If you're feeling sluggish after too much turkey and festive tipples, the perfect antidote awaits. A brisk winter walk followed by a restorative pint in a welcoming pub is a quintessentially British way to shake off the Christmas cobwebs. We've curated 11 of the finest rambles across the UK, each promising stunning scenery and a guaranteed cosy pub at the finish line.
Scenic Trails from Sussex to the Scottish Capital
For a classic South Downs experience, the circular walk from Ditchling to Plumpton in East Sussex is hard to beat. This tranquil seven-mile route, taking around five hours, climbs to the summit of Ditchling Beacon. From this 248-metre vantage point, walkers are rewarded with spectacular views south to Brighton and the English Channel, and north across the Sussex Weald.
The walk boasts not one but three potential pub stops. The first half concludes at the independent Half Moon in Plumpton, renowned for its support of local producers and its famous 1979 painting of regulars. The second, flatter half of the walk passes Plumpton College and a community smallholding before returning to Ditchling, where the White Horse and the Bull pubs await.
Urban Explorations and Coastal Challenges
City dwellers need not miss out. The Highgate to Little Venice walk in London is an eight-mile urban trek packed with history. Starting at Highgate Tube, it passes Highgate Cemetery, Hampstead Heath, and the iconic Abbey Road crossing, before finishing at the beautifully preserved Prince Alfred pub in Maida Vale.
For dramatic coastline, the Pembrokeshire walk from Newport to Fishguard is an 11.3-mile challenge along the Wales Coast Path. It passes the ruins of St Brynach's church, devastated in the great storm of 1859, and ends at the historic Ship Inn in Lower Town, Fishguard—a favourite haunt of Richard Burton during the filming of Under Milk Wood.
Peak District Perfection and Northern Gems
In the Peak District, a manageable and beautiful 3-mile walk from Bakewell to Little Longstone offers panoramic views without strenuous effort. The route culminates at the welcoming Packhorse Inn, a pub famous for its roaring fires and local ales.
Up in Lancashire, the 11.5-mile hike from Burnley to Worston via Pendle Hill explores an area steeped in industrial and witch-trial history. The climb to the 557-metre trig point on Pendle Hill offers vast views before descending to the well-loved Calf's Head pub in Worston.
From the Georgian hills around Bath to the cliff tops of Cornwall and the ridges of the Black Mountains, these walks prove that winter is the ideal time to explore the UK's diverse landscapes, especially when a hearty meal and a local pint are the ultimate reward.
