There’s nothing better than soaking up the Scottish sunshine than a trip to a serene beer garden, and the best have been named, with one establishment in Bonny Old taking the top spot
Amy Jones Senior Travel Journalist
02:00, 23 May 2026
The best beer gardens in the UK have been named(Image: Getty Images/Stock Image)
The UK’s best beer garden has been named – and it’s in the heart of Scotland.
Scotland has finally welcomed some balmy weather, with temperatures reaching up to 23C in Glasgow over the next few days. Beer gardens will undoubtedly be flooded with punters basking in the sun and enjoying a refreshing pint. While there are hundreds of charming, traditional, and chic pubs offering sought-after beer gardens, some have been ranked among the best, with one in Scotland taking the spotlight.
The historic Clachaig Inn in Glencoe, Scotland, has been named as the best beer garden in the UK by Enjoy Travel. While it offers a selection of tipples and summer beverages, it’s the incredible views from the garden that inevitably contribute to its acclaimed ranking, with the travel comparison website noting it has “everything you want in a traditional Highland pub”.
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The Clachaig Inn in Glencoe has been ranked as having the UK’s best beer garden
“Set in the heart of the glen and surrounded by mountains on all sides, with some of the best views of Aonach Dubh specifically, there are few pub beer gardens which can rival the views of The Clachaig Inn,” Enjoy Travel commented.
“Plus, alongside a local menu of dishes like Scottish salmon and haggis, there are also – in classic Highland fashion – over 400 malt whiskies to choose from, perfect for warming up in the beer garden when the sun sinks below the mountain peaks on a summer’s evening.”
Elsewhere, The Old Mill Inn, Pitlochry, was ranked in second place, while the Cold Town House in Edinburgh also found itself in the top 10 – confirming that Scotland really does have some of the best pubs around.
Views from The Clachaig Inn beer garden are breathtaking
Top 30 UK beer gardensThe Clachaig Inn, Glencoe, Scotland – A historic Highland pub surrounded by mountains, with stunning views of Aonach Dubh and over 400 malt whiskies on offer.The Old Mill Inn, Pitlochry, Scotland – An 18th-century former mill with a working waterwheel and a peaceful, stream-side beer garden.Lake View Garden Bar, Lake District, England – A scenic garden bar on the shores of Lake Windermere in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.Cold Town House, Edinburgh, Scotland – A Grassmarket pub in Edinburgh’s Old Town, with Edinburgh Castle looming dramatically overhead.Daft Eddys, Strangford Lough, Northern Ireland – A pub on an island in a marine reserve, with views of a 12th-century castle and abundant wildlife.The Ship Inn, Tresaith, Wales – A west Welsh coastal pub overlooking Tresaith Bay and a waterfall, popular with hikers and families.The Black Bull, Yarm, England – A riverside pub stretching to the banks of the River Tees, with year-round seating, live music and big screen sports.Sinclair’s Oyster Bar, Manchester, England – A cash-only, no-phones historic pub with a sun-trap beer garden, cheap Sam Smith’s beer and old-school charm. The outside area is currently undergoing some construction workThe Old Neptune, Whitstable, England – Known locally as “The Neppy,” this beach pub has a heated outdoor seating area extending right onto the sand.The Boathouse, Shrewsbury, England – A multi-tiered riverside beer garden on the River Severn, with an outdoor bar and passing swans and boats.The Killingworth Castle, Wootton, England – A classic Cotswolds country pub next to Blenheim Palace, with a gorgeous green terrace and traditional stone surroundings.The Pump House, Liverpool, England – A former hydraulic pumping station on Liverpool’s historic docks, with stunning waterfront views.Ben Nevis Inn, Fort William, Scotland – A converted 1806 stone barn at the foot of the UK’s tallest mountain, with breathtaking Highland views.Fortune of War, Brighton, England – A vibrant seafront pub dating to 1882, with jazz, reggae and DJ nights spilling out onto the beach.The Maybush Inn, Waldringfield, England – A scenic riverside pub on the River Deben in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, popular with boaters and walkers.The Bush Inn, St Hilary, Wales – A traditional Vale of Glamorgan village pub with a newly revamped pergola and beautiful Welsh countryside views.Trafalgar Tavern, Greenwich, London, England – A Thames-side pub with naval decor and lovely river views, a classic London destination for locals and tourists alike.The Anchor Inn, Seatown, England – A clifftop pub on the Jurassic Coast with sweeping views over Lyme Bay and the nearby Golden Cap.The Stag on the River, Lower Eashing, England – A tranquil Surrey riverside pub on the River Wey, with beautiful teak furniture and a peaceful, shaded setting.The Ferry Inn, St Dogmaels, Wales – A tiered, multi-level beer garden overlooking the River Teifi Estuary, with its own private jetty for arriving by boat.Hotel Victoria, Robin Hood’s Bay, England – A clifftop pub in a quaint North Yorkshire fishing village, with commanding views over the North Sea and a horsebox outdoor bar.People’s Park Tavern, Hackney, London, England – A canalside pub in Hackney Wick popular with young professionals, serving stonebaked pizzas and beer by the jug.Canalhouse, Nottingham, England – A city-centre pub with both urban views and canalside seating, and a wide selection of craft beers from local and national breweries.The Watering Hole, Perranporth, Cornwall, England – The UK’s only true beach bar, with tables on the sand and a popular annual music festival.The Fleet Inn, Twyning, England – A family-friendly riverside pub on the Avon with a heated pergola, children’s play area, outdoor kitchen and its own boat docking station.The George, Castleton, England – A Peak District pub with two beer gardens offering views of an 11th-century castle on one side and Mam Tor on the other.The Plough, Harborne, England – A lush, green Birmingham beer garden with a heated covered area and summer DJ nights.Fiddichside Inn, Craigellachie, Scotland – A renovated Speyside riverside pub dating to 1842, surrounded by whisky distilleries and with a sun-trap elevated deck.George III Hotel, Penmaenpool, Wales – A quintessential Welsh country pub on the Mawddach Estuary, with mountain views one way and lakeside views the other.Mount Edgcumbe, Royal Tunbridge Wells, England – A dog-friendly Kent country pub less than an hour from London, with rich green gardens and shaded nooks.
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