[Closed] Ale drinkers of Derbyshire assemble!

Fraid there is nothing off the Tissington trail. Some good pubs in Ashbourne but not en-route. I guess you could get off at Parsley Hay and go to Hartington that has a few good pubs, maybe about 5 mile ride from the trail, but other than that you're really looking at cafe's in small isolated villages. Nice cafe's to be fair that sell beer too, but not a great location for a lads piss-up.

Cheers Wobbliscott - it was picked months ago, not as a biking location TBH...didn’t realise the area was so devoid of pubs. We’re in Hartington...sounds like we’re better off staying there! Even The Old Dog at Thorpe is closed because of Covid. Looking at the map confirms what you’ve said sadly...need a Plan B now :-/ Is the High Peak Trail any better?

You could start at Middleton on the High Peak trail

Rising sun at Middleton (on the trail)
Up past Middleton top engine house.
Miners Arms at Carsington, off the trail to the south.
Road route to Brassington - Gate Inn and another Miners Arms
Road to Sycamore at Parwich
Jug and Glass on the A515
High peak or Tissington trail to Hurdlow, Royal Oak (Tag lane dairy nearby for ice creams)
High peak trail or road to Pomeroy, duke of York

Not sure of any Covid related restictions etc so do check this before setting out

Hartington to Ashbourne is not too bad and plenty of pubs in Ashbourne and cycling back on the trail after a few shouldn't get you into too much trouble. Couple of nice pubs near Carsington water to which is not far off the trail.

Not as familiar with the High Peak Trail, but again assuming there is not much along the actual trail, you could cycle along the trail to Wirksworth where there are a few pubs, and maybe drop down to Cromford then pick up the train. An annual event I do with mates is take the train from Derby to Matlock and work our way back stopping off at various stops for a beer or two. So from Cromford you could either head towards Matlock Bath and Matlock, or in the other direction Ambergate, Belper, Duffield or even right into Derby. It doesn't take long on the train - 20 - 30 mins. The only problem is you have a proper killer climb back from Cromford upto Middleton Top. In fact from Belper or Duffield there are loads of Amazing country Ale pubs all around 20 mins cycle between each other so could to a cycle pub crawl from Duffield or Belper - another regular thing I do with mates, a tour of the pubs.

Can't help you with the route, but with single figure temperatures this weekend you might not want to sit outside for long.

Royal Oak at Hurdlow is the obvious choice but it was closed last week after staff tested positive - probably from someone coming in to visit while on a piss up bike tour.

I'm assuming there are less than 7 of you, and you will be more than 2 metres apart or 1 metres plus mitigation at all times?

Well assuming none are on unicycles I would say there are 4 in the group.

The Waterloo at Biggin is quite nice and there's a good loop down into Dovedale.

Someone from outside of the area, bouncing round local ale houses.....maybe stay at home and do it there instead (please) 🙂

If you don't mind using the local roads, from Hartington to The Manifold at Hulme End, on to the Royal Oak at Wetton (via Ecton and Thors Cave), down the Hill to the Watts Russell in Hope (a bit odd but great Thornbridge Ales) then struggle up the hill to the George at Alstonfield (expensive and a bit smart) then back to Hartington. Remember you can cut the corner off and miss a second visit to Hulme End for a lovely wobble all the way down hill into Hartingdon. 15 niles, 4 pints and a lunch should get you back in time for a quick pub crawl on foot round Hartington before the 22.00 closing time.

I wouldn't be to paranoid about your bikes being nicked from any of these beer gardens but maybe one lightweight lock and a long cable between you for piece of mind if you are going inside. I would ring ahead to check on Covid opening / food times

Can’t help you with the route, but with single figure temperatures this weekend you might not want to sit outside for long.

No such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes.

Someone from outside of the area, bouncing round local ale houses…..maybe stay at home and do it there instead (please)

AFAIK we’re not in full lockdown yet...in fact supporting businesses that are about to take a bumming more than most. We are responsible and will be sitting in gardens, not inside where the real issue is.

If you say so

If you say so

If you'd like to post your weekend's itinerary, we'll be sure to patronise you too.

I appreciate the offer.

Start in Castleton with a few pints, then up the broken road to edale via Greenlands. Six Pints in Edale (2 per pub), then climb up Jacobs Lader and down into Hayfield for another three pints. Then back via Lords Seat etc.

Go on then Hendo....

If you make your way up to the highpeak trail follow it down towards middleton top and take the route 547 to carsington and the miners arms, has good real ale and a nice enclosed garden, make your way clockwise around the reservoir and head up to Kirk ireton, there's a cracking pub up there called the barley mow great beer straight from the barrel,google it.then get back down to the reservoir and cross the dam wall, head up past the visitor centre to pick up the 547 again heading down to bradbourne, follow the route up to tissington, ride through the Ford if you dare, get on the tissington trail up to biggin route 548 pint in the Waterloo then onwards to hartington on the 548

Or, perhaps having a drink in each pub is not helping anyone? I’m sure that you think that you’re the saviour of the village pub but perhaps some decent bottles and food purchased locally, in one place, with one of you, and consume in private at campsite? There are many pubs and breweries doing take outs, including the Aldwark brewery, fairly close to where you’ll be staying? Have fun, stay safe but don’t spread! Enjoy Derbyshire.