On a glorious summer's day Saturday 1st July, CAMRA members from three branches: Cornwall, Plymouth and Exeter and East Devon alighted at St Germans station in South East Cornwall, or travelled across the Torpoint Ferry, for the Rame Beer & Buses day.

This was the second year that this event has been organised. Historic buses operate a network of services across the Rame Peninsula for the day. The intention of these services is to provide a connection between the various pubs, bars and attractions available in South East Cornwall. Programmes were available at Torpoint for those arriving via the Torpoint Ferry and luckily some of our Plymouth Branch members were able to give us some pointers. However, for many of us arriving at St Germans station, we decide to travel in different directions; some catching the Red bus route clockwise; others catching the Red bus route anti-clockwise and a few of us deciding to walk to the Eliot Arms at St Germans itself!

How you plan your day is entirely personal depending on the attractions or pubs you wish to visit. The event buses are free of charge, but purchasing a programme for £5.00 helps to support the cost of maintaining and fuelling the buses. All the vehicles are historic, privately owned and maintained by volunteers who give their time and money to keep them on the road. Photographs and information about the buses in service on the day are also provided in the programme along with route maps and timetables.

The Red routes both pass the Halfway House at Polbathic at which a few got off to sample the delights before catching the next Red bus. Polbathic is at the head of Polbathic Lake, a tidal inlet off the St Germans River. Dark Star Hophead and Salcombe Pride of Polbathic were on offer.

The anti-clockwise bus carried some strangely-clad passengers who looked remarkably like members of the Wreckers Border Morris side heading for St John, of which more later.

Another pub on the Red route was the Copley Arms at the picturesque village of Hessenford in the deep valley of the River Seaton. The Copley Arms is named after Sir Joseph Copley, Bt, who owned the local village in the 18th century! St Austell Vista was on offer, a new St Austell Small Batch Brewery beer.

From Hessenford, the B3247 winds its way down the wooded Seaton Valley, which is a Countryside Park, arriving at Seaton itself on the coast. Some of our party left the bus to visit the Smugglers Inn, a seaside pub/restaurant just right for a summer's day with Sharp's Solar Wave, a modern hazy IPA.

Travelling slowly along the narrow coast road eastwards, the bus reached the village of Crafthole, where more of our party disembarked for the Finnygook Inn, offering St Austell Anthem, Tribute and Fuller's London Pride.

Eventually after a long journey through coast and countryside we reached the bus hub at Antony, right outside the Carew Arms, formerly named the Ring O'Bells.

A couple of miles away is Antony House, now National Trust owned, where the Carew family still live since 1724. The pub takes its name from this venerable family.

St Austell Tribute, Dartmoor Best and Firebrand Beast of Bodmin were on offer and very nice too after a long bus journey, relaxing in the pub watching various tour buses come and go.

Eventually it was time to find the Green route bus to St John.

The Blue route bus was not what we wanted, neither was what looked like an ice cream sales trike! A confusion of buses came and went.

At last, a green bus for a Green route! Bad luck struck as this bus was going the other way and the bus that we wanted passed by.

So back in the Carew for a quick half before the next bus. More problems as the green Green bus did not materialise as expected and there was a rumour that it had broken down. Panic set in as we were two hours late getting to the St John Inn. So three of the Exeter and East Devon members and your author Steve decided to walk to St John.

It was not that far and we had some lovely views across the fields to the Tamar and Plymouth beyond.

We also had a view of the back end of the "broken down bus" which was nothing of the sort as it passed us on the way to the pub!

Desperate for a pint in the hot weather, and some lunch, we arrived at the St John Inn. The Morris dancers were all there, having long finished their performance.

Never mind, we made it. Although we all journeyed on different buses and routes, many of us met up again mid-afternoon at the St John Inn, St John. This former Cornwall Branch ‘Pub of the Year’ was extremely busy both inside and out, but many people chose to enjoy both the front and back gardens in the sunshine. The St John Inn was also a CAMRA 'Lockdown Hero' for opening a village shop in a shed which is still operating. We had the choice of Courage Best Bitter, Draught Bass, Firebrand Beast of Bodmin and Summerskills Bunker Hill - all very nice! Food could also be purchased and many of us chose an afternoon snack to keep us going! Two of our members were camping in the field at the back of the pub.

Unfortunately the day passed rather too quickly and we were aware that we needed to return to St Germans station for services both east and west. Back at Antony, this time via the bus, we boarded an express bus back to St Germans via Polbathic.

We split into the Devonians heading east and the Cornish heading west.

A fantastic day was had by all of us that attended this unique event. I very much hope it will be organised again next year!

Words and photos by Steve Barber and Jan Curtis