This round of six perfect pints from Newark CAMRA treasurer, Bob Smith.

With the Foot and Mouth crisis set to continue well into 2001 my Fantasy Round is one that would normally be set in the present but could well be, in part anyway, destined to be history.

We are all well aware of the plight of the farmers and anyone who has been following the news will know all about the devastating affect it is having on the tourist industry.

If we look a little deeper however there are also those who supply the hotels & pubs in tourist areas. The smaller breweries of course fall into this bracket and one can’t help but fear for their survival. The area I have decided to set my round in is one that Sarah and I have been visiting and enjoying for many years – The Lake District.

As we travel into the heart of Lakeland our first stop is in Coniston, a small village made famous by Donald Campbell and Bluebird. In the Black Bull we settle into chairs in front of a log fire and enjoy our first pint – Coniston ‘Old Man’ – while studying the many photos of Bluebird hanging on the pub walls.

The Coniston Brewery is housed at the back of the pub and besides the pint that we are currently supping (which is named after The Old Man of Coniston, a Mountain that towers over the village), they also brew ‘Opium’ and the award winning ‘Bluebird Bitter’. As tempting as it is to sample all three brews, it is time to move on.

Our next port of call is The Old Dungeon Ghyll in Great Langdale where we find ourselves a corner table in the walkers’ bar with a pint of Jennings ‘Cumberland Ale’ and eavesdrop on stories told by triumphant walkers and climbers. Moving on to the Old Crown in Hesket Newmarket, we struggle to the bar in this busy village boozer and are rewarded with a fine pint of Hesket Newmarket ‘Great Cockup’. This is another beer named after a nearby Fell and is brewed in a converted barn behind the pub along with a whole range of other beers.

For the second half of our round we move firstly to the Bitter End in Cockermouth where the smallest brewery in Cumbria is to be found. While we savour a pint of Bitter End ‘Cockersnoot’ we look in on the brewery which is situated at the back of the pub behind a wall of glass.

Cockermouth is also home to the Jennings Brewery but that’s for another time because our final destination beckons. At the Wasdale Head Inn there are two beers brewed specifically for the pub. The penultimate pint of the night is Yates ‘Wasd’ale’ and again there are many stories to listen to but here in the birthplace of British rock climbing the tales are a little taller. With the Inn being so remote there is no option but to stay here for the night, but first the final pint must be selected. A difficult choice with 8 real ales on offer but we go for Derwent ‘Mountaineers’, very apt and very more-ish!

Here’s where we part company but if you don’t mind I may stay awhile. After all, I don’t know exactly when I’ll be able to come back again.

Apr. '01