Middleton-in-Teesdale Three

Day three, Wednesday 20th June

Where to go on the way home? The Olympic Torch Relay, was due in Barnard Castle that afternoon and we had already thought about a visit to Barnard Castle, so Barney it was.

After another Full English breakfast (I must stop eating greasy food), we drove straight to Barnard Castle and as we were very early for the Torch Relay, we got parked down by the bridge, where we had intended to.

From there we walked the long way, along the road up into the centre, where, after a quick look in the shops, we made for the tourist information to find out the Olympic flame's route. The route would take the flame up and down the high street so anywhere along there, would double the chance of a good view.

We sat in the sun next to the castle for a while before getting board and going back to the shops, where I found several new beers but didn't want to carry them round all day. Dot got a snack while I went the the fish and chip shop for my lunch.

It was still over two hours before the flame was due, so we went for a walk by the river Tees. It was a walk we had done twice before, so knew we had plenty of time.

The Walk

As we walked back up into town the crowds were building but we noticed that next to nobody had picked a spot on the old buttermarket. We knew the flame would pass there twice, so we claimed a space in the sun. It was still an hour to go but we were sat in the sun with easy access to ice cream.

The police were very friendly and even entertaining, the sponsors buses also kept the interest up. Eventually the torch bearer came in to sight and the now very large crowd cheered, I was tacking photos and missed most of it.

 Afer a short while, a different torch bearer was coming back the other way and then all too soon it was all over.

We sat in the sun next to the castle again and waited until the roads reopened and the traffic died down, before going back to the car. In the end, I forgot to go back for the beers I had found.

Middleton-in-Teesdale Two

Day two, Tuesday 19th June

A day to go for a drive, we did have a general idea that we would head for Alston but that was it for the planning.

After a very nice full English breakfast, we set off on the road, first stop was a picnic area just of the A689, that Dot remembered from her childhood. It is a stop for walking to Low Force, never been to Low Force but didn't fancy it today (too much beer the previous night and too much greasy food for breakfast).

As we passed High Force car park, Dot convinced me to park up and have a walk to the falls. It was £2.00 to park and £1.50 each entrance to the falls, I would rather park free at the hotel and pay for a beer but it was too early for that.

We have been to High Force many times and took many many photos but it is a nice walk and an impressive waterfall and gorge. It started to rain as we got to the falls but by the time we got our waterproofs on it had stopped and we ended up sat in the sun for a while (I was feeling ill, see above).

We continued our drive towards Alston, stopping occasionally for photos, just over one bridge we pulled into a lay-by where two minibuses were already parked. I got out and walked over the bride to see if there was a good shot, I was surprised by what I saw looking over the parapet. Under the bridge was a waterfall and there was a group of people abseiling down it. I want straight back to the car to get Dot.

The only way we were going to get a photo of all this, would be to go down into the valley but neither of us had brought our walking shoes. The path down was rather steep and wet but we managed and it was well worth it for the view.

It would have been a perfect place for a picnic but unusually for us, we hadn't brought one. So we slowly made our way back up the slippery path to the car. Where we did have some orange juice to drink.

Arrived in Alston but there was nowhere to park on the high street, so we got parked at the old railway station. The railway is now a tourist ride, we did it a few years ago and it was very poor but now it has been extended. I do not remember it being a a narrow gage railway, shows how the mind can play tricks with your memory.

We didn't go on the train but thought it could be a good idea to come back with the girls during the summer holidays.

Even though I was still feeling unwell, we walked up the bank into the centre, Alston was practically deserted. The chip shop was open and a few gallerias and small shops but all the pubs were either shut down or closed for the afternoon and there were empty shops. The Co-op was open and doing well though, we got water, crisps and some scones for a snack, we were going to eat in the hotel tonight. Also I did not find any new beers.

After the walk, we drove along the route of the railway, taking photos we went but when we ended up in Northumberland, we thought it would be a good idea to turn back.

Back at the hotel we booked a meal but wanted to eat early, as we needed to find somewhere to watch England play. We were informed that if we ate in the bar area instead of the restaurant, they would set up a TV so we could see the game. We agreed and had longer to get washed and rested.

The TV was right next to our table, so we had a good view, good food and good beers to go with it. We are not big on eating out in restaurants but I enjoyed doing it for a change.

Again I had too many of these.

Middleton-in-Teesdale One

We have just had a couple of nights away in a Hotel in Middleton-in-Teesdale, we had bought another two night Bed & Breakfast voucher from Groupon. It didn't get off to a good start though, as I had stupidly applied for a job and the interview was on the afternoon of the first day away. It also meant that I was a bit stressed for a lot of the time we were there.

Day one, Monday 18th June

As soon as the interview was over we set of for Middleton-in-Teesdale and had a good drive there. When we arrived at The Forresters Hotel & Restaurant, there was nowhere to park, so Dot went in to ask. We had to drive down a narrow lain to get to the back of the hotel where we were met by the boss and shown to our room.

All I wanted was a beer to see if I could relax, so it was straight down to the hotel bar. Waiting there was a bonus, a hand pulled beer, a hand pulled beer I hadn't had before.

Jarrow Brewery, Rivet Catcher from England

4.0% gold colour with a good head, citrus hop aroma and a refreshing citrus hop taste.

After two of them, I was feeling a little better and we went to look at the rest of the village. it was getting late and the shops were closing, so we had a look at the couple of bridges while the sun was still shining.

On the walk back we looked into the other hotel in town and they also had a hand pulled beer I hadn't had.

Mithril, Game of 2 Halves from England

4.1% gold colour with a good head, citrus hop aroma, citrus hop taste.

Again I had two, sat outside in the sun, something very rare this year, before going back to our hotel for another couple of Rivet Catcher.

Neither of these bars had a TV so I missed my first match of Euro 2012 but I did catch up later, with the highlights show in the room.

4th Fisherman's Arms Beer Festival

The fourth Fish beer festival was over the Queens Diamond Jubilee holiday weekend, we only managed one day this time but did manage a few new beers.

As every other time, I would like to take this opportunity to thank Steve and Mandy from Fisherman's Arms (and anyone else involved in the organisation) for doing such a great job.

Also as last time, as I had so many new beers on the night, I am going to do the reviews differently, you will have to click the photo to see the review.

So the new beers I had that night were, in no particular order,

Ossett, Silver King, England



Acorn, God Save The Queen, England



Marston's, Pedigree Diamond, England



Oldershaw, Regal Blonde, England



Ilkley, Ilkley Jubilee, England



Titanic, Rule Britannia, England



Slater's, Diamond Jubilee, England



Flipside, English Crown, England



Daleside, Pride of England, England



Brewster's, Marquis, England



Wold Top, Diamond Jubilee Beer 52-12, England

Holland Trip, Draught Beers

Just had a week in Holland and have many beers to review, I also bought a lot of botteled beers to bring home, I will review these at a latter date.

Why Holland you may ask, well, one day in Jan or Feb, I did something unusual, I opened an email from Tesco, I would usually just delete them but this one caught my eye. It said "latest clubcard deals", I opened it and found an offer for a one week holiday with Thompson Alfresco, in exchange for £50.00 in Tesco vouchers. I had £50.00 in Tesco vouchers, so we looked to see where we could go, the answer was, all over Europe but to keep the cost and driving down to a minimum, we chose Holland. The Duinrell campsite in Wassenaar, to be more precise.

Most draught beers in most bars in Wassenaar, worked out to about £4.00/pint, although we did find some more and some less.

First I sampled Swinckels, Volmaakt from Holland

5.5% gold colour with a very thin head, malt aroma, taste is bitter malt and hops, slightly sweet, in fact most of the beers were very similar.

Next, Brand, Pilsener from Holland

5.0% gold colour with a nice head, malt aroma bitter malt and hop taste.

The next one was a pleasant change, Brand, Weizen from Holland

5.1% hazy gold colour with a nice head, banana aroma, nice yeasty banana taste, quite good.

Another new beer, Grolsch, Lentebok from Holland

6.5% gold colour with a thin head, fruity malt aroma, sweet strong lager taste.

Finally, Hertog Jan, Pilsener from Holland

5.1% gold colour with a nice head, hop and malt aroma slightly bitter taste with some hop.

I did have a few other draught beers but nothing new.

Lincoln Trip

We had two night away in a hotel booked through Groupon, it was a trip we didn't think we were fated to have though. We had originally booked a hotel in Teesdale before Christmas but changed it to March as we were so busy. Then a few days before we were due to go in March. I checked the hotel's web site to look at the food menus, only the web site had gone. I phoned then and there was no answer. I look for news on the internet and found that the tax man had closed down the hotel a few day previously. We got a refund from Groupon and rebooked a place near Lincoln, somewhere we had never been, then just days before we were due to go Dot's mother took ill and we had to rearrange again.

When we eventually arrived at the Hotel I was surprised to find it was still there.

Day one, April 15th

As we only had two days and part of the first day would be spent driving, we thought it would be a good idea to visit Newark on day one, then Lincoln on day two, when we would have more time.

In Newark we parked in Waitrose car park and popped in to the shop (mainly to use the toilets) but found lots of new beers in there and decided to call back latter. We walked the short distance to the river and the bridge but we didn't cross over.

We walked by the river for a while to look at the castle, and then on to the lock gates before crossing over there and heading into the centre.

It was Sunday and there weren't many shops open, then just as we were passing the Wetherspoons, it started to rain, so we called in for lunch. I had to have a beer with lunch, just to wash it down you understand.

Oldershaw, Blonde Volupta from England

5.0% gold colour with a good head,the aroma is of hops and the taste is a bitter but smooth citrus hop, only had the one though as I had to drive to the hotel later.

As most shops were shut, we made our way back down to the river for a short walk, found a couple of footbridges to photo and then went back to Waitrose, where I spent quite a lot of money on beers.

Checked in at the hotel and as there was no bar, we headed back out to the pub in the village about a mile away. The Green Man (St Vincent Arms?) in Norton Disney, is a very nice friendly pub, with some very good beers on tap. The food also looked good but we had eaten. So we stopped for several beers and Dot drove back to the hotel, thanks Dot.

First I had, Adnams, Broadside from England.

4.7% (the bottles I had were 6.3%) deep amber with a good head, caramel malt aroma, very nice fruity caramel malt taste. I never realised before that the draught version was only 4.7%.

Next I had a local brew, Mallards, Golden Duck from England.

3.9% gold colour with a good head, lemon and hop aroma, sweet but dry citrus hop taste, very nice but I moved back to the Adnams afterwards.

Day two, April 16th.

After an excellent breakfast and discussing our planned trip into Lincoln with two other couples, also down for breakfast, we made an early start for the city.
There is no park and ride for Lincoln, just plenty of pay and display car parks, we headed for a Morrisons supermarket in a trading estate just over the river from the city centre. It was also a pay and display, most on the trading estate where but B&Q next door wasn't. So we parked there, Dot wanted a couple of things from there anyway.

The route we took into the centre was a bit of a long way round (we came back by a different much shorter route) and headed up towards the cathedral. When I say up to the cathedral I mean up, it is on top of a very steep hill, we took our time climbing to the top, stopping to look in various shops along the way.

At the top of the hill we had a quick look at the castle before wandering over to the cathedral. I did not think we had enough time for a tour of the castle on this visit.

 

We went through the old Exchequer Gate across the yard and into the cathedral. Inside the cathedral it is as magnificent as any cathedral and unlike the one we would visit the next week, there is no charge for taking photos.

 

More to come