We caught a train to Derby and made our first stop in Ashbourne, which is just outside the Southern national park boundary.

Here we visited the Smiths Tavern, which sells the full W+D range plus guests, and fantastic Pedigree. In the last year they have removed the remnants of the off sales hatch but the pub still retains character. As well as the Pedigree we tried Jennings Fish King and Wrangham’s Grand Olde Duke, both £2.40.

On next to the village of Parwich, just inside the park border. The Sycamore is a traditional Robinson’s house with original small rooms and a lovely setting in the village. There was just one real ale, Wards at £2.30 a pint, which we enjoyed with dinner. On Weekends there are likely to be two real ales on.

Parwich public transport links are threadbare so we opted to walk to Bradbourne for our next bus. When we got to the main road skirting the South Eastern boundary, I had a brainwave, and decided to see if we could hitch a lift to Brassington to enjoy a pint. Within a few minutes we got a lift, however unfortunately neither of Brassington’s two pubs were open. It was just our luck that the Olde Gate had a sign outside but was clearly shut and the Miner’s was changing managers that day.

Disappointed we waited for a bus back to Ashbourne, where we had chance to try a few beers at the Green Man, which was just abut to host the Ashbourne beer festival. We tried excellent Severn Vale Monument Ale and Leatherbritches Dr Johnson at £2.00a pint.

We followed the park boundary again on our trip to Leek, although Leek itself is not in the Peak District. The Whim tied House the Wilkes Head was open so we went there for pints of Hartington Bitter and Newby Wyke White Squall, both £2.00 a pint and in good condition.

Once more the Leek Brewery Tap eluded me but we did visit a pub/bar called the Quiet Woman, where we tried pints of the house beer, Phoenix Quiet Woman, a hoppy bitter at £2.25.

Our next journey took us back into the Peak and Longnor, in the Staffordshire Moorlands. Public transport in this area is also thin on the ground, but even we were surprised that our bus was a taxi. There is a similar service on weekdays all year round along the Staffordshire Borders, which can be booked in advance, and fares are subsidised. This means that otherwise inaccessible GBG pubs in places such as Reapsmoor and Onecote can be reached with a bit of forward planning.

In Longnor, the newly reopened Grapes had Olde Hookey and Marston’s Bitter on both at £1.90 a pint, so we tried them sat on the steps in the sunshine. The Horseshoes, also in the square, sold Marston’s as well so we tried a couple of halves of Pedigree in there, before visiting the newly refurbished Crewe and Harpur Arms.

Looking very much different than on my last visit the pub seems now to be a free house offering a wide range of real ales. We tried a half of crop Circle and I’m afraid to say, a half of something, which now escapes me. Both beers were well kept. All 4 Longnor Pubs sell real ale.

Our next journey took us to Buxton, which is right on the Peak border. We had time for a quick visit to the GBG listed George Hotel in the Square, where we tried 3 Rivers IPA and Scholars Prayer, at £1.90 to £2.00 per pint.

Our penultimate journey skirted the peak district once more before we stopped at the Dog and Partridge at Bridgmont, just past Whaley Bridge. There were 4 or 5 beers on offer from mainly regional brewers, myself and Dave both had a pint of Deuchars IPA at £2.20. Thankfully, the pub also does bar meals, which went some way to soaking up the beer, although not a lot.

Our final port of call is admittedly not even slightly in the Peak District. It is however, the only practical place from which to travel back to Sheffield by public transport at that time of night, and could be reached using our Derbyshire Wayfarer ticket.

Stockport also offers numerous pubs and beers, but we settled on the one that we rate as the best, The Olde Vic on Chatham Street. It was now nearly 21.00 and we tried just one beer at the Vic. Following the landlords excellent recommendation we both had a pint of Mayfield Buccaneer at £2.10 a pint.

All in all we visited 11 pubs and tried 16 different beers. With the exception of our taxi bus our Derbyshire Wayfarer ticket covered all journeys.