1730 at the Packhorse and Talbot, Chiswick

In a long row of shops and cafes lies this large landscaped pub; with al fresco seating and a separate beer garden at the back to get away from it all. It’s a large, landscaped open pub, with separate areas for eating and drinking with large screen TVs to stay up to date. Yet there’s no unique character that makes this Taylor, Smith and Walker pub unique to any other. The beer, although kept well, is available in any other Taylor, Smith and Walker pub. It had a nice bitter flavour with a malty biscuit taste, which I certainly wouldn’t mind trying again over any other beer that I’ve already tried. The menu is exactly the same. There are no regular locals or staff that adds character to the place. It’s simply a place to pop in if you’re passing through town. This is exactly what I did, as I needed to head back to the north of the city. 

Inverary Castle

Inverary Castle is a stunning site to explore. Even though half the castle is closed due to residency; there are some stunning rooms and artefacts. I just loved the hidden secret passage into the south tower; and the dining room has a stunning drinks trolley; though I doubt very much it would have actually been used to serve drinks! The armoury is stunning, with a vast collection of swords, spears, muskets and pistols, all of which are beautifully presented and it would be easy to spot a missing piece. In the drawing room is a beautiful full size ornamental harp amongst the art collections and plush seats. Upstairs, there is a regimental drum collection, a very colourful teapot, and countless portraits of the Duke of Argyll and his past and present family. I would have liked more time to enjoy the gardens and to climb the hill to the watchtower.

Innisconnel Castle

Amist the islands of Loch Awe are some islands which are well worth exploring if you can hire a boat from one of the nearby fishermen (that is; if you can persuade them to come back to shore!) The island has some beautiful plant life in an old cemetery belonging to a Scottish clan, and the plants really do seem to come to life! There is also a beautiful conifer planted perfectly over one of the graves. On the other island lies Innisconnel Castle, a forgotten fortress that you can just climb over and explore everywhere! I scaled one of the inside walls to reach the ramparts; only to find that there were a simple set of steps that let you do just that. There was also an original passageway that I could crawl down to explore the remains of one of the tower rooms, and the views were absolutely stunning.

Ardchattan Priory, Oban

Another historical site on the outskirts of Oban is the Ardchattan Priory, and after our driver had an argument with a local about accidentally parking in front of someone’s house (he was very civil about it but our driver had a few things to say), and after a quick snack, it was time to have a wander around. The priory itself is at the back of the gardens; but whether you’re meant to pay an entrance fee to both the priory and the gardens is unclear. There are a lot of skull and crossbone carvings here, both on the gravestones and above the arches; which makes you wonder if there were any Scottish pirates or whether they were simply clans who were rebellious of the government. There is also a beautiful oak tree that towers over the priory, as well as a knight’s grave; so this must have had a variety of peoples on the same site over the years.

Dunstaffnage Castle

Dunstaffnage is a beautiful castle just North of Oban; settling next to a great view of the Scottish seas. Owned by Scottish Heritage; there are many areas closed owing to health and safety; but the mound on which it is built upon as well as the nearby chapel makes it a beautiful place to visit; especially with the Canadian guide who had a hard job of minding the site that day. She did let us in for half price; and we were able to climb the guard’s house to walk round some of the castle ramparts. You can still see the outlines of the great fireplace where the kitchen was; and the original castle chimney still remains. The chapel is nestled separately in a small woodland away from the castle; and its thick windows showed that it must have been under some kind of fortification in its heyday. It's a shame that pigeons still like to nest in heritage buildings like these.

Time Riders by Jim Eldridge

Time Riders by Jim Eldridge
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I never actually saw the TV adaptation of this book, but the story itself is absolutely brilliant! It's not just a story of educational timelines; there are chases and near-death experiences aplenty as Ben and BB attempt to survive in their first outing on their time machine. BB’s wit and humour is very entertaining and well timed; while the presence of a Victorian orphan in the plot helps us to understand some of BB’s science; if not too overdone in describing his surroundings. The ongoing secrecy to hide Ben’s identity in the twentieth century only adds to the fun as they dodge conflicting opinions from the Cambridge science department of the future of BB’s research. And the personalities of the characters blend in perfectly to their roles; whether it's the evil seventeenth century aristocrat playing hostess; or the twentieth century scientific officer trying to make his mark on the world. A brilliant book and I hope there are sequels out there…

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Dunollie Castle

Found just outside Oban, Dunollie Castle was a place that we'd passed a few times but today was the first time that we decided to venture in. From the outside, it looks a lovely old building with moss all over it; and the hill that it's mounted on provides great views of North Lorn. The museum mainly deals with the history of the MacDougall Clan, though there was a loom that was being restored to make kilts. Once we were inside, we found that the castle was undergoing preservation; a fact that was not made clear on the admissions gate which denied us from climbing the castle tower to enjoy the full views. However, this didn’t stop us from  
taking a peek inside the tower walls as there was just a line of tape preventing our path rather than a set of metal fencing surrounding the rest of the structure. Upon leaving, there was also an interesting footpath trailing to the east, but time was sadly pressing on us once again (though we did have to wait for the driver to finish his book shopping!).

A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Myth meets mirth in this Shakespearian comedy about a group of lovers who fall under the spell of a mischievous imp on a summer’s evening in a Greek court. We also have an enthusiastic group of players who are thrust into the love triangle of King Oberon, a European Fairy King, and his Queen Titania. The wit comes from the rhyming couplets of Shakespeare’s lines; which are written to amplify the illusion of a dream. In the midst of all this is Puck, who switches the love triangle for his own amusement and causes the chaos of the play. Meanwhile the players bring the audience back to reality with their performance to ensure that their play within a play is as realistic as possible. This comedy is just what Elizabethan audiences needed to deter them from their realistic thoughts, as England was recovering from the plague when the play was published.

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Kilmartin

Our next excursion was into Kilmartin, a small village noted for its standing stones. We found the archaeological museum and each handed over the £5 entrance fee. What we actually saw were replicas of monuments and stones that were mounted on walls; while the actual ones were being placed in storage while the museum was undergoing an overhaul. We listened to the sounds of bagpipes through headphones until the computer in charge of the box decided that it had been awake for long enough and decided to crash. We did, however, learn to press flour by grinding two gigantic stones together. I think that we must have used all the powder in the baskets in order to get our money’s worth. Nearby there were some excellent walks with stunning scenery that could have been completed; but once again time was pressing on so these were shunned in favour of other archaeological artefacts.  

Going Solo by Roald Dahl

Going Solo by Roald Dahl
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Roald Dahl puts pen to paper for a breath-taking adventure of combat and exploration. Along the way, we meet many interesting characters who inspired Dahl to create other characters for his stories, and his insights of them and their Britishness which for the most part he admires. He partakes of most of their dottiness until he is rejected by them and decides to make his own destiny when encountering wild animals in the African savannah. After his first taste of combat, his decision to become a pilot is made quickly and easily; though it must have taken great courage to follow through after flying solo into the desert with only a map for reference. Dahl’s descriptions of aerial combat capture perfectly all the fear and emotions that he experiences. His journey is made all the more real for us with extracts from his diaries; photographs and of course log books and war documents. It’s a stunning tale that’s sure to entertain.

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Furnace museum, Bonawe

Over in Bonawe, there is a historic Iron Furnace Museum. If you ever visit, there is a rear entrance via a public footpath; so the best way is to park overlooking Airds bay; or even better; visit after visiting hours; there doesn’t seem to be a main gate restricting access. We did spot a moose on the way in, but by the time I’d got my camera out, my friend had alerted my other friends which scared the animal away. The furnace itself is set in beautiful countryside; and you can follow the trail of coal from the storerooms (which blend in beautifully into the hillside) down to the furnace itself. It must have taken a lot of effort to extend the stream from the bay into the mill in order to power it. It’s a very peaceful place to visit if you’re passing, and the grounds are very well kept. 

At Swim-Two-Birds by Flann O' Brien

At Swim-Two-Birds by Flann O'Brien
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Brien’s story of an undergraduate wannabe writer in early Dublin is a very novel tale of creating characters that come to life. We learn of his student characteristics and of his correspondence with his friends who attempt to open him up to the wider world. Brien prefers to withdraw into his own mind rather than interact with the world around him, and dream up nonsense characters for others to follow with difficulty; often due to the dialogue presented, and it is very difficult to piece it together into a meaningful conversation; which is very similar to James Joyce’s Ulysses. Brien even tries to assist the reader with the jumbling by providing us with a regular summary of what has happened so far. There is also a sub-textual warning to this; in that if you stay withdrawn in the fantasy realm; you will just become plain and will be unable to struggle to react with the world around you. A pint of plain is your only man.

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Iona Abbey

After a manic dash through the Isle of Mull, we made the ferry crossing into Iona, and soon found ourselves in the remains of its nunnery. This in itself is an impressive site to wander around, and we particularly enjoyed working out what would have been in each room. But the focus of our site was Iona Abbey, where I proudly climbed St. Columba’s mount to get some inspiration for this blog! The abbey itself is an impressive site; with a giant cross overshadowing the building. Inside, the church itself is quite narrow but has some interesting features such as the TARDIS door-styled entrance; and there was also a small opening leading to a guard’s tower by the side of the entrance.  The cloisters are also worth a walk around, as the pillars are highly decorative. Our tour ended in the monument room, where the original monuments are protected and preserved. 

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

James And The Giant Peach by Roald Dahl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dahl delves into another realm of fantasy as a team of giant insects arrive to whisk James away from his world of abandonment and slavery. Fear turns to friendship in this imaginative tale; which starts with a very strange message of children offering mysterious gifts and recipes from strangers; which would be frowned upon in today’s society. Songs and poems come abound aplenty from the centipede; which is no wonder it was decided to turn the book into a film. Dahl is no novice when it comes to describing the air; and he certainly shares his aerobatic knowledge in his stories in the most novel of ways; in this instance using a flock of seagulls to lift the giant peach clear out of the water. He also puts realistic descriptions of the animal kingdom into use when describing his characters and actions. Dahl’s conclusion is frighteningly realistic to a modern day terrorist attack until the inhabitants of New York realise that they are in no danger than being overrun by a giant peach in their city.

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Castle Duart

At first glance, Castle Duart may not be much  to look at. It's a small fort on an island covered in scaffolding with a modern courtyard; with a few exhibits about the olden days. Once inside though, you can really begin to appreciate how the castle was used. You can tell how dark it was in the cells by admiring the thickness of the walls; built to withstand enemy fire. I had to put my phone’s light on to determine how deep the well was as it was that dark. Upstairs, there are great views of the bay, and on a clear day you can also see the rock that caused the shipwreck. Then there's the lounge with plenty of Campbell exhibits including a model of the ship; and some very strange jewellery boxes decorated with ornamental insects. A lone bust of an owl guards the final staircase, which leads to a final exhibition 

of the Campbell's in action; though it’s a shame that the UK Scouting symbol has lost its reef knot around it. There's also the walls to explore but unfortunately the scaffolding in place restricted us from views of the bay. I would have liked to explore the mound and the enclosed gardens; but we had to press on to catch our next ferry.

The Isle of Mull

 After a hectic start to the day, we boarded the ferry to the Isle of Mull. What I really needed was a cup of coffee to get me going; so while I was holding my friend’s coat so that he could queue for the toilets; I learned of an upstairs coffee shop that would be quicker than waiting in the canteen. This meant that I missed us casting off; and thus an excellent photo opportunity of Oban. When I went to queue for coffee; I found only one person on duty who was trying to explain to an American how our British coinage system works. Surely they can read? I emerged onto the deck just in time to get a view of an old abandoned lighthouse and Castle Duart. When it came to disembarking; it became quite 

chaotic. We were told to head back to the steerage; but the stairs to the lower decks were still sealed off; after a round trip through the ship a kind soul had decided to open them but pedestrian passengers were just standing in front of them and weren’t letting anyone head down; some had even decided to venture down for a wander as part of a tour! Then everyone switched on their engines and started to move forward; odd as we hadn’t even docked yet! When we were on the move we got stuck behind a very strange driver who wasn’t entirely sure where he was going. But we soon arrived at Castle Duart.

The Twits by Roald Dahl

The Twits by Roald Dahl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What do old age pensioners get up to? Most of us see them as little old ladies going shopping and looking after the grandchildren. But what of the selfish ones that decide to shun the rest of Society? Dahl’s short tale describes the old habits of two such people; the very novel tricks they play on each other; and their treatment of outsiders; all with attention to detail of personal hygiene. There is plenty of entertaining background information about each character; apart from Muggle-Wump’s family and the friendly roly-poly bird who becomes Muggle-Wump’s hero towards the end of the story. The antics of the Twits come undone when Muggle-Wump courageously gets his feathered friends get together to take their revenge on the Twits with hilarious results! This si a tale of sure imaginative brilliance; and I shall have to dig out my sequel to this story that I wrote as part of an English assignment.

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Breakfast at the Orchard Hotel, Paddington

So I soon set myself up for a comfortable night at the hotel. I had a comfy bed with a TV in a room that wasn’t too hot and wasn’t too cold. I dozed off quite quickly but still woke up in the early hours owing to a force of habit. Rather than jump straight in the shower; I treated myself to an hour of TV before I realised that I really should get going if I’m going to make it to Chiswick on time. In the end, I was only five minutes late in leaving; though it would have been great to get everything ready to leave first. Down I went to breakfast; which was actually in the cellar and not signposted; the receptionist had pointed me in the general direction the night before; but I didn’t realise it was hidden downstairs. The Polish breakfast waitress was a bit confused that I was on my own; didn’t she realise that they had single rooms? But I soon got myself to work on cereal and toast; and even made a quick job of the deli meats on offer by making my own ham and cheese toastie. Then it was off upstairs to throw everything into the rucksack and to quickly check out and head to the underground. Thankfully the hotel had a ‘drop and go’ system; making checking out as quick and painless as possible.

The Hitchiker's Guide to the Galaxy

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Even though this book is part of a trilogy of five; the first is still the best and also holds its own as a stand-alone story. Maths, physics, philosophy and science all come together in this tale of a quest to find a grand unified theory. Along the way we are introduced to new technologies and alien cultures all with their own philosophies and values which Arthur Dent must take into account in order to survive his new surroundings. Dent is aided by the mysterious Ford Prefect who has more experience of the universe and shares the role of guide alongside The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy. They are helped and hindered by machines with genuine people personalities; who also struggle to come to terms with the world around them. The only downside is that the characters don’t have any goals to aim for other than to keep moving and be prepared for their next destination with a towel in hand.

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Pride of Paddngton at the Pride of Paddington, Paddington!

My last pub of the day was the Pride of Paddington, a short walk away from the station itself. Outside there were lounge tables while inside was a hustle and bustle of young people enjoying a drink. I had a brief look at the food menu and noted the prices were expensive compared to the portions that were being served; considering it was a locals pub not far from the station. I opted for the Pride of Paddington Best Bitter (4.1%), a rebadged beer but I couldn’t discover what brewery it was from. I’m now guessing it’s Fuller’s London Pride; but I’ll be very disappointed if it is. There were large long tables abound; clearly this pub was designed to cater for groups; with a circular table by the window for students. No sign of the Cask Marque certificate, and again, not the greatest of atmospheres to cater for the solo drinker. I thought it best to let sleep overtake me and headed back to the hotel; passing the Sawyers Arms with a tinge of regret. Now that the evening was drawing in; it looked more inviting as a locals pub; but common sense prevailed as I had a bigger day of ale tasting ahead of me.

The Fib and other Stories

The Fib and Other Stories by George Layton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I acquired this book in mysterious circumstances; we were staying in a village hall as part of a hands-on farming weekend as part of our youth club. I had some trouble sleeping on account of too many people in the hall; and so I came across this book on a shelf sitting next to me. I instantly fell in love with Layton’s tales; as from the first reading I recognised them from being read out at a school assembly. The book itself somehow made it into my rucksack; and it’s been at home ever since. We follow the story of our young hero as he grows up through childhood; from his boyhood innocence of cookery and his transcendence of bereavement through to the abandoning of his childhood den and his first date. Along the way we meet his characterful friends which shape his actions and opinions; all told in an innocent first person narrative which makes this book very enjoyable indeed.

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Greene King Rumrunner at the Beerhouse, Paddington

I had a few more cask marque pubs on my list to do before retiring for bed, and one of the pubs on my list was the Beerhouse inside the station. I was hoping for a long bar covered with handpumps at the end of platform eleven; but what I found was a unit similar to the food stalls on the platform; only this had the advantage of having to go inside. Once in though, the surroundings were very comfortable; and even though there were only three real ales available; the Rumrunner I tried from Greene King was in excellent condition. There was a thin atmosphere with just a few other sole people occupying tables with newspapers and laptops while supping their pints. I wondered if it was a quiet time of the day for them now that there were fewer trains departing as the evening drew on. Clearly this is not a pub that attracts locals; and it looked that the staff were preparing to finish up the day by belting out dodgy tunes as loud as possible.

Truman's Somerset at the Dickens Tavern, Paddington

After checking in, food was the next priority and so I headed back towards Paddington station in search of substance. Along the way I passed the Dickens Tavern which was the longest pub in London; so it would be a shame not to go in. I hovered at the bar to ask if they were still serving food; then thought better of it and found a table as after all; his was in the capital. It also meant capital prices; as a pint of the local brew from Truman’s was £4.35; and this had increased from £4.26 since July when a friend of mine visited and also noted the price. But the burger was well received with dips; onion rings and thick chips; and the Blonde Somerset beer was in excellent condition (you'd expect it to be for that price).  My table was in a high stretch part of the corridor; and beyond led a set of steep steps down to the lounge bar and the pool table. The licence also has a good sense of humour; a movie quote was put outside the gents which said; “Remember; short and controlled sharp bursts”; Corporal Hicks; Aliens; 1986. Brilliant!

Sleeping in the Orchard

I've booked a hotel for my trip around London; and it was done through a website through work which gave me a discount. So my own room with an en suite bathroom came to under £50. I booked it in advance without looking at any reviews until I was on the train; where a lot of people complained about the reception and the breakfast. So I thought I’d better get over there in case there were any problems which might cause me to seek accommodation elsewhere. I hopped onto the tube; which was moving a lot faster than remembered; leaving me perched on one leg and gripping onto the rail to keep balance as we came into the station. Fortunately the contactless card worked; but I had no idea how much I was paying for each ride. Once I'd got into Paddington; I found the road which was lined with a whole range of very similar hotels; the only difference being the name. But I checked in fine with the help of an Indian man; and took the lift up to my room and scanned the key to go in. Luckily I remembered that the key has to be in the lock for the room to receive power. It was a very small box room; but was comfortable enough for just one nights stay. Unfortunately there was no free tea or coffee or even wifi; but I decided to venture out to explore more of London. 

Adnams Gold Topaz Gold at Tyburn,

My next pub was planned to be over at the Three Tuns which I believed at the time to be a sister pub of the excellent Market Porterhouse. However, the scale of the map that I was following seemed to be further than I thought; and before I knew it I actually passed a Wetherspoons called Tyburn. As I was passing; this seemed a good place to call in and possibly have an evening meal. It turned out that the place was absolutely rammed with the after-work office crowd; so I decided to do the next best thing and grab a quick half while seeking out fast food over in Paddington. The beer I tried was the Adnams Topaz Gold; and while this wasn’t a strong beer it was certainly packed with taste. Originally I thought that getting back to Marylebone would be the quickest route to Paddington; but it turned out that I was actually closer to the Marble Arch stop.

Long Man American Pale Ale at the Carpenter's Arms (Marylebone)

So having caught my trains without incident (though I would have liked to have had more time around Birmingham to visit the Square Peg and do a bit of owl spotting); I am here in the capital. Even the guy sitting opposite me on the train was normal; making business calls but still giving me the occasional chance to doze off. The first port of call was the Carpenter’s Arms; a Good Beer Guide pub that was not too far away from Marylebone station, or so at least the map said. It turned out that this locals pub was actually closer to Oxford Street; and a nice hideaway for it too. The pub was very nice and well preserved; not too crowded and a place for the office crowd to meet up. Conversation dominated here; it’s not the best pub to go on your own for a restful retreat; but the Long Man American Pale Ale that I tried was in excellent condition. I particularly enjoyed the Landlord’s cheeky sign about the TV; “This TV is expensive; it may turn off if beer is not being consumed.”!

London, baby!

I am heading off to the capital! It’s been a long while since I’ve been; but I’m cashing in on a trip to visit a brewery and taste some beer as a birthday treat to myself. I got a great deal on the internet to get down there cheap; and I even paid less than a third of the price on my changeover train thanks to a delayed train earlier on in the year. As long as I could get to the station by 4pm; everything would be fine. Well. The day didn’t start great as I’d been up most of the night finishing off articles for Pint Taken; with minimum sleep. Then I had a criss-cross of deliveries to make at work; as well as training one of the new guys on the store’s voice system. I then felt really guilty when it was time for me to leave because I had to leave him on his own to prep his van. But thankfully; I got away on time. London, baby!

Gulliver's Travels

Gulliver's Travels by Jonathan Swift
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

There have been many adaptions of Swift’s tale of Gulliver’s Travels; but I feel that it’s always important to read the original once someone else has come along and tried to ruin it so that the classic tale stays afresh. I’ve never seen Jack Black’s version and neither do I want to; and some versions miss out the visit to the other three islands altogether. The best version that I’ve seen is a TV series starring Ted Danson in 1996 with an all-star cast; though it was a shame that an American was picked for the starring role. Swift’s account is very detailed of Gulliver’s adventures; but his dialogue is not left to the imagination. With every detail covered; there remains little for the reader to create their own interpretation. However, the door is opened for the reader to ponder upon other world and cultures; and how their everyday actions are different to ours.

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Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency

Dirk Gently's Holistic Detective Agency by Douglas Adams
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Adams begins to lose touch with the reader in this strange cult tale of discovering a time machine while running a detective agency. We don't actually meet Dirk until fairly late in the story when several other characters have been introduced; each with their own unique chapters and storylines. Dirk himself has his own mysterious cult status; none of which the other characters seem to dwell upon in their past acquaintance with him. The actions of Dirk are very discreet; and it is not known what he does in between chapters which results in the outcome of the story. There are a lot of gaps from scenario to scenario without any flashbacks; and it’s very hard to piece together what has occurred previously; who murdered the executive and whether anyone actually cared in the end or were morally affected by the adventure. There is a sequel; but whether this story fills in the gaps or unfolds a completely different story; I’ll have to read it to find out.

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Editorale

Wow, what a summer we’ve had! It seemed that every weekend saw a beer festival in progress; demonstrating that real ale is well and truly in demand; and that we could really do with more days in the weekend to visit all these events! Congratulations must go to the Tiny Rebel Brewery in Newport who brewed the Champion Beer of Britain, Cwtch, which was announced in August at CAMRA’s Great British Beer Festival.  Let’s continue to support our pubs and clubs over the coming darker months; and remember that pubs aren’t just places to visit when the sun comes out.

Good news for cider drinkers; in our Summer edition we reported that the EU demanded that the UK government remove the tax exemption in place for small cider makers; making production uneconomical for many producers and force them into closure. CAMRA began a campaign to support small cider makers; and a petition quickly grew in size to over 26,000 signatures which was presented to Downing Street in June. During the July budget announcements; Chancellor George Osborne pledged to keep the tax exemption in place, thereby protecting the British tradition of cider making.  

We’ve dedicated the centre-fold of this season’s edition to celebrate the Ruby Anniversary of the Redditch & Bromsgrove Branch of the Campaign for Real Ale. The branch was formed in 1975, and has since grown with the help of over a thousand members alongside pub licensees and the general public supporting their beer festivals, events and campaigns. And there’s always time to join in over the next forty years!

Even if you’re not a CAMRA member; you can do your bit for your local pub by getting it listed as an Asset of Community Value. This offers pubs an extra level of protection against developers wishing to convert pubs into shops or other uses; and requires them to seek planning permission before any alteration work takes place. More importantly, it also halts any plans to convert the pub for six months; allowing the local community a chance to put in a bid to save it. CAMRA has dedicated a large part of its campaigning team to support people who would like to get their pub listed; for more information please contact your local CAMRA branch.

Thanks for reading; hope you enjoy the magazine!