Isle of Skye
A traditional Scottish hotel in a breathtaking setting in a bay in the south of Skye, with views across the Sound of Sleat to the Knoydart Hills. The Praban bar serves a selection of malt whiskeys and locally brewed beers. The white-painted hotel has an old-fashioned Highland character with tartan carpets, a golden eagle and stag antlers adorning the hall, with log fires in the reception rooms and a wood-panelled dining room where candlelit dinners can be enjoyed overlooking the bay and the nearby Isleornsay lighthouse Photograph: PR
Glencoe, Scottish Highlands
Popular with generations of climbers, walkers and skiers, the Kings House on Rannoch Moor enjoys one of the UK’s most spectacular views , across the imposing pyramid of Buachaille Etive Mor and the slopes of Meall a’Bhuiridh. Built in the 17th century, it was used after the Battle of Culloden (1746) as a barracks for troops of George III, hence the name . Dorothy Wordsworth wrote of the hotel in 1803: “Never did I see such a miserable… wretched place – long rooms with ranges of beds, no other furniture except benches, or perhaps one or two crazy chairs, the floors far dirtier than an ordinary house could be if it were never washed.” It has moved on Photograph: PR
Newton-by-the-Sea, Northumberland
Wild, windswept beaches, romantic castles, including the impressive ruins of Dunstanburgh, and legends of pirates and shipwrecks offer the ideal place for a bracing walk, followed by the excellent pub food at The Ship Inn. The pub website even offers advice on routes. Publican Christine Forsyth has made a point of sourcing food as locally as possible, from stotties baked in Rothbury to the rare-breed ham and bacon from Fontburn Farm. Best of all, for my money, is the kipper pâté from Swallow Fish, in nearby Seahouses, the oldest smokehouse in the county. The crab’s pretty good too. Bring cash, because the pub doesn’t take cards Photograph: David Taylor Photography : :/Alamy
Ambleside, Lake District
The pub is set on a crossroads within 60 acres of private land high above Lake Windermere, with breathtaking views of the surrounding fells. Set among the Southern Lowland Fells, the pub allows easy access to some memorable walks. If you are looking for inspiration, there is a folder at reception recommending options, including walks around Tarn Hows, Coniston Old Man and the Langdale Pikes within a few minutes’ drive. Those staying at the Duck have free use of the leisure facilities at the Langdale Spa and Country Club in Elterwater, a 15-minute drive from the inn Photograph: PR
Alstonefield, Derbyshire
Dovedale in the Peak District provided the inspiration for Izaak Walton’s The Compleat Angler and is a graceful, meandering valley studded with ancient reefs and caves now owned largely by the National Trust and a national nature reserve. Alstonefield is a few hundred metres from the Dove and the perfect spot to rest weary feet. The George is at the heart of the village, elegant but simple, with roaring fires. Not only will they sell you a walks guide book, they have a special menu for Boxing Day and New Year’s Day that opens with a restorative Bloody Mary and includes game pasty, venison burgers or winter vegetable pot pies – comfort eating and drinking for winter Photograph: PR
Lleyn Peninsula, Gwynedd, North Wales
A pub on a golden sand beach, with views across the Irish Sea. Access to the beautiful fishing village of Porthdinllaen is by foot, a 20-minute walk from the National Trust car park or along the beach, tide permitting. Originally a vicarage, it became a hostelry for shipbuilders in the middle of the 19th century. Among visitors who have stopped by for a pint are David and Samantha Cameron. Welsh for Red House, the pub was voted one of the best three beach bars in the world, being pipped to the top spot by bars in Germany and Jamaica. Photograph: Loop Images Ltd /Alamy
Horsey, Norfolk
For such a small village, Horsey is packed with interest. It sits on the fringes of the Norfolk Broads, where the largely freshwater national park connects to the coast. There’s a photogenic wind-pump with views of Horsey Mere, a round-tower church so characteristic of Norfolk, and lots of wildlife. At this time of year the area’s large seal population hauls out for the breeding season. A leisurely walk links all these and also takes in the no-nonsense and friendly Nelson Head, dating back to the 1600s, with its excellent Woodforde’s beer Photograph: Alison Thompson/Alamy
Pin Mill, Suffolk
The hamlet of Pin Mill, an old smuggler’s haven, is the setting for one of the best known pubs in Suffolk. The Butt & Oyster was built in the 17th century and commemorated by Arthur Ransome. With views across the River Orwell, it is on the Shotley peninsula, south Suffolk, within the Suffolk Coast and Heaths Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. In summer, yachtsmen can be served drinks on their boats pretty much out of the window. With a menu heavy on locally caught seafood, it is served by a network of footpaths, bridleways and cyclepaths. This is a good base for a laidback and undemanding ramble – and it welcomes dogs Photograph: Richard Donovan/Alamy
off the South Downs Way, West Sussex
The rolling whalebacks of the 100-mile South Downs Way, between Winchester and Eastbourne, have long been popular with both walkers and mountain bikers. One of the best pubs along the way is The Sportsman Inn in the Arun Valley. Amberley, known as the Pearl of Sussex, is a chocolate-box village, with thatched cottages, a friendly shop and a medieval castle. Twitchers and other naturalists will enjoy the Amberley Wild Brooks, an 800-acre wetland Site of Special Scientific Interest in the flood plain of the River Arun. The nature reserve is managed by the Sussex Wildlife Trust and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB) Photograph: PR
North Bovey, Devon
North Bovey is a beautiful, unspoilt moorland village in the southeast corner of Dartmoor National Park. It’s in magnificent walking country and there’s an excellent eight-mile loop via Manaton, east to Nutcracker Rocks and back over Hunter Tor. If you’re looking for something shorter, then the website of the Ring of Bells has suggestions. If it’s pouring down, you can always visit the National Trust’s Castle Drogo. The pub has a thatched roof, open fires and candlelight, a snug refuge from winter storms, with excellent local beers and a hearty menu, with a Devon accent. Make sure you book ahead Photograph: PR
