Zig Zag To The Peaks: Part 3 – Parking The Bus

The final leg of our Zig Zag to the Peaks saw us in Belper Bus Station before taking in the 6.1 to Derby Bus station and then the V3 back to Repton.

This gives me another excuse to show this map

and I wasn’t going to mention the Zig Zag ticket again but (a) I am after a sponsorship deal for this blog and (b) old codger Thurman – aka The Wickingman – has told me about an even bigger bargain available to the over 60s.

(Backstreet Belper boozers)

Whilst that might be good for ‘middle aged’ punters such as Taylor, Mudgie, Mackay, Dave, Dick, Paul Bailey and Stafford Paul, whippersnappers such as my good self, Mark, Citra, Paul WME, Shepshed Pete and Stirchley Pete will have to stick to this unlimited bus travel in Derby for £6.

Matlcok Bath, Cromford and Belper had all been ‘tested’ out and whilst we thought about a finale in Derby we decided another couple in Belper would do the trick.

Duncan can often be seen in a stripey t-shirt whatever the weather and John and I found further proof that all Scotsman are hard as nails as we approached the 545 – Old Kings Head DE56 1NP

This feller, who was with his partner, was wearing the bare minimum and it was absolutely Baltic! Apparently he was from Dundee (the boys from Tannadice beat Barcelona once) and reckoned it was a mild evening!!

My drinking buddy was impressed as he spotted some live folk music on the agenda in the future but this place was a two-roomer and very much two different rooms.

The front bar was lively and offered a decent pint of either 61 Deep (Marston’s) or Pedigree (Marston’s)

(best league in the world?)

but the lure of England’s (at the time unconfirmed) T20 victory against South Africa in the back room just won out.

There were less people in the back room but it was bloke heavy and very much sports experts as each shot/delivery/fielding was unpicked and analysed through a beer haze, which always makes the game seem far easier!

A top notch back street local boozer wasn’t our final stop off…

(drinking buddy warming up his vocal chords)

…as we thought we should try one more before the Bus Station beckoned.

546 – Arkwright’s DE56 1AP is tucked away beneath the Strutt Club in the centre of Belper and a one roomed small place with a buzzing, town centre atmosphere.

It’s got a no kids policy and is usually lively…

whilst I had a good debate about beer with a purple haired lady who, along with her bloke, were fans of the dark beer variety.

Mind you, it wasn’t the sort of place to just talk about beer as there was music on and a real town centre feel to it with a good crew of smokers outside.

I had a very decent pint of Blonde Protagonist (Alter Ego) and soaked up the atmosphere that was just starting to bubble.

So, a remarkably good day in the Derbyshire Dales/Peaks drew to a close and we were back at a decent time.

Well worth a trip if you’re in the East Midlands and I’ve only just scratched the surface of possibles on this bus route…