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,

The Robin Hood Inn, Military Road, East Wallhouses, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Northumberland. NE18 0LL. Tel:01434 672273.

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Right on the Roman Wall trail is the Robin Hood Inn, on the old Military Road.
Not the most picturesque of pubs but in the right place.
Cask Task called in on the way home for one for the road. Mind you thats all there was here. A choice of one. Never mind it went down well and the barman assured us that High House Brewery, not two minutes away, covered both pumps during the summer.
A handy walkers pub with decent food.

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.

Errington Arms, Stagshaw, Nr Corbridge, Northumberland. NE45 5QB. Tel:01434 672250.

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Looking for another pub, Cask Task stumbled on an old friend called the Errington Arms.

Some years ago I had made regular visits, for both food and drink, and loved it for both!
It unfortunately had a very bad fire and was closed for some time and I lost touch. The place I'm pleased to say was almost exactly as I'd left it. With good food and, most importantly for Cask Task, a couple of good real ales too, so we settled down for a relaxing pint.

The Wylam Bitter and Cumberland Brewery Corby Ale slid down nicely as a reminder of happy days past.
A good pub.

High House Farm Brewery, Visitor Centre, Matfen, Newcastle Upon Tyne, Tyne & Wear. NE20 0RG. Tel:01661 886192.

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Cask Task has enjoyed quite a few pints of High House Farm Brewery's beers whilst on the travels, so it was a pleasure to call in to the premises for a sampler and a look around.

Out in the countryside, and still a working farm, the visitor centre and the brewery has a traditional, although new, look about it with much of the stonework and timbers showing. Reasonable disabled access, even for me, the place is upstairs and appears to be used as the local by some of the surrounding population.

Food can be bought there, but let's concentrate on the liquid that we're there for.

The mainstays are Auld Hemp, the darker Matfen Magic, and the popular Nels Best. Others including Sundancer, are also brewed on the premises.

If you're in the area, call in for a jar or two. I'm sure you'll find it worthwhile.