On Saturday 13 January 2024 a group of CAMRA members made their way to the far north of the branch area. We travelled by a combination of bus, train and a coach which was arranged by Roger Webster, our Social Secretary East. The weather was dry and cold but clear.

Our first port of call was the Buller's Arms in Marhamchurch where landlord Sam, or more precisely his mother, opened four hours earlier than normal to welcome us. There are six handpumps and on our visit we were treated to Tintagel Arthur's Ale, Tintagel Harbour Special and Tintagel General Buller Gold, a house beer which is Castle Gold.

The Buller's Arms has a food van calling regularly. For our benefit, plates of sausages were provided gratis and very nice they were too. This is a really welcoming community pub with all sorts of events going on and if only it was not so far from where most of us live. Sam arrived to say Hello just as we headed for the coach for our second pub.

Our second pub was the Preston Gate Inn at Poughill, a few miles to the north which we reached via Bude town centre and Flexbury. We were welcomed with a gleaming row of six handpumps offering four beers on all the time. Sharp's Sea Fury is always on and on our visit were Sharp's Atlantic, Firebrand Patchwork Rocket and a surprising new beer Bude Coastal Perfect Wave.

The Preston Gate is a hive of activity; open all day every day with extensive food offering and music sessions. We were well settled in to the cosy corners when we were overtaken by time again and rejoined the coach for the short hop back into Bude town.

Our last call was the unique Barrel at Bude micropub where we sampled beers on gravity under psychedelic blue and green lighting. Ian opened early for us due to our long travel times from west Cornwall. A more dynamic free house would be difficult to find with regular live music.

I went for one of my favourites - Cloud Cuckoo from the distant Treen's Brewery - well it is from here! Also on were Firebrand West Coast Session IPA and Driftwood Spars Experimental Hop Pale and three others (I think - memory failing me by now). The tiny pub has various nooks and crannies including a little haven of peace upstairs.

Finally the coach home beckoned and we reflected on a fantastic jolly day out, thanks to Roger for organising it.

Cheers, Steve Barber