Fenman has been abroad again, though strictly speaking he just had a short visit to his home county, Cheshire.

First stop was to the Beer Emporium in Sandbach. This micro pub has one of the largest ranges of bottled beers in the area, with some of the sections marked as local, denoting breweries in the county and including some from neighbours such as Shropshire. Four hand pumps adorn the bar and on Fenman's visit Wincle Brewery (set in a lush valley within the Peak District National Park beside the River Dane- he can vouch for that having been there and got the rugby shirt) had one of their pale beers on - possibly Wincle Waller Pale (3.8%) - very morish, must be the spring water they use..

Saltaire Brewery had a Salt Trip on - not a bit salty and not from the salt area of Cheshire, but from Shipley, W Yorks. Fenman was familiar with their Amarillo, Blonde and Triple Choc, but not the Salt. The young barman is very knowledgeable about the beers on offer and is happy to converse..

The other two pumps had beer from Oakham Brewery, Peterborough - apparently the locals must have Citra as a regular beer on..

After a wander down the Sandbach rail trail and along the Trent and Mersey canal Fenman came across the aptly named Cheshire Cheese in Wheelock. The pub sits close to the canal wharf and is over 200 years old. This Hydes house has their range of beers and on Fenman's visit he was able to sample Hopster, 1863, Original and the Lowry, all in good form. Just the job on a hot summer afternoon.

The Cheshire Cheese at Wheelock