Fenman travelled abroad again recently, well almost abroad, West Yorkshire, in fact; an area where the Grand Depart of the Tour de France recently took place.

Overnight staying in the Robin Hood Inn at Pecket Well, which is on the route of the Grand Depart, the beers on offer were from Copper Dragon and Worsthorne (Some Like it Blonde) and a good measure of a pub's beer is if the landlord is drinking it - often a rarity these days but the landlord here certainly did most nights.

Just up the road the Hare and Hounds at Old Town, being a Timothy Taylors house, had the full range including the delicious Mild, Golden Best and Boltmaker.

Travelling a few miles north, on the route of the Tour but by bus rather than bike, the splendid town of Haworth was reached with its history of culture old, the Brontes, and artistic bent of a more recent nature such as scenes of the Railway Children and Oakworth Station. More to the point of this journal however are the pubs. Haworth Steam Brewing Co. tap with a good range of their beers on handpump and a good selection of bottled including Samual Ogden's Original, a reworking of an original recipe from Messrs Ogden & Parker, brewers in Haworth during the 19th century.

Close by the White Horse, a free house, had Goose Eye Bitter and Ossett Amathyst, plus copies of the local CAMRA newsletters. The Kings Arms had Robinsons Unicorn at a tasty £2.40 a pint and one of the biggest pumpclips ever seen. The Fleece is a Timmy Taylors house with the full range of their beers but unfortunately without the mild, but with a guest beers from Saltaire, Blonde, and has a quote in the bar "I only drink to make other people interesting" - George Jean Nathan. The Haworth Old Hall Inn is a Marstons house and has a good range of Jennings beers plus guests. Haworth is a true Mecca for real ale drinkers with its wide range of beers and superb pubs and inns of character and charm.

On the outskirts of Hebden Bridge lies Stubbing Wharf a large pub with a good selection of ales including Yorkshire Guzzler, Copper Dragon Golden Pippin, and King St HB. The framed picture in the Gents toilet shows Wobbly Bob - a beer from Phoenix brewery - not a reference to Fenman's state after a few pints!

The only disappointment over the rambling week-end was that the New Delight Inn at Colden was closed - no doubt the promised delights would have included beers from the nearby Bridestone Brewery.