The Elks Head, Whitfield, Hexham, Northumberland, NE47 8HD. Tel:01434 345282.

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The Elks Head is an attractive and inviting pub a little out of the way, but beautifully sited, by the river.

Some extensions were being completed to accomodate extra guest rooms overlooking the water at the rear and were going to enhance the place.

The interior was pleasantly decorated and comfortable with a couple of real ales on sale.

Allendale Golden Plover and Deuchars IPA.

A very pleasant visit.

Carts Bog Inn, Langley on Tyne, Hexham, Northumberland. NE47 5NW. Tel:01434 684338.

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The Carts Bog Inn was originally built around 1775.
It stands virtually on its own and looks, to all intents and purposes, like a roadside cottage. Get yourself inside though, and its a welcoming and attractive little country pub and restaurant.
A decent number of diners seemed to be thoroughly enjoying the grub while we concentrated on the beer.

The three hand pumps offered up Northumberland Brewerys Fuggles Gold, Hadrian and Borders Tyneside Blonde and I couldn't resist trying the Bog Bitter from Mordues. Very nice.

Another wonderful little pub around the edges of the roads from Newcastle to the Lake District and Carlisle.

The Crown at Catton, Nr. Hexham, Northumberland, NE47 9QS. Tel:01434 683447.

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The Crown at Catton had been closed for a good few years until the Allendale Brewery took it on.

Its a real old country pub which serves meals and of course, Allendale Brewerys good real ales.
When we called, the excellent Curlews Return was on, Golden Plover, Swift, Entrepreneur, and Allendales own Adder Lager.
After a delicious Curlews Return, off we went, to a jig from the Crown's fiddler outside, to continue the quest.

The Twice Brewed Inn, Military Road, Bardon Mill, Hexham, Northumberland, NE47 7AN. Tel:01434 344534.

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The Twice Brewed pub is a real ale establishment ideally placed for the Hadrians Wall visitor,

being only 1/2 a mile from a good section of the wall and one of its forts. A busy and well used small hotel with a real buzz about it. Food also.

A must for its real ale choices too. Six pumps including, Twice Brewed Bitter, High House Farm Nettle Beer, Captain Cooks Black Porter(loverly),and more.

Definitely worth a visit.

The Bowes Hotel, Bardon Mill, Hexham, NE7 7HU. Tel:01434 344237

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The Bowes Hotel was stumbled upon by Cask Task while looking for the Twice Brewed pub.

We called in The Bowes to find that, unexpectedly, two hand pubs were to be had there. Jennings Tom Fool and Wylams Gold. So we had a pint.

As it happened the barman was a bundle of knowledge on real ale pubs in the area. So, not only did we enjoy a decent drink, but we gained our route plan for the day.

Thirst temporarely quenched, off we went.

Dipton Mill Inn, Dipton Mill Road, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 1YA. Tel:01434 606577.

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The Dipton Mill Inn is not the easiest pub to find, but well worth the effort as its a fabulous old building.
Full of character, low ceiling, proper fire and its own real ale brewery! Even has decent food if you want it and an attractve beer garden out the back, but that will have to wait for another visit.
Cask Task seems to be staggering from one terrific country pub to another and this one's a beaut!
A good welcome from behind the bar started us off on the pub's Hexhamshire Brewery Devils Water. Deliciously dark and tasty. Right up my street and I can't wait to try the Old Humbug which comes in at 5.5%. A grand variety of ales including Shire Bitter, Whapweasel, and Devils Elbow complete the choice.
This pub's a must for the real ale fan. Can't wait to go back.

The Forum. 8/9 Market Place, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 1XF. Tel:01434 609190,

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The Forum, incorporating a Wetherspoons pub and, upstairs, a cinema!
Walk in and the place is surprisingly large with stairs down to a further part eating/drinking area. A bit soulless, but typical Witherspoons, the beer choice is good and reasonably cheap.
Not to my liking as a watering hole, but as usual the pub was reasonably busy and the staff friendly.
The real ale was the ridiculously cheap Ruddles Best, Allendales Wolf, Wylams Angel, Greene Kings Abbot Ale and my choice for the visit, the very tasty Saddlers Stumbling Badger.

Boatside Inn, Warden, Hexham, Northumberland, NE46 4SQ. Tel:01434 602233.

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The Boatside Inn at Warden. What a pleasant pub it is, just beside the bridge crossing the river.

The small bar was busy, as was the restaurant. And I'm not just saying that 'cos I found a quid coin under the table,honest!

With a choice of Hadrian and Borders Secret Kingdom or Allendales Beacon Fire, I went for the Boatside (supposedly specially brewed for them) which didn't taste like a cask ale to me. But you win some, you lose some.

Such was the atmosphere in the place, I could have sat there for some time but, as you know, Cask Task has a busy schedule and must carry on with the hard work on your behalf.

The Boatside is one of the pleasures and I do recommend it.

Battlesteads Inn, Wark. Hexham, Northumberland, NE48 3LS.Tel:01434 230209.

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I'd been to the Battlesteads some years ago, when I was cottage sittng (for friends on holiday), a few miles from Wark.

A very friendly and busy place for food, although most people, on their way to the restaurant, partook of a drink on their way through the bar. A traditional looking, fair sized bar it is, with beamed ceiling and wood burning stove.

He didn't know much about real ales, having pulled me a cloudy pint of Jarrow Brewerys Swinging Gibbet(usually a superb drink), saying most real ales were like that, the young barman, a thoroughly nice young man, pulled me a Wylams Emporers Flame instead.The remainder of the excellent choices were Durham Brewerys Magus and, youv'e guessed it, the ever popular Black Sheep.

A lovely place for a visit in a very nice village by the river,

Hadrian Hotel. Wall, Nr Hexham, Northumberland. NE46 4EE. Tel:01434 681232.

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Another glorious northumbrian pub and hotel, the Hadrian Hotel.
Built on the side of the hill in the village of Wall, it was a cold but bright and sunny day when we called in to the Hadrian. Yet another wonderfully comfortable interior. I could of sat all day by the open fire with my pint of Jennings Cumberland Ale, admiring the fabulous view across the valley.
Four taps, including Matfen Nels Best, Wylam Angel, Roosters Celtic Corker and of course the Jennings, made up the wonderful choice of real ales.
What a smashing day.

Barrasford Arms, Barrasford, Hexham. Northumberland. NE48 4AA.Tel:01434 681237.

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From Great Whittington we were recommended to go to the Barrasford Arms in the little village of Barrasford. What a fine old pub it was too.
The place was full of diners and drinkers and we were welcomed by the main man there, Tony Binks. The atmosphere was tremendous with a mixture of locals in the bar and visiting diners in the restaurant.
Two hand pulls, High House Brewery Sundancer and Hadrian and Borders Gladiator Bitter were on sale, so we got amongst it. I can only blame a combination of the interesting conversation and the Sundancer for my forgetting the photo again!
What a good pub.
Its a hard life, but I'll have to go back.

Got back ok.

Wetherspoons, The Forum, Market Place, Hexham, Northumberland. NE46 1XF.Tel:01434 609190

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The Globe Inn, 7 Battle Hill, Hexham, Northumberland. NE46 1BA. Tel:01434 603742.

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The Globe Inn, by all accounts, seems to be a good real ale pub, but it doesn't open during Cask Task's normal daytime shift working hours. Good luck.

The County Hotel, Priestpopple, Hexham, Northumberland. NE46 1PS. Tel:01434 603601.

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Cask Task called last week at the County Hotel, thinking it the most unlikely place to be selling real ale. It was closed. The lady did very kindly offer to open the bar for us but we decided to call next week during The Argyle bar's normal opening hours.

The Argyle Bar is The County's pub. Entrance via Argyle Street at the right hand side.
When we got in we found a large group of Hexham's blue rinse brigade enjoying a few bevies.
The real ale choice was not bad, so a pint or two went down ok. Davenports Busy Fool, Deuchars IPA and Green Kings IPA were the ales.

Tap and Spile, Battle Hill, Hexham, Northumberland. NE46 1BA. Tel: 01434 602039.

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Good old fashioned pub in the centre of Hexham, the Tap And Spile just re-opened last year. Cask Task is really pleased it did.

Lovely old watering hole on Battle Hill with a smashing old fireplace and a central bar you can almost walk all the way round which houses no less than 7 real ales to choose from.
Deuchars IPA, Durhams Amarillo, Bombardier, Adnams Bitter, Northumberlands Legends of the Tyne, Mordues Five Bridge Bitter and Everards Tiger. Not a bad set up eh!

I must have thought so, as I forgot to photograph the place on the way out! Must have had something to do with the Durhams Amarillo.

Its no use. Just have to call again.

Called again and got the photo. Very nice!

Heart of England, 5 Market Street, Hexham, Nothumberland. NE46 3NS. Tel:01434 603375.

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The Heart of England it wasn't. The Courage Bitter was awful. Sent it back.

The Rat Inn, Anick, Hexham, Nothumberland. NE46 4LN. Tel:01434 602814.

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The photo gives the impression of what the Rat Inn is like inside. You can't wait to get in. And it doesn't disappoint.
Ancient roaring fireplaces, old farmhouse charm and furniture, plenty of real ale in a lovely old bar, good atmosphere and decent food to go with all of this!
Its some years since I was last in the Rat Inn, but its got better!

I only wish I had more time on this visit to sample more of the 6 wooden handles on offer.
Wards Best Bitter, High House Farms Auld Hem, Tyneside Blonde from Hadrian, Cumberland Brewers Corby Ale, Festival Gold and my sup from Allendale Brewery, Curlews Return.
Marvelous.