The Keepers Lodge, Matfen Hall Golf Club, Matfen, Newcostle Upon Tyne, NE20 0RH. Tel/;01661 886500.

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We spotted the golf course at Matfen, so we popped in to find the Keepers Lodge had a High House Farm's Nels Best on tap, so we had a swift pint and sat outside in the sunshine.
Watched a couple of holes then left.

Queens Head Inn, Great Whittington, Nr Corbridge, NE19 2HP. Tel:01434 672267.

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What a difference a few miles makes.
The Queens Head in Great Whittington, although not as picturesque as Matfen, the welcome we got here was as it should be. In fact the landlady here very kindly helped Cask Task's gronk (yours truly) in and the poor lass was kissed for her troubles. She won't do that again I'll bet!

The place was smashing inside with a healthy helping of drinkers and diners. Comfortably furnished and a good bar with Timothy Taylors Landlord and Adnams 4.0 Gunhill both in good working order.
A pleasure to be there and certainly worth a visit.

The Black Bull, Rose Cottage, Matfen, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear. NE20 0RP. Tel:01665 886330.

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We found the Black Bull in the beautiful village of Matfen, on a glorious sunny day in March. We nearly didn't go into the pub, the village was so breathtakingly attractive.
First impressions of the Black Bull were good only spoilt by the miserable landlady's slating of real ale and the imposition she had to put up with to stock and serve it! A glorious welcome we got there!
The Hadrian and Borders Tyneside Brown Ale was depatched with great haste and we quickly returned to continue our admiring examination of Matfen village itself. What a picture it is.

The Keelman, Grange Road, Newburn, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE15 8NL. Tel:0191 2671689.

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The Keelman was not an easy place to find.
Having supped a considerable amount of Big Lamp's ales over the past few years, it seemed like a good idea to visit their brewery and pub at Newburn. Cask Task got there eventually and was very pleased to do so. It's an impressive old place.

The brewery was originally a water pumping station in the 1800s, left to fall into partial ruins, but was lovingly rebuilt and reopened in 1998, with the Keelman pub alongside.
Well furnished and very busy when we called, there is a superb selection of Big Lamp real ales to choose from. Sunny Daze, Big Lamp Bitter, Summerhill Stout (right up my street!), Prince Bishop, Big Lamp Premium and Sky Diver were all there.

Good food is also served.
Definitely well worth a visit.

Swinburne Arms, 31 North Side, Stamfordham, Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE18 0QG. Tel:01661 886707.

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The Swinburne Arms is one of two Stamfordham pubs on the village green.

Although it's the quieter of the two, it very much depends what you're looking for. One is all hustle and bustle but the Swinburne is more relaxed and just as friendly and full of character. It does feel like a proper village pub. By though it was a cold visit to the toilet out the back.
Cask Task spent a very enjoyable hour or so in the pub.

The real ale choice comes from two pumps. The inevitable Black Sheep and Wylam Festival Ale were on sale and the Festival Ale did go down well.

The Bay Horse, South Side, Stamfordham, Newcastle Upon Tyne, NE18 0PB. Tel:01661 886244.

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The Bay Horse, in the delightful village of Stamfordham, is an attractive old pub with a proper fireplace(we were glad of it 'cos it was a sunny but icy day) and a Ford with no hub caps standing outside(well it spoilt me photo!).
A comfortable and welcoming interior with 3 real ales on tap.
My Wylam Bitter was the first one to be pulled off and was cloudy, but the obliging Julie drew me another, which was up to Wylam's good standard.
The other real ales on offer were Nel's Best and the popular Deuchars IPA.

The Bay Horse was busy with both drinkers and diners with a pleasant atmosphere about it. Well worth a look in.

The Swan, Heddon On The Wall, Newcastle Upon Tyne. NE15 0DR.Tel:01661 853161

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Cask Task reached The Swan at about 11.30 to find the place closed, so we had a walk around. We must say that the view out at the back, where there is a beer garden, is worth taking in. Right across the Tyne valley.
The main building goes back to the 1700s but is now extended to include bar, restaurant and hotel. It's been done out with good furniture and expensive decor. Not having been there for some time the place has lost its old country feel but is none the worse for that.

The real ales were Wylam Magic, Wylam Gold Tankard and Youngs Bitter.
Its a pub Jim, but not as we know it!