The Miner's Arms, Carsington

The Miner's Arms is a pub I have sometimes parked outside - it has its backside to the road - but never visited ( it's a useful starting point for a walk to the pubs at Brassington). I had modest expectations of what might lay inside and those expectations were met. On the night we visited, it offered two real ales - Bass and one from the Wirksworth Brewery, Laura Rose (A pale golden ale with a distinctive citrus floral aroma leading to a strong, but not overpowering bitter hop flavour followed by a fruity, hoppy, clean finish.) Both turned out to be fine. Perhaps the most interesting aspect was the 48oz steak challenge. If consumed in 30 minutes, free. If not, £35.

The Bull's Head, Belper Lane End

Another gem, this time uncovered by our cycling correspondent. A free house, under new management, this pub offers 4 real ales, three brewed in-house. We all sampled Shottle Gold - a light ale with a refreshing hoppy flavour (as they say in Camra). The bar staff couldn't have been more helpful and there was the Snug - a haven away from the kids in the carvery side - to enjoy your pint in. Open fires provided that certain woodsmoke ambience which complements a good ale. The pièce-de-résistance was that Thursday night is quiz night and. for a £1 entry fee, you get platefuls of freshly-prepared food to sustain you. Excellent! (We came third, by the way, only beaten by a team of regulars and a cabal of women with mobile phones, allegedly)