Manchester is a fine city for real ale and breweries - from older, more established names such as JW Lees, Hyde's and Robinsons to the scores of new microbreweries and craft beer makers doing interesting things under the railway arches in and around the city centre.

So there's never been a better time to explore the city's pubs and the vast range of real ale on offer - but where to begin. And where to end.

You could just stick to the Northern Quarter - and follow our handy pub crawl guide - but you can also cross the city, from Ancoats to Castlefield.

We've put together a handy route that takes you all the way from Ancoats to Castlefield, via 15 of the best real ale pubs in Manchester. Some of them are cosy old pubs, packed with interesting features, beers and people. Others are more contemporary. All of them are well worth a visit though.

You can do it over a day, a weekend of a month - but whatever you do, remember to drink responsibly...

The Marble Arch

Where better to start than the Manchester Food and Drink Festival's pub of the year? The Marble Arch is a proper Manchester institution. Plenty of food on offer here to, so perhaps best to carb up. For ballast. Strap in...

73 Rochdale Rd, Manchester M4 4HY

The Angel

It's only a short stroll to The Angel. Pub crawls are all about conserving energy. There's a piano in the bar, which is probably best tackled after pub 2 rather than pub 15.

6 Angel St, Manchester M4 4BQ

The Smithfield

Recently taken over by the boys at Blackjack, The Smithfield has established itself as a bit of a hipster haven, as well as a showcase for some of their ace beers. They also stock some ruddy bloody good gins if you're feeling brave. Dart board. Be careful.

7 Swan St, Manchester M4 5JZ

Bar Fringe

Belgian beers galore in Fringe, which is now anything but on the edge of things, thanks to the gradual redevelopment of Ancoats. One of Manchester's best pubs, bar none. Decent beer garden and jukebox as a bonus.

8 Swan St, Manchester M4 5JN

The Crown and Kettle

Once you've looked at THAT ceiling, turn your attention to the dedicated cider bar, which had around 30 different varieties last time we were in. Maybe have some crisps before (carefully) crossing the road to...

2 Oldham Rd, Manchester M4 5FE

Cafe Beermoth

From an old school boozer to one of the city's new generation of ale houses, Cafe Beermoth is the big brother of the Northern Quarter bottle shop which stocks around a zillion different types of ale. Only recently opened on Spring Gardens, Beermoth is already becoming a firm favourite for the city's younger beer enthusiasts.

You've got a fair walk across Piccadilly Gardens before you get here, so a diversion to McDonald's/Burger King/Greggs is acceptable.

Brown Street, Manchester M2 1DA

Sam's Chop House

This basement boozer is another of Manchester's best known and most famous sons. You'll find another, LS Lowry, sat at the bar. Ignore the restaurant - as fine as it is - because as we all know, eating is cheating.

Back Pool Fold, Manchester M2 1HN

The City Arms

When you get to The City Arms, rejoice in its compact, rowdy nature, where conversations rage and the world is regularly set to rights. You might even find the odd council employee or two to engage in political debate, given it's a stone's throw from the Town Hall.

46-48 Kennedy St, Manchester M2 4BQ

Sir Ralph Abercromby

In the shadows of the former Bootle Street nick sits the Sir Ralph Abercromby. Crisps in a basket, proper ale and a CAMRA award make this a hidden gem for beer lovers - although most of the city's switched on ale drinkers have been fans for a long time. At this stage, you may need to have some encouraging words with yourself.

35 Bootle St, Manchester M2 5GU

Gas Lamp

Why does ale taste better underground? We're not sure, but Gas Lamp is a subterranean standout on any city ale trail. This ornately tiled beer bunker offers plenty of choice, including rotating guest ales and the added bonus of no windows, so you don't have to worry about whether it's still daytime or not.

50A Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BW

The Brink

This basement ale house on Bridge Street has become a huge hit since opening two years ago.

Mancophile owner Gareth Williams makes sure his pumps - five cask and four keg beers - are filled with beers all brewed within a 25-mile radius of nearby St Ann's Church.

All you have to do is cross the road from The Gas Lamp (PLEASE BE CAREFUL) - and it serves a decent cider too.

65 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BQ

Cask

Lo-fi and lovable, Cask sits on Liverpool Road, one of Manchester city centre's most under-rated eating and drinking streets. It's also been there since before the Northern Quarter turned into Craft Beer Disneyland, so a quietly confident appreciation and knowledge of craft ales is on offer here. Don't mix it up with the science museum over the road and accidentally end up doing something regrettable in a Spitfire cockpit.

29 Liverpool Rd, Manchester M3 4NQ

The Briton's Protection

Walk up towards Manchester Central and be rewarded with one of the best pubs in the country, let alone the city. They've got loads of beer, serve a cracking Guinness and have an impressive array of whiskies, if you feel brave. Oh, and a roaring fire to warm you up after that walk.

50 Great Bridgewater St, Manchester M1 5LE

Knott Bar

It's a short but quite possibly zig-zag stroll to Knott Bar, which serves as a handy entry point to Castlefield. Local CAMRA pub of the year for three of the last six, they also go big on burgers here - with fifteen on the menu overall.

374 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4LY

The Wharf

You made it! Well done. Your reward is another beer, in this large yet cosy Castlefield pub which has vistas of the canal (you probably won't be able to see anything) and a load of board games (you won't be able to play anything) to enjoy. The Wharf knocks out a solid Sunday roast too.

6 Slate Wharf, Manchester M15 4ST