With around 90 Real Ale pubs, and the possibility of that number being added to, the Amber Valley Branch of CAMRA encompasses a wide area with three main towns – Alfreton, Belper and Ripley – and many villages. It’s important to note that the Amber Valley Borough Council’s area and Amber Valley CAMRA’s area are not the same – the Erewash Valley Branch is responsible for Loscoe, Heanor, Langley Mill, which are all within the Borough Council territory.  Amber Valley CAMRA’s boundaries go from as far west as Idridgehay, near Wirksworth, which we don’t cover, to Jacksdale, just over the border in Nottinghamshire. We go north to South Wingfield and Oakerthorpe, while Milford, Makeney and Holbrook are ours, but Duffield isn’t. We have Kilburn and Horsley Woodhouse, but not Horsley or Smalley, while our boundary with the Erewash Branch is Codnor, for which we are responsible. We also have Alderwasley, Turnditch and Ambergate pubs.

With so many pubs scattered over a wide area, it’s difficult to get to them all, and although do we run social trips and hold meetings at a variety of venues, we can only cover a percentage of the total, so any feedback regarding beer quality and availability of Real Ale is much appreciated, members can submit beer scores to CAMRA Pubs and Clubs.

For details of the previous survey trips please read the various posts on our blog.

Please find below a list of proposed dates for City and Town Pub Walks.

Future Walks

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Previous Outings

SEPTEMBER 2026 – Matlock

We held a pub crawl around Matlock on the afternoon of 26 September, thank you to those who could join us. We met in the Remarkable Hare and then visited Farmacy; the Newsroom; the Red Lion and Bod Matlock.  With 10 members joining us at various points we sampled a few of the beers on offer including – Triple Point Gold; Neptune Torrent; Aldwark Baarbarian and Raven; Neepsend Porter and Verdent Lightbulb. 

AUGUST 2026

We hosted a very successful pub crawl around Beston on Saturday 22 August with 14 drinkers joining in from a total of 5 local branches. Most met us in the Victoria Hotel which had on offer 11 cask ales including regulars from Castle Rock; Black Sheep and Blue Monkey plus guest ales – Abbeydale Daily Bread; Little Summer Glow; Harveys Sussex Best; Charnwood Over the Rainbow; Stancill No 7; Brass Castle Headliner; North Riding Mocha Porter and Thornbrige Jaipur.

From there we proceeded to work up a thirst with a walk to the Star Inn, this had 10 ales to choose from 8 of which were Locales.  Bang the Elephant Pop Goes the Weasel and Orange Boots; Beestonia Solstice; Little Critters Blonde Bear; Lenton Lane Starlight; Dancing Duck 22; Little Epiphany; Castle Rock Preservation and Elsie Mo and Oakham Citra.  

We then took a short walk around the corner to the White Lion which had 7 of their own Lincoln Green beers on offer including Peaches & Cream and For the Love of It.  Next we moved on the the Crown Inn with 11 offerings – ones we hadn’t seen before were Brewsters Hophead; Everards Tiger; Blue Monkey BG Sips; Neepsend Cabrakan; Lunebrew The Trionda; Brew York Tiramoosu Tonkoko; Bini Brew Blondie; Shiny Meaningful Numbers and Tempest Long Cloud, 3 of which were Locale. 

Our next stop was The Commercial Inn with 8 on tap including one brewed for the pub – Zest Alchemy 4 and  Hopquad; Silent Brew Mesmer;  Bradfield Farmers; Stancill Barnsley Bitter; Alter Ego Mr Brown and Vigilante.  We then finished off with another walk to Totally Tapped who were serving Little – Tup, Eagle and Taj and Squawk Pave.  An enjoyable afternoon with good company and some interesting choices of beverages.

MAY 2026

SATURDAY 30 MAY – NOTTINGHAM

We ran a pub crawl around Nottingham on the afternoon of SATURDAY 30 MAY calling at the VAT & Fiddle followed by – The Embankment; The Trent Bridge Inn; Poppy & Pint; Stratford Haven; Brewhouse & Kitchen and Trent Navigation Inn

APRIL 2026

Several members took part in a walk around Derby pubs in early April starting at the Furnace, always a good choice with 8 beers on offer.  We then moved on to the Five Lamps, Flowerpot, Smithfield, Brunswick and Alexandra Hotel.

MARCH 2026

We ran a pub crawl around Sheffield city centre on the afternoon of Saturday 28th March meeting at the Sheffield Tap 11 members then visited the Rutland Arms, Head of Steam, The Fargate, Foresters and Vocation & Co.

FEBRUARY 2026

A dozen members joined our pub crawl around Chesterfield on Saturday 28 February we met at the Pig and Pump which had on pump beers from Sharps, Brains, Abbeydale, Ossett, Kelham, Thornbridge, Oakham and Grey Trees.  We then moved a short distance to the Rutland Arms which gave us a choice of Magpie, Stancill, Peak Ales, Pheasantry, Dancing Duck and Moorhouses.

A much longer walk for the next drink but finally made it all the way to Neptune Beer Emporium which had on it’s usual wide range with ales from Marble, Ossett, Pentrich, Thornbridge, Abbeydale and Oakham. The next stop for some unusual offerings was the Chesterfield Arms with Glasshouse Altitude, 3 from Resting Devil – Changling, Banshee and Twisted Pale, Kent Untamed, Neptune Venice Queen and Dancing Duck Duck Norris with the added attraction of a view of the brewery.

Next up was The Royal Oak which had Tap Take Over from Ashover serving Littlemoor Citra, Rainbow’s End, Poet’s Tipple, Nectaron, White Lion and Victorian Ruby Mild.  The final stop for the day was the Chesterfield Alehouse which was serving Elgoods North Brink Porter, Shiny Double Edged Charts and Wizard Behaviour, Ashover ABC and Glasshouse Fawn. 

Overall a great success with a good turnout and a wide variety of ales to taste.

DECEMBER 2025

Saturday 27th December – Annual Nottingham Christmas Social    

NOVEMBER 2025

We held a successful pub crawl around Matlock on the afternoon of Saturday 29 Nov 2025, a group of 12 of us started the walk at the Remarkable Hare deciding from there to tackle the local hills on the way to the Newsroom.  We then attempted the Thorntree which unfortunately was closed so it was back halfway down to the Farmacy.  Heading down and east our next stop was the Red Lion, from there it was a flat stroll, luckily by that point, to the Bod and Twenty Ten.

OCTOBER 2025

CAMramble

On Saturday 25 October a dozen intrepid walkers met for a beer Ramble – meeting at the King William, Milford for breakfast we then walked across the fields to the White Hart, Bargate for their 10 year festival.  Moving on using local paths to the Dead Poets and Spotted Cow in Holbrook then to the Hollybush, Makeney to finish with their beer festival.

AUGUST 2025

On Saturday 30th August we had a good turnout for a walk around Burton hostelries.  Meeting at the Weighbridge Inn, 11 members then walked on to the Last Heretic where we took advantage of the sunny weather in their rustic beer garden, on offer was Dancing Duck – Brown Clough and Leatherbritches – Amarillo.  We then moved on to the Arches – Outwoods Brewing Co. tap where they had two of their own cask – Lemon Jackets and Ozfest plus Dancing Duck – Down and Little – Tup.  Our next stop was the Coopers Tavern with the usual Joules offerings plus two specials – Batch 1032 and Cameo and guest Bristol – Destiny Found.    A short walk bought us to the Dog which had 9 hand pumps with brews from Salopian, Magpie, Burton Bridge, Black Country Ales (4), Titanic, Enville and Fownd.  Our final port of call was Beeropolis where they had Leatherbritches – Citra Pale and 3Ps – Black Damp.  A well attended and interesting trip.

May 2025

Saturday May 10 –  Sheffield – Kelham Island

The walk started at the Sheffield Tap and visited Shakespear’s Cider and Ale House, Fat Cat, Kelham Island Tavern, Harlequin, Wellington

March 2025

Saturday 22 March  – Sheffield

The walk started at the Sheffield Tap and visited Rutland Arms, Vocation & Co, Perch, Red Deer, Bath Hotel, Head of Steam

February 2025

We visited Hucknall on the afternoon of Saturday 22nd February with some of the pubs below visited.

The Railway; Byron’s Rest; Beer Shack; Baker and Bear; The Hideout and the Plough and Harrow

It was great to see that we were joined on our trip by members of Nottingham and Mansfield branches.