The Golden Rule

A rare excursion to the Lake District today, to do a favourite walk along Scandale, up to the top of Red Screes and back to Ambleside. I impressed myself by predicting the walk would take four hours - it actually took four hours and three minutes.

On the way down there were fine views of, for example, Rydal Water.

But today's highlight was the very end of the walk, in what is probably my favourite pub in the world, The Golden Rule. A pint (or two) of Hartley's XB there is the perfect way to end a hard day of ascending and descending the Lakeland fells. I have experienced that many times over the last 30 years. The pub is simple and unspoiled. There are always people I recognise, locals and staff, the beer is perfect and they make no concessions to tourism, other than a genuine warm welcome. For years they did not serve food. Then crisps and nuts made an appearance followed by Scotch Eggs and, today, a very tasty pork pie.

The blip is one of the legs of the table where I sat, enjoying the post walk euphoria and the XB.