We took the bus to the Burton market to save some wear on the feet, as it is about a mile from the Hotel. We picked out some nice cheese and breads for breakfast, and ate them by a park on the river, where the ducks were prowling for left overs. The it was off to Coopers Tavern, to top of breakfast with a pint of Kimberley bitter. Steve, the proprieter, gave us a copy of the ‘95 Good Beer Guide, and told us how to get to Derb, and about some pubs there. Our plans were modified, however, because the train was running late, and we were advised to take the bus. Eventually we got to Derby, but left immediately for Ripley, without stopping at the pubs. A mistake, no doubt.
We decided to stay at Hammershith House, one of the two B&B’s in Ripley. It’s quite a ways from the town center, maybe a mile and a half, so we cabbed it down to the Inn. It’s a very nice place, off the beaten path, complete with it’s own lounge bar. We hiked back to town, stopping at pubs along the way. Somewhere, we tried Mansfield Bitter, (#1.34), which was mellow.