SEVENTY FIVE

23^rd June 2023

So this was a short break to celebrate my 75^th birthday by visiting my home town of Chesterfield. Below – the famous Crooked Spire by Night

My habit when making reasonably long rail journeys is to search around for cheaper tickets by splitting the journey. So this day it was Paignton to Bristol Parkway and then Bristol Parkway to Birmingham New Street – both by CrossCountry and very different!

I started with the 10.14 to Manchester which got very full well before Bristol. Very little information from train staff over the PA. Tickets never checked after Newton Abbot. No sign of a trolley or advice as to where it was. Glad to get off.

The train from Parkway was totally different. Only ½ full, helpful train manager and genial trolley man. I then get an onward Crosscountry to Birmingham. Believe it or not – on a busy Friday just one 4-car unit from Plymouth to Edinburgh. Despite a kind passenger letting me use his seat I got off at Burton on Trent, crossed the road and got a free bus to Derby.

Tempted to walk to station calling at a free house en route but decided that a bus was easier. Then a short trip to Chesterfield and a short but not cheap taxi ride to the Ibis Hotel. Broke the home made walking stick I’d brought getting out of the taxi. Kept the handle for future use!

Ibis pretty basic – not quite up to Premier Inn standards but comfortable enough. Rest.

Out about 7.30 and call in the Spa Lane Vaults – a Wetherspoons – for ham egg and chips with a soft drink (Didn’t actually drink in a ‘Spoons all weekend – just had cheap food!). Walk through the town but not too far without a stick. Over to the Neptune Beer Emporium for some Thornbridge Lord Marples. Usual good range of beers as there was at my next stop -the Chesterfield Arms. Had an external make-over – see picture

– and now of course selling beer from their on-site Resting Devil Brewery. I assume the ‘Resting Devil’ is the one who allegedly sat on the top of the church spire and twisted it! A pint of that brewery’s ‘Twisted Pale’ which I eventually voted as the best beer of the weekend.

A bus back into town and to the Rutland Arms. Recently re-opened but still a similar range of beers including Neepsend Blonde. Return to the hotel.

24th June 2023

Priorities for today – Breakfast and Walking Stick!

To Andreas Pantry across from Premier Inn for the usal good breakfast. Down to the market and quickly find a reasonably priced walking stick (to be called ‘ Old Hooky!) and head for the Baslow Bus. Here is ‘Old Hooky on the 170 bus.

Quite busy and very noisy. A ‘gang’ of mothers and children and it is the mothers who make the noise. They also get off at Baslow but luckily head off thewards the park. Peace.

Peace – but no bus. This is supposed to be the new hourly Hulleys Open-top Breezer service to Castleton. But it doesnt appear. A cup of tea from the sweet shop. Enquiries of other Hulleys drivers gives no help. So walk off to the edge of the park and then back again. Eventually a ‘Breezer’ does appear but not an open top. It is still a pleasant ride via Calver, Grindleford, Fox House, Surprise View, Hathersage, Hope and to Castleton.

It now seems certain that a visit to Castleton involves at least a beer at the Olde Nags Head which doesn’t disappoint. I had an American Pale but forgot to note the brewery. Service here always good.

A quick browse in Blue John Shop and back to the bus station.

I had noticed on the way through Hope that it was a Wakes Week with Well Dressings and Scarecrows so catch (the same) bus back. Find a few of the dressings etc.

Considered a walk to the Cheshire Cheese but too hot. Therefore a roll eaten in the shadow of the churchyard trees and then into the Old Hall Hotel to cool off. And a good pint of Wainwright Gold.

Now the question is back via Bakewell or Sheffield. Choose the latter and as it is mid afternoon by now cross straight to catch the X17 back to town rather than going to Kelham Island. From the bus stop in town take the wrong route to try to get to hotel which has barriers everywhere and no crossings. A rest for a good while.

Out early evening into town – a beef slice from Greggs then the bus to Whittington Moor for the 3 good pubs there.

But first a portion of chips to complete my tea!

Derby Tup is open – and it doesn’t change. A wide range of beers but I settle for Abbeydale Moonshine – a good reliable Sheffield beer.

Then the short walk to the Beer Parlour which is quite busy. Pennine Brewery ‘Hair of the Dog’. Pleasant.

To the Glass Works which is comparatively quiet. North Brewery Special Reserve. All 3 pubs have prices under £4.

Then the last bus trip of the day back into town. Walk down to a pub I have not visited for years as not had any reputation for beer. But the Spread Eagle has been ‘done up’ at great cost by the look of it. No customers – just 3 staff sitting around but welcoming. A pint of Ashover Littlemoor Citra is very good and so I have a second before walking down to the hotel.

25^th June

As cafes are generally not open on Sundays for breakfast have a very ordinary one at Wetherspoons – overcooked egg probably sitting on grill for ages. Have to wait for Tesco to open to get a paper. Also a brief visit to Queens Park which is a s pretty as always.

Was hoping to go to Crich Tramway Museum but no buses on Sundays. The X17 to Matlcock now extends further south so decide to go to Cromford Mils (Arkwrights place). Very hot again.

As I get off the bus I notice that there is a Free Beer Festival on at the Mills. Doesn’t open till 12 thank goodness so sit in the grounds watching Mountain Rescue demo – abseiling off cliff. Sit reading the paper and have a look round the mills shops etc.

Walk over to the start of the Cromford Canal and then into the grounds where there is a small but elegantly built church. Also wood sculptures in the grounds..

By now the allotted time has passed and sit in large tent with a pint from the local Bentley Brook Brewery. Apparently there is music in the evenings.

Walk back into the village and as there is a northbound bus in 10 minutes I wait rather than a pint in the Boat or going for a sandwich. The ‘Fives’ bus takes me back to Bakewell and I have a pasty in the park.

It is only 2 o’clock ish so again I go via Sheffield. Again decide it is too hot to go beer hunting and this time a trian back to Chesterfield and a walk to the hotel.

I rest for a good while as suffering the effects of the heat.

Again a small meal at Spa Lane Vaults- fish and chips.

To the Neptune but can’t remember the beer. To Chesterfield Arms -Everards Sunchaser and another Resting Devil before the bus back to town.

Last pub of the day is the Pig and Pump for a pint of Ossett White Rat before they call last orders.

To the Hotel.

26^th June

Not a great night’s sleep due to heat. Pack and head up to Elder Way but the good cafe has not yet opened. Go and bank a cheque and go to small cafe in the Shambles for a reasonable breakfast. Purchase the usual tomato sausage and black pudding and head for the bus station. The Comet to Derby is slightly late but I have ages at Derby and Birmingham.

Also held up by the usual stupid roadworks with 4-way lights on a roundabout protecting a pile of rubble. No workers of course!

It would not be lunchtime in Derby without a trip to the Exeter Arms and an excellent pint of Ay Up from Dancing Duck Brewery. Was too ealry for lunch nut did not see the famous pork pies advertised.

Also pass back via the bus station and walk to the equally good Alexandra and a pint of Little Brewery Foxx. A naturally cloudy beer. On leaving I note a CAMRA discount which I have never used there.

Already bought my ticket to Birmingham on-line and it is on my phone. A reasoanbably quiet train and over an hour to wait at New Street.

I wander aimlessly around the vast shopping centre with food and bars but not intending to spend anything. Except of course some lunch by way of a roll from Upper Crust.

As expected the train onwards is fairly busy but I have a reserved seat. No real need to change to my other reserved seat at Bristol but at this stage we are advised that the train will terminate at Exeter instead of going through to Paignton. It is the trolley man who tells it is due to staff shortages.

The tannoy says change at Taunton but I see no benefit so carry on the Exeter and transfer to a local stopper. A man who was on the Crosscountry and changed at Taunton also gets on this train!

Arrive just over ½ an hour late to justify a DelayRepay claim.

THE END