03/06/2026
As seen in The iPaperâ , our pub expert David Hancock picks his 20 Favourite places for a weekend stroll followed by a great meal.
1. The Inn at Loch Tummel, Strathtummel, Perthshire
The perfectly conical Munro that appears on half the postcards in Perthshire is close enough to climb and be back for supper. This is a beautifully restored Highland inn: wool throws, whisky decanters, a guitar propped in the sitting room, real fires and Scottish breakfasts that are serious fuel.
2. Rose & Crown, Romaldkirk, Co Durham
On the village green next to a Saxon church, in a part of England so quiet it feels like a secret, this 1733 coaching inn is the kind of place youâd drive a long way to find. Outside, roses grow over the walls and inside, Head Chef Dave Hunter uses the kitchen garden and just about every local supplier he can find.
3. Stackpole Inn, Stackpole, Pembrokeshire
The Stackpole Inn sits in a quiet village a mile or so from Barafundle Bay â consistently rated one of the finest beaches in Britain. Gary and Becky have run the pub with warmth and skill for nearly 20 years. The seafood is the reason people come back time and again.
4. The Greyhound Inn, Letcombe Regis, Oxfordshire
A proper local, not trying too hard, in exactly the right place. The chalk downlands roll away towards Uffingtonâs White Horse and Waylandâs Smithy, with big skies and very little noise.
5. The Ashford Arms, Ashford-in-the-Water, Derbyshire
The medieval sheepwash bridge is just outside this 17th-century inn, the River Wye runs through the village, and the Monsal Trail â one of the Peak Districtâs great walks â is a short stroll away. Once boarded up, a ÂŁ1.6m refurbishment means it now has nine rooms, a retractable-roofed conservatory and a bar stocked with beers from Peak Ales down the lane.
6. The Ship, King's Lynn, Norfolk
Ten minutes from Brancaster beach, right on the coast path, with salt marsh stretching away on one side and big Norfolk skies on the other. Walk the path east towards Holme Nature Reserve and catch the Coasthopper bus back. The food is locally sourced and Mediterranean-influenced, the bedrooms have fat mattresses and Roberts speakers, and Moon Gazer Ale is on tap.
â To see the rest of David's choices, check out the - https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/pub-expert-20-favourite-weekend-stroll-4426994
