When I’m on a camping trip, I love a good pint of beer at the end of the day’s journey.
Many of the sites in the Club’s network have top-quality pubs on their doorstep. Two of my favourite
Club Sites are
Hayfield, in the Derbyshire Peak District, and
Dingwall, in the Scottish Highlands. Coincidentally, both are less than half a mile from great pubs.
From Hayfield in the Peak District to The Sportsman is just a few hundred yards - straight up! It’s a steep climb up from the campsite to the bar, but it’s worth the effort for the hearty pub grub and a variety of cask ales. Dogs are welcome in the bar, which is good news for Shakey.
The half mile walk from Dingwall Club Site to the
National Hotel is a much easier amble. A traditional family-run Highland hotel, the National isn’t a real ale bar but it does have an amazing variety of whiskies, which were the perfect medicine to soothe bruised bones and hurt pride after I was knocked off my motorcycle during one of my Land’s End to John O’Groats charity rides.
But maybe a few minutes walk is just a bit too far after a busy day? Many of the Club’s Certificated Sites are set in the grounds of pubs and hotels, and there’s a page in Your Big Sites Book listing a few highlights. Kellington Manor Hotel in North Yorkshire is just one of many pubs with a CS in its garden. Last year it witnessed a special Club moment as the reception venue for members Karl and Gemma Hawtin after their wedding. Of course their guests all camped in the CS!
North Central Region PRO Joanne Mutch recommends The Duke of York at Pomeroy, which has been a popular meet venue for
Derbyshire DA and the
Mountain Activity Section. She said: “It’s a cracking campsite, a great pub, and to top it all, it’s in the Peak District.”
North Staffs DA Secretary Pat Shaw recommends
The Cotton Arms at Wrenbury, where the DA holds an annual bonfire meet. She said: “It’s a canalside pub with home cooked food. There’s a pavilion for socials and the landlord provides the bonfire, fireworks and bbq for our bonfire meet. Highly recommended.”
CAMRA, the Campaign for Real Ale, has begun offering camping facilities at many of the beer festivals organised by its local branches. Why not pitch up at the 30th
Chappel Beer Festival near Colchester? Held at the East Anglian Railway Museum from 6 to 10 September, more than 400 beers and over 100 real ciders and perries will be available and steam trains will be running.
Or why not join
Leeds DA at its York Knavesmire THS, which happily coincides with
York Beer Festival. The THS runs from 9 to 18 September with the beer festival from 14 to 17th.