A pub crawl by public transport to replace a planned three-day walk (with the same start and finish) when the weather forecast went south.Route: taking the 10:19am Oxenholme to Windermere train and walking slowly down the hill for early doors at the newly expanded Crafty Baa. Then back to the station to board the 11:39am 555 bus with a North West Explorer ticket as far as Grasmere and on impulse stopping in the very busy Good Sport for the first time for locally brewed beer before shedding the crowds at Tweedies for (always excellent Welsh Rarebit) lunch. Then as the weather deteriorated, getting back on the 1:45pm bus to Keswick for a half in Wainwrights and, after a quick stop in Booths, walking via Portinscale in heavier rain to Braithwaite and Middle Ruddings for a final beer before boarding the last 77 Honister Rambler of the day over Whinlatter to Lorton.
Conditons: despite the poor forecast,initially merely grey but becoming wetter as the day progressed.
Pubs: the Crafty Baa, Windermere, for Fell Tinderbox. The Good Sport, Grasmere, for Grasmere Bitter. Tweedies Bar, Grasmere, for Hawkshead Session Series 17 - XPA and Cumbrian Legendary Ales Loweswater Gold. The Wainwright Inn, Keswick, for Bowness Bay Steamer IPA. Middle Ruddings, Braithwaite, for Hawkshead Five Hop and Cross Bay Omega APA.
