Saturday 16 May 2009

Barrow Hill's Rail Ale festival

The date: 16 May
The venue: Barrow Hill Roundhouse
The occasion: Barrow Hill's annual Rail Ale festival
The website: http://www.barrowhill.org/

Following on from our exploits at Easter in the footsteps of James and Oz, the intrepid trio ventured into deepest North Derbyshire to fulfil the dreams of every beer swilling rail enthusiast - a trip to Barrow Hill.

We reached the venue by bus from Meadowhead to Chesterfield and then by the special bus service to Barrow Hill. Many hundreds of others had the same idea as us and the place was full. By the time we left, there wasn't much beer left!


The Round House is Britain's last surviving working Roundhouse. It is run by Barrow Hill Engine Shed Society.




It is also the venue for an annual beer festival and here are some of the local brews on offer


But for the Rail enthusiasts it is also an opportunity to see and ride on steam trains - bliss!














Owen and Margaret trying to work out what it is







Inside the Roundhouse there are more engines ...













... some memorabilia ...



... the turntable



... and, of course, some serious supping






... so definitely for all Rail ...





... Ale folk


Monday 4 May 2009

Moor & Coast Festival weekend

The venue: Whitby
The date: 1-3 May
The event: The Moor & Coast Festival

Welcome to a short tour of our visit to the final Moor & Coast Festival of music, song, dance and the arts. A thoroughly entertaining weekend, and we sampled a few ales as well!

Our favourite performers were Elbow Jane; Something Nasty in the Woodshed; Anthony John Clarke; Vin Garbutt; Jez Lowe & Kate Bramley; and the Young'uns.

A list of the performers and their own websites can be found at this website http://www.moorandcoast.co.uk/artists.html



This was our "home" for the weekend - in the grounds of Whitby Community College. The main concert hall was in the college.

A quick tour of Whitby ... the harbour ...



... a replica of the Endeavour ...



... The Grand Turk ...




... the end of the line from Pickering, on North Yorks Moors railway ...






... the one and only steam driven bus in regular service in UK ...




... some dancing in the Square ...




... the Abbey ...




... the famous steps; all 199 of them ...



... a view over the town ...




... and another ...


... a place to go for either 5 minutes or half an hour?


... then off to the pub.



Now, a bit further afield ... Runswick Bay ...








... then to Mallyan Spout, near Goathland





...and that's all folks