohol beer. Outdoor seating is available.
Latest addition to Ecclesall Road drinking scene, opened January 2022 in former Lloyds bank building from which it derives its name. Open plan room micropub. Modern style layout with a mixture of booths and high tables. Three cask pumps on the bar.
Two roomed locals pub retaining a traditional two room taproom and lounge format. Upstairs there is a games room with pool tables. Refurbished 2016. Several large HD screens showing sports, including a big 10 foot screen.
Large suburban dining focused pub operated by Mitchells & Butlers. Several different seating areas on varying levels around a central L shaped bar. Quiz nights Mondays and Wednesdays.
Former Stone’s pub, now part of the Ember Inns chain, in an upmarket area close to Ecclesall Woods. Now open plan but retaining several distinct seating areas around the central bar. An extension to the rear provides a restaurant area.
Small micropub on two floors – the bar is on the ground floor with the majority of the seating downstairs. There is a single handpump offering a changing cask ale plus a range of other beers on keg – a mixture of craft and mainstream, plus a decent selection of cans and bottles. Pies are available at the weekend whilst stocks last.
Imposing pub, hotel and restaurant operated by the Northern Collective who also have food & drink venues in Dore, Hathersage and Castleton. Smart and food led but still welcoming with a relaxed atmosphere.
Grade II listed 19th century turnpike inn, now a refurbished dining pub. A good choice of four real ales are offered. Part of the Longbow Hospitality group.
Modern, welcoming downstairs bar with two locally sourced real ales available, along with a limited selection of interesting bottled beers. Upstairs is an award winning restaurant serving excellent food, with various deals running throughout the week.
Tastefully refurbished with a strong emphasis on food, although still retaining the bar area. Two changing beers, some locally sourced. Now has a house beer from Eyam Brewery.
Grade II listed building in the heart of Bakwell. Popular with locals it is a wet led town centre Pub with a long single roomed bar, plus games room with pool table and dart board. Regular Marstons beers are served with up to four guest beers mainly from local breweries. Serves Meals Lunchtime on Mondays only which is Market Day in Bakewell.
This very welcoming pub lies adjacent to the river bridge. In addition to the split level interior there is an outside area by the main road through the town. Very popular at mealtimes. 10% CAMRA discount now available here. Open for Breakfasts in the morning.
A 17th Century Coaching Inn with oak beams and open fires, situated on the A619 in the centre of this historic market town.The pub has five en-suite double bedrooms.Real Ales include two permanent Timothy Taylor and two regularly Changing Beers typically Bradfield Farmers Blonde. Dog friendly in tap room only.
Traditional Robinsons hotel and pub with separate tap room, very popular with the locals. There is a large beer garden and parking facilities, situated close to Bakewell town centre. There are three cask offerings with Unicorn and Dizzy Blond as regulars and another changing Robinsons beer. Food service at lunchtimes and early evenings. Regular live music and a weekly pub quiz. There is a range of accommodation available, check out their website for details.
Small friendly town centre micro pub with stylish interior and warm fireplace for cold winter evenings. Outside seating available outside on main street during warmer months. Six regularly changing cask ales and six craft keg ales available, sourced locally, as are the selection of wines, gins and whiskies. There are often vegan beers on tap.
The Tap Room, situated at the Thornbridge brewery features a spacious shop and a comfortable seating area. Located just a 15-minute stroll from Bakewell town centre on the Riverside Industrial Estate (buses 173 and Transpeak also go there, as does the Peak Sightseer Red route). Excellent freshly handmade pizzas are served daily. The bar showcases a selection of four cask and sixteen keg lines, with all beers available in thirds, halves, and pints, and the option for beer flights with three selections. Regular music and social events are held monthly (check website for details). Pre-booked brewery tours are also available to explore the brewing process. Card payment only.
A short bus ride from Bakewell on the Transpeak, 173, 257a or Peak Sightseer Red Tour to Ashford in the Water will bring you to the Ashford Arms and Bull’s Head.
23 May sees the launch of the 2026 season for the Peak Sightseer open top bus tours. There will be one feeder trip from South Sheffield in the morning, departing Meadowhead at 09:54 and running via Woodseats, Millhouses and Totley to Chatsworth, returning from Chatsworth at 17:43. Inbetween those times tours will run hourly from Chatsworth to Bakewell (Red route) and Chatsworth to Mam Tor (Blue route). The price of a Peak Sightseer ticket is £14 for adults and £9.50 for concessions, this allows you to hop on and off as much as you like. See stagecoachbus.com for more details.
April saw the Department for Transport publish their “Better Connected” strategy for joined up transport. Much of this was about improving and standardising online information and ticketing with selected digital partner companies, however of perhaps more interesting for us was the announcement that £6m of funding had been awarded to run a pilot of the proposed “Mini Switzerland” network in the Peak District.
The “Mini Switzerland” concept sees a bus network that runs to a clockface timetable every hour that is designed to connect with Hope Valley trains at Grindleford, Hathersage, Bamford, Hope and Edale stations with core corridors of Castleton to Hathersage and Calver to Eyam offering a bus every 20 minutes. The idea is you can get a train into the Hope Valley every hour and connect into a conveniently timed bus to the villages not served by train all day every day the trains operate and all on one combined ticket.
The proposed network includes:
existing bus 272 Sheffield-Castleton every hour via Hathersage, Bamford station and Hope
existing bus 257 Sheffield-Bakewell every hour via Bamford village, Hathersage, Calver and Eyam
existing bus 173 Castleton-Bakewell increased to every hour via Hope, Bradwell and Tideswell
existing bus 65 Sheffield-Buxton every alternate hour via Grindleford, Calver, Eyam, Tideswell and Litton supplemented by bus 66 Chesterfield-Tideswell via Calver and Eyam with the two routes combining to provide an hourly service Calver-Tideswell.
new hourly service 256 Castleton to Eyam via Hope, Bamford station, Hathersage and Baslow (a combination of existing services 272 and 257).
new hourly service 258 between Bamford station, Bamford village, Yorkshire Bridge and Fairholmes visitor centre (Derwent dams)
existing service 62 amended to run Edale to Buxton every alternate hour
new minibus services 63 and 64 operating a circular route between Edale station and Castleton (one via Hope, the other via Winnats pass).
If you’ve been following our guides to Peak District pubs in our branch area along bus routes or live in this part of the Peak District, you’ll realise that these changes could represent game changing improvements that will make lots of great country pubs much easier to get to, especially where evening and Sunday services are introduced on routes that don’t currently have them.
We await details of when the project will actually be delivered and whether it will be the same as the above proposal in the consultation document.
One small development already implemented however is on route 272 with a bus from Castleton to Sheffield added at 11:59pm (midnight ish) on Friday and Saturday nights.
Meanwhile in Sheffield, The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) is working towards phase one of bus franchising with whoever wins the contract taking over services that operate out of Olive Grove depot (currently the base for First bus who have sold the depot to SYMCA) from autumn 2027. SYMCA currently have a public consultation survey on their website regarding priorities for improving bus services when they take over the whole network, the survey is open until 17 May.
One recent improvement that has happened in Sheffield is the addition of a Sunday service on routes 61/62 between Hillsborough and Bradfield, this is being operated by First bus under contract to SYMCA. Timetables and live tracking is available at bustimes.org.
Our RambAle socials are gently paced country walks that start and end at a pub that serves real ale in locations accessible by public transport.
The first two walks of 2026 in April and May are hosted by Malcolm and Jenny Dixon before they retire from their organising responsibilities and hand over to our new social secretary Mike Cooke.
Sat 16 May Bakewell, Stanton Moor & Darley Bridge
This month we start at the Flying Childers at Stanton in Peak and walk over Stanton Moor via the Nine Ladies stone circle to Birchover for the Red Lion(home of Birchover brewery)
Get there on bus 120k to Rowan Tree Road; the walk leader will be boarding this bus at Crystal Peaks bus station at 12:03 (departs Sheffield Interchange at 11:26).
We start the 2.5 mile walk from the West End Hotel by walking down Boiley Lane to the Transpennine Trail (track bed of the old Great Central Railway) which we follow as far as the site of the old Killamarsh Central station then transfer onto the Cuckoo Way, which follows a disused part of the Chesterfield canal.
We take a break at Guzzle Micropub before heading down Sheffield Road to Fuggle Bunny Brew House which has an open day on the last Saturday of the month with a bar open plus live music and a food trader.
Regular buses and trams return from Halfway terminus.
Suggested travel tickets: single fares are £3, if you will be making more journeys on the same day check out the range of Travelmaster passes.
Leader: Mike Cooke (07922 181306)
For more details please see the branch diary at sheffield.camra.org.uk or in the latest Beer Matters magazine. Alternatively you can contact the RambAles Coordinator by emailing socials@sheffield.camra.org.uk
Everyone is welcome to join us on any of these walks but they are advised to come suitably equipped for the day’s walking, which may be rough, wet & muddy in places. Please also come prepared for the possibility of changeable and inclement weather.
In most cases you will also need to bring or be able to buy (most pubs do food) sufficient food and drink for yourself for the day.
My beer history has not included a trip to Burton-on-Trent, so with free entry for CAMRA members currently, a visit to the Burton Beer Festival seemed like an ideal opportunity.
Additionally for convoluted reasons involving a tombola win at Chesterfield Beer Festival, I know Jeff Henderson, head brewer of Airline Brewing in Maine USA. Jeff spends a two week holiday in Burton around the festival every year, so we had a chance to meet up.
My wife and I arrived on Wednesday afternoon, and went on a walk around Burton. It’s immediately obvious that, despite being able to see brewery buildings all around, things are not what they used to be. We pass the entrance to Molson Coors Burton Brewery, with no reference to a cask ale, and a sign that “celebrates” Carling!
Across the road there is plenty of evidence of closed up brewery buildings, and around the corner we saw one of the iconic Burton Union System sets sat on the edge of the site, unused and unloved. At this point I was feeling a bit disheartened about Burton, so time for a beer!
We went to the Burton Bridge Innand things started to look up. A classic old-school pub that has been tastefully modernised with an excellent choice. The pub is both next door to, and owned by the Burton Bridge Brewery, who also brew the Heritage Brewing Co beers. Sat in the small sun trap beer garden overlooking the brewery I thoroughly enjoyed the Bridge Bitter and Stairway to Heaven.
In the evening we went to the Roebuck Inn to meet up with Jeff. Again the Roebuck is a classic old-school pub, with six out of eight hand-pulls on. What followed was a delightful evening with Jeff, who it turned out stays in the Roebuck when he visits, and is essentially an honorary regular. Talking to Jeff it became clear that he has a real love for classic UK cask beer, waxing lyrical on the beautiful balance of flavours in a pint of Bass. He also had nothing but good things to say about Burton Bridge Brewery, Gates, and Tower Brewery.
While I had been upset by the obvious decline in the status of Burton as a cask ale producer, Jeff was eager to point out the smaller operations that are now producing classic cask styles at high quality, of which the Gates Reservoir was an excellent example.
The next day was Festival time, but first a quick trip to the National Brewery Heritage Trust that since the closure of the National Brewery Centre is trying to develop a National Hub for Britain’s brewery and pub heritage in Burton-on-Trent. They have grand plans in motion, and are worth supporting (breweryheritage.com)
So to the festival where we meet up again. I started steadily as normal with the Burton Bridge Sunshine Pale (3.4%), Jeff went straight for the Thornbridge Imperial Stout (7.7%) as he couldn’t wait to try it! Inspired by talking to Jeff I stayed on beers from local breweries throughout the festival; Burton Bridge, Heritage Brewing, Outwoods, Gates and Tower, and didn’t have a beer I didn’t like, a highpoint being Tower Ale to the King (5.5%).
A quick thanks to Andy Morton who we met, and took the picture, and joined us in taking some of the large brewery name signs on offer, including his namesakes “Morton”. The Burton Festival was very enjoyable, with an afternoon of live organ music to drink to.
Late afternoon and the call of new pubs to try was too strong so we left. Not far away was the Outwoods taproom was a brilliant railway arch operation, which for a small operation had their own three cask and six keg beers on, plus six others. Cask Hop Into the Abyss was a fabulous 4.9% black IPA.
Next the Coopers Tavernthat several people had recommended, and quite rightly it turned out, for the Bass on gravity if nothing else. A quick beer in the Last Heretic just before they closed, Tower Gone for a Burton, alongside the hottest pickled onion ever, that couldn’t be finished between us! Jeff told us he loves English food (not something you hear everyday) with a soft spot for pork scratchings, bacon, Sunday roasts and a crumble with custard.
Final drink with Jeff back in the Roebuck, which was Gates Reservoir Gold, a 7.5% barley wine style beer, and again a classic old-school English beer.
By the end of the trip we had exchanged beermats, badges, t-shirts (Airline for me, SMOD for Jeff) and I had some Airline Brewing beer cans he’d brought over in his luggage. More importantly an exchange of appreciation for English beers and pubs, and Burton-on-Trent for what it is now, never mind the past. I highly recommend a trip to Burton-on-Trent, and like Jeff, I intend the festival visit to be an annual event in the future.
29 March sees routes 218 (Sheffield to Bakewell) and 272 (Sheffield to Castleton) switch their Sunday service to the British Summer Time schedules.
23 May is when the 2026 season for the Peak Sightseer open top bus tours launches. Again there are two routes planned, the Red tour from Chatsworth to Bakewell and Blue tour from Chatsworth to Castleton. They will run daily until 19 September then Saturdays only to 10 October. Further details haven’t been announced as yet, keep an eye on stagecoachbus.com.
In Sheffield First bus have registered a number of timetable changes from 3 May. Details have not yet been announced at the time of going to press.
On Supertram, rail replacement works are taking place between Sheffield Station and Gleadless Townend (Blue and Purple routes) from 28 March to 12 April with replacement buses in operation. Buses replace trams on the Meadowhall/Parkgate line over the Mayday bank holiday weekend. There are also engineering works in the Rotherham area on some Saturday evenings – the 11, 18 and 25 April – with replacement buses from 1730hrs onwards. The Yellow and Blue route returns to the normal timetable with trams up to every 12 minutes from 13 April.
April is expected to see the opening of the new Tram Train station at Magna, just in time for the Rotherham Real Ale & Music festival there! The Tram Train service runs from Sheffield Cathedral to Parkgate via Attercliffe, Meadowhall South and Rotherham Central station. Look out for news on this online at supertram.com.
National Rail timetables change for the summer season on 17 May.
As we arrive into Spring, it is a time of year that is great to head out to pubs in Derbyshire and there are a number of regular bus routes from Sheffield to take you there:
65 to Buxton via Calver, Tideswell and Litton (Stagecoach)
218 to Bakewell via Baslow and Chatsworth (TM Travel)
257 to Bakewell via Bamford and Eyam (Andrew’s of Tideswell)
272 to Castleton via the Hope Valley (First bus and High Peak)
X17 to Wirksworth via Chesterfield and Matlock (Stagecoach)
Check out the features in the last few issues of Beer Matters for Peak District pubs along bus routes, if you don’t have a printed copy you can download PDFs from sheffield.camra.org.uk.
For general public transport information in our area online visit travelsouthyorkshire.com or travelderbyshire.co.uk. You can also track buses live on a map at bustimes.org, an independent website that will also show you timetables for individual stops.
Over the last three months we’ve featured guides to Peak District pubs in our branch area that can be easily reached by bus or train.
Key public transport links include the Hope Valley railway line, bus 65 (Sheffield to Buxton, bus 173 (Castleton to Bakewell), bus 218 (Sheffield to Bakewell direct via Owler Bar) bus 257 (Sheffield to Bakewell via Eyam) and bus 272 (Sheffield to Castleton). Timetables and maps available online at travelderbyshire.co.uk.
This month we fill in the gaps with the pubs that are in our branch area but not served by public transport, although if you fancy a country walk that may be a good opportunity to try them!
Grouse Inn, Longshaw (nearest buses – Fox House, routes 65 and 272)
In the same family for over 50 year, this free house stands in isolation on bleak moorland southwest of Sheffield, and is a welcome refuge for walkers as well as climbers from the nearby Froggatt Edge. The comfortable lounge and bar are at the front with separate room at the rear reached through the conservatory in which vines manage to grow. No food Monday evenings. Well known for their excellent steak pie. Both children and dogs are welcome and a children’s menu available.
Country inn with seven ensuite guest rooms. On the main road below Froggatt Edge. Has a very attractive beer garden melding into the wooded hillside. Up market food menu. Three changing cask ales from Peak Ales, Bradfield Brewery in Sheffield, Thornbridge Brewery, and Stancill Brewery.
Eyre Arms, Hassop (nearest bus Great Longstone, route 173)
300-year-old country pub with two comfortably furnished rooms and small snug squeezed between, watched over by an imposing grandfather clock. The impressive Eyre family arms are displayed above the fireplace. Open fires in the winter. There are up to six real ales available at weekends and three during the week. Excellent, good value home cooked food using locally-sourced ingredients. Bar snacks served 4pm-6pm between normal meal times. Friendly personal service. A superb, little unspoilt pub.
Barrel Inn, Bretton (nearest bus Foolow, route 65)
This remote former farm house, which at 1250 ft. (380 m), is the highest inn in Derbyshire. It boasts a good whisky selection, stunning views from its doorstep and a busy food trade.
An inn since the 1770s based on much older buildings dating back to the 13th century. A quaint traditional country pub with plenty of brassware. The entrance lobby opens into a large central bar, the room thought to date to Elizabethan times, with a large stone fireplace. Additional bar areas are to the left and right of the main bar. Large outside parking area with several picnic benches offering glorious views over the moors and Strines reservoir.
Technically Strines is served by bus – service 87, however this runs once a week on a Wednesday with buses passing the pub at 10:29am and 1:21pm!
THE OTHER DERBYSHIRE PEAK DISTRICT PUBS IN OUR BRANCH AREAWITH CASK ALE
The theme of this year’s Chesterfield Great Historic Pub Tour could be described as “The Best of Chesterfield”. Visiting a total of 8 pubs, 6 of which are in the latest edition of CAMRA’s, “The Good Beer Guide”, and 2 more that should make the cut soon.
Your guide is Shaun Stevenson, a local history enthusiast with a passion for supporting the hospitality trade. His knowledge concerning Chesterfield’s pubs is extensive, despite the fact that Shaun is actually legally blind. “I know Chesterfield like the back of my hand”, remarked Shaun. “If you join me on one of my tours, I’ll tell you all about these fabulous places, including stories about famous people, local heroes, tragic events and even murders”.
Chesterfield has managed to retain its historic town centre with its recently revamped open air market attracting many new visitors. Shaun is keen to show off his home town and promises to indulge in some history telling as the tour passes through landmarks like the Crooked Spire churchyard, The Shambles and the 800 year old market square, with its cobblestones and narrow alleyways.
The day begins at 12 noon in the Pig & Pump on St Mary’s Gate, in the shadow of the Crooked Spire. This walking tour allows around 30 minutes at each venue to purchase the drink of your choice. The group will then move on to the next pub with interesting anecdotes along the way. An optional pre-arranged lunch is available around 3pm and the tour finishes at The Neptune Beer Emporium around 5pm/6pm.
Dates for 2026 are limited to Saturdays – 9th May, 6th June, 4th July, 1st August, 5th September. Booking in advance is recommended.
Shaun has been operating the Chesterfield Great Historic Pub Tour since 2019 and has noticed a trend towards real ale tourism. “Organisations like CAMRA and some enterprising individuals have created an entire industry around ‘making a day of it’. Structured pub tours based around locations and transport links are becoming very popular and I would like to think that my tour offers something different, within this genre”. Shaun added, “I’m looking forward to welcoming friends old and new. Regulars return every year, knowing that I always tell new stories and visit new places.”
Shaun also provides pub tours of Bakewell on selected Saturdays throughout the summer and a popular local drinking challenge, the Brampton Mile, on bank holiday Sundays.
For more details, visit www.greathistoricpubtours.co.uk Facebook – search @CGHPT and YouTube – Great Historic Pub Tours.
