A well earned drink at 'Fiddlers' Pub Drumnadrochit
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Best Pubs in the UK for Walkers
The UK is famous for its historic inns and pubs, and no matter your choice of refreshment, relaxing in one at the end of a day's walk is an essential part of a walking holiday in Britain. We asked around the office and here is our list of favourite pubs to visit on one of our UK walking holidays.
Cumbria Way
Located in the heart of the Lake District, the Old Dungeon Ghyll is a famous climber's bar that has offered accommodation and sustenance to weary fellwalkers and climbers for over 300 years, set in the midst of some of the highest mountains in England.
Why we like it: A stunning location and a great place to rest up with other exhausted walkers and listen to their epic tales.
>> View our Cumbria Way walking holiday
Dorset and Wessex Trails
This characterful old pub dates back to the 13th century and was once home to the leader of the most notorious smuggling gang in the area during the 18th and 19th centuries.
Why we like it: A cosy inn near the sea with good ales and a location that makes you feel miles from the real world.
>> View our Dorset and Wessex Trails walking holiday
Dales Way
Originally a Ferryman's Inn dating back to the 16th century, the Red Lion in North Yorkshire serves a great selection of real ales alongside a menu of local game and produce.
Why we like it: A good old-fashioned pub with great food, nestled right by the old bridge.
>> View our Dales Way walking holiday
Great Glen Way
Originally a Drover's Inn, the hotel on this site dates back to 1740, six years before the Battle of Culloden.
Why we like it: A great old bar with over 100 varieties of single malt whisky, including some from extinct distilleries.
This renowned whisky bar has a huge range of single malts and friendly staff who will happily guide you through a tasting of Scotland's national drink.
Why we like it: Great food, outstanding whisky and a relaxing spot for a meal after a visit to Urquhart Castle.
>> View our Great Glen Way walking holiday
West Highland Way
One of the oldest and most remote licensed inns in Scotland, the Kings House Hotel offers an extensive bar with magnificent views of the surrounding hills and a climber's bar tucked round the back.
Why we like it: Location, location. This pub has one of the most famous backdrops in Scotland, with Buachaille Etive Mor rising directly behind it.
>> View our West Highland Way walking holiday
Coast to Coast
Originally a coaching inn dating back to around 1760, the Buck has been refreshing weary travellers for centuries. Inside you will find a cosy bar with many of the original features still intact.
Why we like it: A good range of well-kept ales on draught and great food.
Older still than the Buck Hotel, the Black Bull dates back to 1680 and offers a wide selection of hand-pulled ales and hearty food.
Why we like it: The Black Bull's position on the village green makes for a perfect spot to rest in the sun (if you are lucky), and the pub is famous for its Old Peculier on draught.
The Lion Inn on remote Blakey Ridge is a 16th-century freehouse located at the highest point of the North York Moors National Park, with breathtaking views over the valleys of Rosedale and Farndale.
Why we like it: Open fires, low beams and a great beer garden with sweeping views over the dales. One of those pubs that feels completely unlike anywhere else.
The 18th-century Horseshoe Hotel sits on stunning grounds on the bank of the River Esk in the charming village of Egton Bridge. It caters well to walkers and is a great place to rest and refuel.
Why we like it: You always seem to arrive here at exactly the right moment. The beautiful beer garden is a wonderful place to rest weary feet before contemplating the stepping stones across the Esk.
>> View our Coast to Coast walking holidays
Hadrian's Wall
A traditional pub with low-beamed ceilings, a stone floor and a dark wood bar decorated with tankards, pump clips and paintings. A proper Northumberland local.
Why we like it: An extraordinary range of 12 real ales and ciders on hand-pull and great home-cooked food.
Overlooked by Steel Rigg, one of the finest stretches of Hadrian's Wall, the Twice Brewed Inn sits in a unique setting in rural Northumberland. The story behind its curious name is well worth asking about on your visit.
Why we like it: Once a brewery, this pub lives up to its name with a fine range of its own ales.
>> View our Hadrian's Wall walking holidays
Have a favourite pub we should add to the list? Share your recommendation in the comments below.
Some images used in this article were sourced from the pub's website, TripAdvisor or Visit Scotland.