We’d previously explored all Derbyshire’s adjoining counties using a Derbyshire Wayfarer, so it was inevitable that we should explore the border with Greater Manchester, and visited some great pubs along the way. Leaving Sheffield at 10.25 we changed busses at Bamford and were soon travelling over the Snake Pass to Glossop. Arriving at midday our first stop was the Star Inn next to the railway station.

We tried halves of Springhead Charlie’s Angel, 4.2% and £1.05 and Sharps Atlantic IPA, the same price and 4.5%. We also had time for a half each of Titanic Stout, 4.5% , which was excellent.

The timetable instructed us to catch our next service outside the market hall, although it should stipulate the main road stop. We were soon crawling out of Glossop and into Stalybridge. The 236 and 237 both stop outside the Station buffet, but not knowing we got off in the centre and walked.

Here we tried halves of Lloyds Autumn Glory, 4.5 and 95p a half and also Earl Soham Gannet Mild, 3.3 % and 85p, the Earl Soham easily the better. Without a 2006 GBG we climbed up the steps to The Stamford Arms, venerated in the 2005 guide. Sadly, its omission in 2006 was demonstrated by the fact that we were told that all of the 4 handpumps were “ not working “. We had just time enough to grab a half each of Hyde’s 1863 light mild, at 81p, in the White House.

Back to Glossop we alighted at the Globe, a pub serving vegetarian food, which was proudly serving a range of Sheffield beers – although disappointed at the lack of local choices we opted for pints of Farmers Blonde, 4.4 and £1.90.

We reached the Old Gloveworks on George Street just in time to order food, accompanied by Howard Town Bleaklow, 3.8 and Copper Dragon Black Gold, 3.5, at £2.10. We also had time to try their 1816, at 4.1% .

Over to Hayfield in fading light we both had pints of the Copper Dragon Golden Pippin, 3.9 and £2.05 a pint in the Kinder lodge before going under the bypass to get confused hunting for the Royal – mainly due to our previous Hayfield visits. Once inside, we enjoyed pints of Moorhouses Blond Witch, 4.5 and Earl Soham Victoria Bitter, 3.6, both in excellent form and £2.10 a pint.

Still time for a pint of Adnams Broadside at £2.00 at the Bulls Head and rushed halves of Belhaven St Andrews Ale and Old Hooky at The George, before running for the bus to Stockport.

In Stockport we struggled finding the Olde Vic on Chatham Street but were rewarded by pints of Hadrian Allum, 3.5 and £1.90 and Osset Pale 3.8 and £2.10 as well as further halves of each. Having missed our bus to Hyde we headed into Manchester, which cost £2.00. From Piccadilly gardens we headed straight up Oldham Road to the newly reopened Crown and Kettle. Here we had Bank Top Gold Digger 4% and Coach house Dick Turpin, 4.2, both £1.05.

This former national inventory pub had a classic Victorian interior, but the pub was trashed days after reopening following a sensitive refurbishment some years ago.

Inside the magnificent ceiling plaster and decoration survives but you can tell it has suffered during the pubs closure. Nothing appears to survive of the ornate fixtures.

Its great to see a glimpse of its former grandeur, and that its now open and serving real ale again. It is also extremely depressing that the idiot minority of football fans caused more damage in one afternoon than Britain’s pub companies could aim for in a whole year.

Further disappointment followed the discovery that the White House was boarded up, and the Jolly Angler on Ducie Street closed. We traipsed round to Portland Street for a pint of Hydes Mild 3.5 and £1.90 in The Grey Horse, before enjoying an excellent pint of Tetley’s in the National Inventory listed Circus Tavern.

Altogether we tried 23 beers between us in 13 pubs, our Derbyshire Wayfarer ticket costing us £6.00 each plus the cost of the extra fares into Manchester.

Bus timetables in Derbyshire can be obtained from Derbyshire County Council’s public transport website: www.derbysbus net

Bus timetables in Greater Manchester, along with details of the Greater Manchester Wayfarer can be obtained from GMPTE - www.gmpte.gov.uk.

Train timetables from National Rail Enquiries - www.nationalrail.co.uk or 08457 484950.