Seasonal walks
Winter pub walks: six walks with an open fire at the end
15 October 2026 · 6 min read · Your next walk
Winter pub walks: six walks with an open fire at the end
There's a particular kind of happiness that only exists in winter: coming in from a cold, wet walk, peeling off your coat, and sitting down next to a real fire with something warm to eat. The colder the walk, the better the fire.
Winter is also one of the best times to walk in Britain. The paths are quieter, the views are sharper on clear days, and the landscape takes on colours you never see in summer. The trick is planning for short days and shorter kitchen hours, which we'll cover at the end.
Here are six walks that finish at some of Britain's best winter pubs, from the edge of Dartmoor to the foot of Glencoe.
1. Warren House Inn, Dartmoor
High on the open moor on the road between Postbridge and Moretonhampstead, the Warren House Inn is one of the most remote pubs in England. It was built in 1845, and according to tradition the fire in the bar has burned continuously ever since, first on peat and now on logs.
Its first regulars were tin miners, and the remains of the old Vitifer and Birch Tor mines lie in the valley just below the pub. A walk down through the old workings and back across the moor gives you a real sense of how wild and exposed this place is in winter.
2. The Old Dungeon Ghyll, Great Langdale, Lake District
Photo: © Peter Holmes (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Geograph
At the head of Great Langdale, surrounded by the Langdale Pikes and Bowfell, the Old Dungeon Ghyll has been a home from home for fell walkers and climbers for generations. Its famous bar was converted from a cow shed in 1949 and has hardly changed since, with flagstone floors, wooden tables carved with walkers' messages, and a large open fire.
In winter, a valley-floor loop along Great Langdale Beck is a safe, beautiful option when the tops are in cloud or snow. Experienced, properly equipped walkers can climb to Stickle Tarn, but winter conditions on the fells can be serious.
3. The Old Nag's Head, Edale, Peak District
Photo: © Jeff Buck (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Geograph
The official start of the Pennine Way, the Old Nag's Head dates back to 1577 and welcomes muddy boots and muddy dogs. Walk up from Edale to Hollins Cross on the Great Ridge, or along the valley to the foot of Jacob's Ladder, and come back down to a seat by the fire.
4. The Greyhound, Whitchurch-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
For a gentle winter walk close to London, follow the Thames Path from Goring through the Goring Gap to Whitchurch-on-Thames. You pass under one of Brunel's railway bridges and past the Hartslock Nature Reserve, where red kites circle overhead. The Greyhound has a log fire and low beams, and Goring's John Barleycorn also has an open fire and welcomes dogs.
5. The Clachaig Inn, Glencoe
Photo: © N Chadwick (CC BY-SA 2.0), via Geograph
In the heart of one of Scotland's most dramatic glens, the Clachaig Inn has been a gathering place for climbers and walkers for decades. Its Boots Bar is exactly what it sounds like: a big, warm room where nobody minds what you've walked through. The inn is known for its huge range of real ales and malt whiskies.
The mountains around Glencoe are serious winter terrain, but there are short, low-level trails on the glen floor nearby that make a good winter walk before settling in.
6. Your local
Not everyone is within reach of Dartmoor or Glencoe, and the best winter pub walk is often the one closest to home. Almost every part of Britain has a country pub with a fire within a short walk of a public footpath. The trick is finding the walk that links them.
That's exactly what Your next walk does. Tell it how long you've got and tick "Pub lunch", and it'll find routes near you that end at a pub.
How to plan a winter pub walk
Plan your winter pub walk
Tell Your next walk how long you want to walk, your ability and terrain, tick "Pub lunch", and it'll plan four personalised walks on public paths, each with a pub on the way.
Frequently asked questions
Which pub has a fire that has never gone out?
The Warren House Inn on Dartmoor is famous for a fire that, according to tradition, has been burning continuously since the pub was built in 1845.
What time should I start a winter walk?
Aim to finish before about 3pm in December and January, as it gets dark around 4pm in southern England and earlier further north. For a three-hour walk with a pub lunch, start by 10am.
Are winter walks safe?
Low-level winter walks are safe with the right clothing, a torch and a sensible plan. Mountain walks in snow and ice need winter equipment and skills. If in doubt, stay low.
Do I need to book a pub in winter?
For Sunday lunch, yes. Many country pubs also have reduced winter hours, so it's worth phoning ahead on any day.