We will be whisked(‽) up to Egerton on the number 1 bus, interestingly often referred to as The 1 (not to be confused with José Mourinho) where, if the bus is on time, we will have to pad out crossing the road so as not to arrive before the doors open.

Our first location is the Cross Guns, a comely Georgian building with an impressive roofline nameboard. Today the exterior fits in with innumerable other stone houses around here, but previously it was painted white, as can bee seen in the photo here https://spotandme.wordpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/crossgunsinn.png. Apparently in bygone days it was a Duttons pub before falling to Whitbread, with Trophy being the beer on offer. Nowadays the offering is usually various offering from Bank Top and Moorhouse's. There is an ‘interesting’ architectural innovation as we enter, go up steps to go down to the bar!

Leaving the Cross Guns and turning south for a few hundreds yards brings us to the Thomas Egerton. Another stately, stone built roadside pub which has been around for a year of two. Though it is well known for its food (there may be a Reserved From… notice on your table) it also offers no less than six real ales from a variety of sources. Because getting to the next pub is best accomplished by catching the 25 past the hour bus (a 20 minute walk is an alternative) we have an extended stay here [not swayed in anyway by the six beers!]

The next pub along the road, the Masons Arms, doesn’t open until 4pm mid week, but should you be in the environ at the weekend (or return later today) it is worth a visit.

As said, we catch the bus to the next pub with the stop being right outside the front door. Unfortunately, at the other end, there is a few minutes walk as the bus doesn’t pass the door — Curse!

At the end of Arnold Road we find the Flag Inn (the doors on the other side!). Another six beer pub, so extra time has been allowed so you can sample them all (should you be so inclined). I wonder whether the flag of its name is the flappy square of material attached to a pole, or refers to the slabs of stone hewed from local quarries and used to cover the floor, along with the streets of Manchester. The latter gets my vote, especially as there were extensive quarries at the top of the nearby hill.

Travel to our next establishment could be achieved using the same bus as before (and it would be, as the route operates with only the one vehicle) but a ten-minute walk is more practical. We will pass the Sportsmans should anyone require refreshment on their journey.

Unlike the olde-worlde nature of our previous establishments, the Nook & Cranny is a micro-pub, opened in 2018, located in a former florist’s shop. The décor, however, bucks the current plumbing and bricks on show variety and is pleasantly rustic. Only three beers, which fits nicely with the need to depart just before the hour in order to take the 10 minute walk and catch the nine-minutes past the hour train. If you desire staying longer there are busses back to Bolton with the 541 at 17:02, 17:32, 18:07, 18:33 and the 533 at 16:57, 18:08, 19:07.

Should the train be greatly delayed (as I write this, the Sough Tunnel is closed “Due to engineering problems”) we can always retreat to the Railway Inn (I wonder how long it took to come up with that name!) opposite the station.