In Kirklees, the Transpennine real ale trail has become something of a modern phenomenon, with passengers using the train line between Batley and Stalybridge to stop off at village pubs.

The trail was featured on BBC’s Oz and James Drink to Britain in 2013 and has gained popularity ever since.

Readers with knowledge of the Harrogate line will know that the stations that fall in our district have their own set of unique pubs.

With this in mind, one cloudy Saturday afternoon in June, I took to the railways to sample whether Harrogate could have its own ale trail.

Heading in the direction from Leeds to York, I set out to plot a route from Hornbeam Park to Cattal that featured some of the district's finest watering holes, which are all accessible by train.

Hornbeam Park

Unfortunately for Weeton and Pannal, there were no pubs to visit as I made the journey into the district.

Pannal was once home to the Harwood (formerly Platform One), which shut down in 2014 before being converted into a Co-op food store.

Instead, the first stop on the trail took me to Hornbeam Park where I stopped at Roosters brewery.

Although not strictly next to the station - it took a 10-minute walk - the taproom situated in the far corner of the business park made for an ideal first venture.

On the face of it, the industrial surroundings do not appear to be the best spot for a bar.

However, the taproom was buzzing with punters and their dogs stopping off for a quick pint before heading down the Crimple Viaduct for a walk.

I made the stop brief with a pint of Baby Faced Assassin, Roosters’ well-known IPA, in order to make the next train to Harrogate.

Harrogate

It goes without saying where the pub of choice is for passengers at Harrogate station.

The Harrogate Tap greets those leaving the station like a friend waiting to pick them up. In fact, passengers can also look into the bar from platform one to size up the beers on offer.

With its red seats and traditional pub decor, the Tap is an ideal place for those with time to kill waiting for a train.

After rushing 10 minutes to Hornbeam Park Station from Roosters earlier, the sight of a pub on the doorstep in Harrogate was a relief.

Inside, customers waiting for their journey onwards took the opportunity to sample an array of real ales. Others had just arrived in town and were sipping their first pint of the day.

With the sight of the platform for my next train in the window, I opted for a pint of Kirkstall Brewery’s Virtuous before planning my next move.

Starbeck

Exiting Starbeck Station has the benefit of being straight on the High Street. It also has the advantage of two local pubs a stone's throw away - The Prince of Wales and The Office Ale House.

The former is a traditional community pub with outdoor seating and live sport, while the latter is a newer addition to the High Street which offers real ales and craft beers.

When the Stray Ferret spoke to Kevin Jones, owner of the Office Ale House, in April 2023 ahead of its opening, he said the aim of the pub was to create somewhere where people could go for a drink and a chat after work.

For the most part, that’s exactly what the atmosphere was like - albeit on a weekend.

Given the need to be back at the station in good time, I made my stop in Starbeck brief and headed five minutes down the Harrogate line to Knaresborough.

Knaresborough

Harrogate may boast a pub outside the exit from its station - but Knaresborough goes one step further by having a pub on the platform.

After disembarking from the train on platform two, it took a matter of steps before I was at the bar in the Track and Sleeper.

The pub has the advantage of outdoor seating, which is ideal for keeping an eye on the York train pulling up to the platform.

For those who love train station pubs, Knaresborough is perhaps the ideal stop on this ale trail.

After watching the crowds arrive in town from the Track and Sleeper, I headed out the exit where I was greeted by the sight of the historic Mitre pub.

The Mitre has a long history as a public house and is the first landmark that visitors face when coming into Knaresborough by rail.

With its red brick facade, the building was home to George A. Moore - an influential resident of the town, who went onto become a successful businessman and philanthropist.

These days, The Mitre is owned by York-based brewery Brew York and offers a range of craft beers and street food.

Aside from the branding inside and the signage outside, the pub itself has not changed a lot and will be familiar to those who frequent it on a regular basis.

The sight of visitors and residents alike arriving for a pint, soft drink or meal with friends has also not changed, which will be a relief to those who were unsure over The Mitre’s future prior to its takeover.

Cattal

The last stop on the trail is Cattal, which is some eight minutes down the line.

The Victoria restaurant and pub has sat next to the station for the last 20 years.

It’s marketed as a restaurant, but also serves real ales for those looking for a quick pit stop before heading to York.

From the hustle and bustle of Harrogate, Starbeck and Knaresborough, the quiet surroundings of Cattal make for a fitting stop to the trail.