Next we caught the 113 to Hulland ward, the driver dropping us off outside the Black horse at midday. First we had Harviestoun Bitter and Twisted, 3.8% and £2.30 a pint, accompanied by excellent value food. The Highgate Old Ale, 5.35%, also £2.30 a pint, was next, and on top form.

Next we caught the 113 to Belper, then the R61 to Milford. The Leadmill tied King William was shut, so we headed up to the Holly Bush at Makeney. Despite offering 5 to 6 mainly regional guests, we all opted for pints of Pedigree from the jug, £2.20 a pint and good enough to warrant seconds. Leaving at 15.00 we caught the R61 back into Belper, and headed for the Bateman’s free house, the Cross Keys. Here we had a pint each of Bateman’s Dark Mild at £1.90 per pint, despite the Derby brewery Company beers also available.

Then the plan started to go awry. At 16.00 two buses turned up at the same time, both headed toward Crich, but only one going to Crich. The first driver insisted the bus behind went to Crich, but that driver insisted it was the one in front, so we ended up catching neither - a big thumbs down to Doyle’s Coaches for this fiasco.

This meant a diversion to a pub I’d never been in, The Imperial Vaults on King Street. Here there was pedigree, and the 5% H+H Rockin Rudolph at £1.50 a pint, which was excellent.

Next we caught the 142, stopping outside the Old Yew Tree at South Wingfield. As well as their regular beers, they had Archers New Year, 3.9% at £2.30, and Abbeydale Black Mass at £ 2.60 a pint, both of which were tried. This probably explained why we stood on the wrong side of the road and missed the 140 to Cromford, a costly mistake, warranting a further half of Black Mass and a £15.00 taxi ride to the Bell at Cromford. Here we had a pint of H+H Olde Trippe, 4.5% and £2.00 a pint, and spent some time in the unspoilt snug.

Still time to visit The Boat, where we all had different pints - including Springhead Bitter, 3.9% at £1.90 per pint, and Acorn brewery Last of the year. Having got the TP from Cromford to Derby - arriving asleep - we hopped on a bus to the train station, and headed round the corner to the Station on Midland Road. This excellent pub keeps Pedigree and a guest on handpump, but all of us had the bass by the jug at £2.20 per pint - probably one of the best pints of Bass I’ve had. Please bear in mind that in the late evening the doors are locked - but if you knock on the door and say hello there should be no problem getting in.

The train home to Sheffield left at 22.41, arriving at 11.15. Altogether we visited 9 pubs and tried 11 real ales – our Derbyshire Wayfarer tickets at £12.00 for 2 adults, and £7.50 single, covered all travel. If you would like to try a similar trip, all the travel information you need can be found at www.derbysbus.net.