On what turned out to be the final day before going to the pub went against government guidelines, 11 of us set off on the annual St Partick’s pub run from Calton Hill. First stop was The Jolly Judge, and a delicious half of Elemental Dark from Tempest. It called itself a porter and not a stout but I’m not going to get into a beer styles debate here… As someone pointed out, it’s my run and I can make the rules, or change them. Anyway, next up was the Castle and being told off for running onto the Esplanade. You’d think we’d have learned from last year. Onward downhill to our only Irish bar of the day, Malones, and free Guinness hats for those that didn’t have them already. Slàinte!
We made a stop for homemade Irish Fifteens by the tower on Corstorphine Hill before Luckies in Balgreen, which we had all to ourselves. Everyone made it up and over Craiglockhart hill to Braid Hills Hotel where a lady from the hotel joked with us that since St Partick’s Day wasn’t till Tuesday we’d have to stay till then. Over Braids and down all the way to The Hermitage Bar in Morningside for the most beautiful looking mini tankards of Guinness. Blackford Hill ticked off, and fifteens finished, it was into Leslies for our penultimate half and final Guinness of the day. There had been a brief rain shower so we skipped (as in missed out) the Gutted Haddie route up Arthur’s Seat then dashed off as another shower was incoming.
After a swift half of Murphys in Kilderkin we were soon back on top of Calton Hill in glorious sunshine for a photo with the 8 finishers on the National Monument. A grand day out that I’m sure myself and other York Beer Runners will be back up for next year. With all the current fear and panic I like to think we put a smile, not just on our faces, but on the many people who witnessed our run around the city dressed in green and Guinness hats. There were plenty of toots from passing cars and even one Lothian bus!
* technically one of them was a porter.
Jeff Roberts
(Photos from myself, Michelle Hetherington, Nick Williamson, Pete Buchanan and Lou Stringer)