The Transpennine Rail Ale Trail follows the Transpennine rail route from Stalybridge to Batley (or vice-versa).
You start at one end and hop off at each station (eight in total) to sample different cask ales at nearby real ale pubs.
The Rail Ale Trail was featured in the 2009 BBC documentary Oz and James Drink to Britain. Following this, it gained in popularity, not just with real ale lovers, but with stag and hen parties and groups of drinkers.
Unfortunately, some people weren’t interested in the real ale aspect and approached it like a booze-filled bar crawl with the aim of getting as pissed as possible.
This led to problems for the pub landlords, local residents, and the Transpennine team. They stopped promoting the Rail Ale Trail and took measures to reduce the number of groups attempting to complete it.
Completing the Rail Ale Trail as a real ale lover
You can still complete the Rail Ale Trail and it’s not as busy as it once was (although we still saw plenty of big groups in fancy dress following the route).
We completed it with a couple of friends on a Saturday in March 2025. As we’re from Leeds, we started at Leeds station, got the train to Stalybridge and then worked our way back.
The best value ticket for us was the day rover. This allows you to hop on and off anywhere in West Yorkshire. As Stalybridge and Greenfield are in Lancashire, we had to buy separate return tickets between Stalybridge and Marsden, but this only added a few quid onto the ticket cost. In total, we paid £57 for four adults.
The trains run every hour between Stalybridge and Huddersfield (until late afternoon when they are twice an hour). And then around twice an hour between Huddersfield and Leeds. This is a breakdown of our journey.
Leeds to Stalybridge: 12:00-12:39 (39 minutes)
Stalybridge to Greenfield: 13:13-13:22 (11 minutes)
Greenfield to Marsden: 14:22-14:30 (8 minutes)
Marsden to Slaithwaite: 15:30-15:34 (4 minutes)
Slaithwaite to Huddersfield: 16:34-16:39 (5 minutes)
Huddersfield to Mirfield: 17:40-17:48 (8 minutes)
Mirfield to Dewsbury: 18:39-18:44 (5 minutes)
Dewsbury to Batley: 19:46-19:49 (3 minutes)
Batley to Leeds: 20:49-21:04 (15 minutes)
We had around half an hour at the first stop and then roughly an hour at each stop after that. We only had one short delay of 12 minutes at Slaithwaite and other than that all the trains were pretty much on time.
All the bars are within a five-minute walk of the station.
It took us just over nine hours to get from Leeds to Stalybridge and back with a stop at all eight pubs. Technically, the trail finishes in Batley so if you’re starting or finishing there, you could do it in under nine hours.
The pubs
We followed the original trail as listed on the Rail Ale Trail website.
If you want to complete all eight stations, you need to have a plan because you could very easily get carried away at the first few stops. Not only does every pub have between six and eleven cask ales on offer (as well as all other drinks you’d expect in a pub), but some of the villages have multiple pubs.
We stuck to the original eight Rail Ale Trail pubs and stayed on cask ale all day. We also picked ales with sessionable ABVs (under 5%) and switched between pints and half pints to keep the alcohol volume sensible.
At the first stop, you don’t even need to leave the station as Stalybridge Buffet Bar is accessible from platform four.
It doesn’t look particularly exciting from the platform but inside you’ll find a real gem of a pub.
It’s one of the few remaining original Victorian buffet bars and retains original features such as the marble-topped bar. The walls are covered in railway memorabilia so there’s plenty to take in while you enjoy your first pint of the day.
What we drank:
With at least ten hand pulls, we were spoilt for choice. But, despite being in Lancashire, we decided to go for a pint of classic Yorkshire beer brewed by a well-known Yorkshire brewery.
Boltmaker from Timothy Taylor’s: Yorkshire Bitter 4%
Brewer’s note:A well-balanced, genuine Yorkshire Bitter, with a full measure of maltiness and hoppy aroma – Boltmaker is first choice for the discerning drinker – on both sides of the Pennines.
Formerly known as Best Bitter, Boltmaker has won many awards over the years but most recently it was awarded the CAMRA Supreme Champion Beer of Britain in 2014 and Champion Beer of Britain – Bitter category in 2016.
Just outside Greenfield station, across the road and slightly down the hill, you’ll find the Railway Inn.
It’s a lovely traditional-looking pub with a small bar and different seating areas. There’s also a pool table if you fancy a game. Admittedly, this pub didn’t have bags of personality and could do with a lick of paint, but there was a good range of ales on offer which is why it’s one of the original Rail Ale pubs.
What we drank:
We’re fans of Vocation (based in Hebden Bridge), so we opted for a pint of their modern ale, Bread & Butter. It lived up to its name with hints of bready malts and a slight butteriness.
Bread & Butter from Vocation Brewery: Modern Ale 3.9%
Brewer’s note:Our bread and Butter beer is the ultimate fresh, easy-drinking, dry-hopped ale that balances British malts with US hops for a modern take on a classic. With mild and refreshing citrus notes, a crisp pine finish, and a rounded bitterness. This 3.9% ABV brew proves that the simplest of things are often best.
Of all eight Rail Ale pubs, the Riverhead Brewery Tap is probably the furthest from a station but is still less than a five-minute walk away. It’s down a relatively steep hill which means it’s uphill on the way back to the station, so make sure you leave plenty of time.
Riverhead Brewery is a microbrewery owned by Ossett Brewery Pub Company (whose brands also include SALT Beer Factory and Rat Brewing). So as well as finding some freshly brewed Riverhead beers, you’ll also find a range of SALT beers on tap too.
Downstairs, there’s a choice of seating areas around their main bar, next to the brew kettles, or in the bank room. Upstairs there’s more of a restaurant feel, and although we didn’t eat here the food coming out of the kitchen looked amazing.
What we drank:
We weren’t going to pass up the chance to try one of Riverhead Brewery’s own beers as they brew on such a small scale that the majority of their beers are only sold in the taproom.
We ordered the mild and it was delicious. So smooth and roasty, with far more flavour than you’d expect from a 3.6% beer.
Sparth Mild from Riverhead Brewery: Dark Mild 3.6%
Brewer’s note:One of the original Riverhead recipes. Brewed using traditional English hops. Dark ruby dry mild with a roasted flavour.
Just around the corner from Slaithwaite station (and downhill yet again) is The Commercial. It was pretty busy when we arrived, but we managed to get a table near the main bar and we treated ourselves to some of their fresh pork scratchings which were delicious.
We made it back to the station just before the rain started coming down, but we did end up having a 12-minute delay (luckily, there was a shelter so we managed to stay dry).
What we drank:
The Commercial has its own cask ale - Commerci’ale - brewed by Huddersfield-based Empire Brewing and we were told they put a fresh barrel on every day. However, we spotted a red ale and we wanted to try some different styles, so we went for that instead.
Preservation from Castle Rock Brewery: Red Ale 4.4%
Brewer’s note:Brewed to the traditional East Midlands style, Preservation is an easy-drinking full flavoured best bitter. Well-rounded with some residual sweetness and balanced with resinous hop character.
After a slight delay in Slaithwaite, we headed to Huddersfield for pub number five which is located just to the left as you exit the main station (or to the right if you are facing the station).
The King’s Head is in a Grade 1 listed building that has been carefully restored. It has tiled floors and high ceilings which means the sound echoes around. They have a stage and advertise live music (although there was nothing on during our visit). We sat in a little area just off the main room where the walls were adorned with beer memorabilia.
What we drank:
We were drawn to the Long Moor Pale from Huddersfield-based brewer Small World Beers because it’s brewed with natural mineral water from the area.
Long Moor Pale from Small World Beers: Pale Ale 3.9%
Brewer’s Note: Pale ale with grapefruit and citrusy notes with a light bitter finish, brewed with Amarillo and Cascade hops.
Head down the ramp from the station until you’re under the railway lines and look for Lidl (but don’t cross over). The Navigation Tavern is pretty much opposite the supermarket, set back slightly from the main road.
This is a lovely pub that combines traditional and modern. There’s a cosy bar area on one side and on the other side is a larger room where live sports are shown. We sat in the smaller bar area with our beers and a few bags of crisps.
What we drank:
We went with a session IPA from a Wetherby-based brewery. Another good beer (we hadn’t had a bad one so far).
King Neptune from Bosun’s Brew Co: Session IPA 4.3%
Brewer’s Note: The God Liquid Refreshment. A session IPA that’s light golden in colour, has a fruity nose and subtle bursts of citrus and grapefruit flavours – the ultimate booty! Shiver me timbers, it’s good.
There’s an entrance to The West Riding on one of the station platforms, although I’m not sure it was in use. But even if it is in use, I would recommend heading out of the station and approaching this pub from the front (it’s to the right as you exit or to the left if you’re facing the station) as it’s a beautiful-looking building.
The West Riding was actually inspired by Stalybridge Buffet Bar and according to their website:
Mike Field was inspired to create a railway pub at Dewsbury because he had spent so much time at the Buffet Bar as a student, and the whole project was something of a homage to it. We originally wanted to bring the Buffet Bar into the Beerhouses family in 1996 but lost out to John Hesketh. John and Mike stayed in touch over the years and when John, sadly, became seriously ill, he expressed his wishes that Mike should take it on after his death, which he did in 2012.
The West Riding was one of our favourite of the eight pubs. It just had a lovely feel to it and a huge selection of beers. Would definitely recommend a visit if you’re ever in Dewsbury.
What we drank:
Beerhouses is the company that owns The West Riding and they had a couple of their beers on cask. We opted for the Morello Cherry Porter because it sounded very good (and it was).
Wheel House from Beerhouses Brewing: Morello Cherry Porter 5%
Brewer’s Note: Smooth rich porter with added Morello Cherry.
The final official stop on the Rail Ale Trail is Cellar Bar which is located pretty much across the road from Batley station. As the name suggests, the bar is downstairs in what was presumably once a cellar.
What we drank:
Timothy Taylor’s Boltmaker was available and we quite liked the idea of starting and finishing with the same beer. However, we spotted Barnsley Bitter and this is one of the beers listed in a book we have called 1001 Beers to Try Before You Die so we opted for a pint of that instead.
I actually preferred it to Boltmaker, but it was the other way around for Alex. That said, both were excellent beers and a great way to start or end the Rail Ale Trail.
Barnsley Bitter from Acorn Brewery: Bitter 3.8%
Brewer’s Note: Our multi-award-winning Barnsley Bitter is brewed using the finest quality Maris Otter malt and English hops. Chestnut in colour, it has a well-rounded, rich flavour and retains a lasting bitter finish. The beer is brewed using yeast strains that were used in the 1850s to brew ‘Barnsley Bitter’. Acorn Brewery’s Barnsley Bitter won the SIBA Gold Award for Cask in 2023 and also won a Gold Award in KEG 2024. It also won a Silver Award in its class at the Great British Beer Festival in 2006 and 2015, with a Bronze in 2018. Additionally, it has been a finalist in 2007, 2008, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2017, and 2019.
And so, after completing the Rail Ale Trail, we headed back to Leeds. Although there’s no official Rail Ale Trail pub in Leeds, there’s no shortage of real ale bars and pubs to choose from if you’re still thirsty when you get back.
We grabbed a burger and then headed to The Banker’s Cat, a Thornbridge pub we love.
We opted for a milk stout - a collab between Thornbridge and Turning Point. It was delicious and turned out to be our beer of the day. That said, we didn’t have a single bad beer and were seriously impressed by just how many different cask ales were available across all the venues we visited.
Our final beer of the day:
Lowline from Thornbridge (collab with Turning Point): Milk Stout 3.8%
Brewer’s note:A sumptuous mini milk stout. We use a carefully curated selection of dark malts for a rounded roastiness with alluring hints of chocolate and coffee. The mouthfeel is opulent and silky smooth with a light caramel sweetness in the finish. Brewed in collaboration with Turning Point Brew Co.
We’re huge fans of real ale so, for us, this was a great way to spend a Saturday. We got to catch up with friends, visit some lovely pubs and try some absolutely fantastic beers.
Clearly all eight pubs know how to look after and serve cask ale properly as we didn’t have a bad beer all day.
And if you’re a real ale fan, we’d definitely recommend completing the Rail Ale Trail. We thoroughly enjoyed it and are already looking at other Rail Ale Trails such as the Calder Valley Ale Trail.
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