Penistone Line Pub Trail

Earlier this summer, my good friend Mr T. and I ventured forth on the Penistone Line Pub Trail. This posting is not intended to be a critical review of the pubs or their products, simply a few practical tips to anyone considering a similar trip.

The Penistone Line links Huddersfield with Barnsley and Sheffield. The Penistone Line Partnership is a voluntary organisation which supports and promotes community involvement along the line and organises a number of events and activities. One of these is Penistone Line Pub Guide. I would recommend Googling for the latest version when planning your trip. At the time of posting a copy can be found athttp://www.penline.demon.co.uk/pdf%20downloadables/Penistone%20leaflet.pdf#search=%22%22Penistone%20line%20pub%20trail%22%22

The basic rules for a pub to be featured in the guide are that it is a short walk from the railway station (I think the limit is about half a mile) and it offers at least one real ale. So there may be additional pubs that would be suitable for a similar trip but don't meet the criteria. The pubs, as might be expected, come in a variety of shapes and forms and offer a range of beers.

For our itinerary, the West Yorkshire Train & Bus DayRover ticket was ideal, giving unlimited travel in West Yorkshire. It is valid from 9.30 am on weekdays, and all day at weekends & bank holidays. It currently costs £4.50 for a single adult; if there are any two adults travelling together, then the Family DayRover at £6.00 (which allows up to two adults and up to three children or one adult and up to four concessionary passengers to travel together or simply even two blokes) offers even better value. DayRover tickets are widely available in the area, including from major bus stations, most Post Offices and some Tourist Information Centres. In addition, there are train only DayRovers (£3.80 per adult per day) which are also available from staffed railway stations. http://www.wymetro.com/TicketsAndPasses/WYDayRover.htm

The West Yorkshire DayRover allows you to travel from Huddersfield as far as Denby Dale on the line, so it was fine for our requirements. A similar ticket is available in South Yorkshire (Day Travelmaster) from Travel South Yorkshire information centres at £5.50 per day per adult. http://www.travelsouthyorkshire.com/your_tickets/ticket_types/travel_south_yorkshire_tickets.html.htm
It may be worth investigating to see if the tickets can be bought in advance over the phone.

The rail service is approximately hourly in both directions. Probably the most important part of the planning is to ensure that the pub opening times coincide with the scheduled services. Many of the pubs are not open all day: Some have a limited opening period at lunch time, while others only open in the evenings. The guide gives the opening times. One landlady told us this was a common mistake, with people finding that the pubs were shut on arrival. With an hour between trains and very little alternative entertainment near most of the stations we visited, it could be a tiresome mistake.

The following itinerary worked for us:
11.15 train from Huddersfield to Shepley to visit The Cask and Spindle. (Tip: The footpath to the pub is not immediately obvious. It runs parallel to, and to the left of the railway line, when going in the direction of Sheffield. From memory, it is accessed between the end of the footbridge and a house.).
12.29 Shepley to Stocksmoor (The Clothiers Arms)
13.32 Stocksmoor to Brockholes (The Rock Inn)
14.36 Brockholes to Berry Brow (The Railway)
15.41 Berry Brow back to Huddersfield (We visited The Train Station Tavern, The Rat and Ratchet and The Albert Hotel [I think it was called; not currently in the guide, but a tip from the landlady at The Railway], the latter two being amongst the highlights of the day).

Roughly an hour between trains was long enough to allow for a leisurely stroll to the pub and back and a drink in between.

You may want to give due consideration to the victuals on your voyage. Hot meals were available at Shepley (The Cask and Spindle). There was a hot food takeaway and a convenience store near The Rock Inn in Brockholes, but little appeared to be on offer at or near The Clothiers Arms in Stocksmoor or The Railway in Berry Brow.

All in all, a very pleasant day out which I would heartily recommend to others.