Langdon Beck Hotel, Barnard Castle

I was staying at the nearby youth hostel on a cycling tour of the north Pennines, so a visit to this pub was obligatory; in other words there's nowhere else. This really is the middle of nowhere. Obviously there are sufficient small villages and hamlets whence locals and visitors are prepared to drive out here (with designated non-drinking driver, of course) for an evening meal and a pint or two. And who could blame them? It's a multiroom traditional country building, adapted to its trade to the extent that there is a large window in the dining room for taking in the view. Two smaller rooms have their own sections of the bar counter and a real fire. Three hand pumps had just two beers on, with a Black Sheep pump clip turned around. This left me with the choice between the almost ubiquitous ex-Thwaites Wainwright, a bland golden ale, or Great North Eastern Rivet Catcher (guess which one I went for). I would have stayed for a third pint if there had been something else to try after my two pints of Rivet Catcher, or if there had not been some bland MOR 1980s pop music on continual play on the CD player behind the bar. Date of visit: 1st May 2017

A whitewashed stone built pub high in the Teesdale area of outstanding natural beauty. Popular with walkers and country people. We arrived out of the Pennine fog to find a congregation of followers of Beagles on a damp October Wednesday lunchtime. Great atmosphere. A regular outlet for Jarrow Rivet Catcher. Date of visit:16th October 2013

Official site of the Langdon Beck Hotel, includes menu - www.langdonbeckhotel.com