12 New Year's Day Walks in Britain, Each With a Cosy Pub to Warm Up In
· Updated
The best way to start the year is to earn your seat by the fire. Pick a walk you can finish before the light goes, put in a few brisk miles of frosty air, then pitch up at a proper pub with a warm room and a hot meal waiting. Here are 12 walks that do exactly that, spread across Britain from Cornwall to the Highlands, each one paired with a cosy pub close to the finish.
Every route here is a short winter day walk, not an epic. You want daylight to spare and a pub within easy reach of the boots, not a headtorch scramble off a summit in the dark. New Year's Day is often crisp and clear, but conditions turn fast in winter, so read our guide to camping in British weather, season by season before you set the alarm.
This is a walking round-up from Camping Sites in Britain, where you can find and compare campsites, caravan parks and glamping across the UK. If you fancy waking up near the trailhead, browse our campsite listings and pitch up the night before.
The 12 walks at a glance
Here is the shortlist, sorted so you can find something near you. Distances are rough and every one is achievable in a winter half-day.
| Walk | Where | Rough distance | The pub |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttermere circuit | Lake District, Cumbria | 4.5 miles, easy | The Bridge Hotel, Buttermere |
| Mam Tor ridge from Castleton | Peak District, Derbyshire | 5 miles, moderate | Ye Olde Nag's Head, Castleton |
| Seven Sisters and Cuckmere | South Downs, East Sussex | 5 miles, moderate | The Tiger Inn, East Dean |
| Fritham ponies and heath | New Forest, Hampshire | 3 miles, easy | The Royal Oak, Fritham |
| Great Tew village round | Cotswolds, Oxfordshire | 4 miles, easy | The Falkland Arms, Great Tew |
| Malham Cove circuit | Yorkshire Dales | 4.5 miles, moderate | The Lister Arms, Malham |
| Nant Gwynant lakes | Eryri (Snowdonia), Gwynedd | 4 miles, easy | Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel |
| Glencoe Lochan | Highlands, Scotland | 3 miles, easy | The Clachaig Inn, Glencoe |
| Brancaster coast path | North Norfolk | 5 miles, easy | The White Horse, Brancaster Staithe |
| Haytor and Widecombe | Dartmoor, Devon | 4 miles, moderate | The Rugglestone Inn, Widecombe |
| Craster to Dunstanburgh | Northumberland coast | 3 miles, easy | The Jolly Fisherman, Craster |
| Hambleden beech woods | Chilterns, Buckinghamshire | 4 miles, moderate | The Stag and Huntsman, Hambleden |
1. Buttermere, Lake District
A flat circuit of one of the loveliest lakes in England, and the gentlest big-scenery walk on this list. The path runs right round the shore under Fleetwith Pike and High Stile, about 4.5 miles with barely a climb, so it suits families and creaky New Year's Day legs alike. In winter the fells often carry snow while the valley stays clear, which is the best of both worlds.
Finish at The Bridge Hotel in Buttermere village, a walkers' inn with a log fire, local ales and hearty plates. The Fish Inn a few steps away is another solid option if the bar is full. Want to stay close? See our Lake District and Cumbria campsites.
2. Mam Tor, Peak District
The ridge from Mam Tor to Hollins Cross gives you the whole Hope Valley on one side and the Vale of Edale on the other, for surprisingly little effort. Start in Castleton, climb to the Mam Tor summit, then follow the paved ridge path before dropping back to the village, roughly 5 miles. Go early, because this one is popular and the low winter sun off the frost is worth beating the crowds for.
Back in Castleton, Ye Olde Nag's Head is a 17th-century coaching inn with fires and proper Sunday-lunch cooking. The village has several other pubs too, so you will not go thirsty.
3. Seven Sisters, South Downs
Chalk cliffs, big skies and the Cuckmere meandering out to sea. A circuit from the Seven Sisters visitor centre at Exceat takes you along the clifftops and back through the valley, about 5 miles with a few short ups and downs. On a bright, cold day the white cliffs against a blue Channel are as good as English coastline gets.
The Tiger Inn sits on the green at East Dean, a flint-and-timber pub with low beams and a fire, a short hop from the cliffs. It gets busy, so it is worth a call ahead on the day.
4. Fritham, New Forest
An easy loop across open heath where the Forest ponies graze right up to the path, even in winter. From Fritham you can wander out towards Eyeworth Pond and the surrounding woodland, keeping it to a gentle 3 miles or so. Flat, soft underfoot and brilliant with children, though the mud after rain is real.
The Royal Oak at Fritham is one of the last thatched, unspoilt pubs in the Forest: no music, a handful of ales straight from the cask, and a fire you will not want to leave. It is tiny and much loved, so expect it to fill fast on New Year's Day.
5. Great Tew, Cotswolds
A honey-stone village round through classic Cotswold farmland. Great Tew is one of the prettiest estate villages in Oxfordshire, all thatch and ironstone, and easy field paths link it to the wider estate for a relaxed 4 miles. Nothing steep, just proper rolling English countryside at its winter best.
The Falkland Arms is the heart of the village: a 16th-century thatched pub with flagstones, a big fireplace and a good kitchen. It is the definition of a cosy Cotswold local.
6. Malham, Yorkshire Dales
The most dramatic short walk in the Dales. From Malham village you climb beside the beck to the top of Malham Cove, cross its extraordinary limestone pavement, and loop back, around 4.5 miles. In hard frost the pavement and the great curved cliff look like something from another country. Take care on the pavement, as the clints and grykes get slippery when iced.
The Lister Arms on the green is a handsome coaching inn with fires, Dales ales and generous food. Pitching up nearby? Browse our North Yorkshire campsites.
7. Nant Gwynant, Eryri (Snowdonia)
You do not need to climb Snowdon to get the mountains. The valley of Nant Gwynant holds two lovely lakes, Llyn Gwynant and Llyn Dinas, ringed by the high tops, and low-level paths link them for an easy 4 miles with the big peaks all around you. It is a far kinder day out in winter than the summits, which are full mountaineering territory once the snow arrives.
The Pen-y-Gwryd Hotel, up at the pass, is a historic climbers' inn where the 1953 Everest team trained. It is full of mountaineering history, warm rooms and hot soup, and a fitting place to toast the year.
8. Glencoe Lochan, Scottish Highlands
Glen Coe at its most accessible. The Glencoe Lochan trails, planted by a homesick Canadian laird, wind through tall conifers around a small loch that mirrors the surrounding peaks, an easy 3 miles of well-made paths. It is a gentle way into some of the most jaw-dropping scenery in Scotland without committing to a serious hill.
The Clachaig Inn, tucked in the glen, is a legendary walkers' and climbers' pub with roaring fires, a huge range of ales and whiskies, and the kind of welcome that makes you glad of a Highland winter.
9. Brancaster, North Norfolk
Flat, huge and wonderfully bracing. The Norfolk Coast Path near Brancaster Staithe runs along the edge of the salt marshes, alive with wintering geese and waders, with the sea a shining line beyond. Five easy miles out and back, or loop through the village. Wrap up, because there is nothing between you and the North Sea wind.
The White Horse at Brancaster Staithe looks straight out over the marsh, with a warm bar, local mussels and a fire to thaw out by. A proper coastal Norfolk pub.
10. Haytor, Dartmoor
A classic tor walk with a village pub at the end. From Haytor you can take in the granite outcrops, old tramways and open moor before dropping towards Widecombe-in-the-Moor, about 4 miles depending on your route. Dartmoor in winter is wild and beautiful, but the weather closes in fast, so keep it low and turn back if the cloud drops.
The Rugglestone Inn, just outside Widecombe, is a tiny, fire-warmed moorland pub with ale from the barrel and a stream running past the door. It is exactly what you hope for after a moor walk.
11. Craster to Dunstanburgh, Northumberland
Perhaps the finest short coast walk in England. The path from the fishing village of Craster runs along the shore to the gaunt ruins of Dunstanburgh Castle, about 1.5 miles each way, with the castle growing on its headland as you go. Empty beaches, big Northumberland skies and one of the great castle silhouettes in Britain.
Back in Craster, The Jolly Fisherman is famous for its crab sandwiches and kipper pate, with sea views and a fire in the grate. Order the crab soup and warm your hands round the bowl.
12. Hambleden, Chilterns
Beech woods, a chalk stream and a film-set village. From Hambleden you climb through the hanging beech woodland above the Hambleden valley, all copper leaf litter and long views, then drop back to the village, around 4 miles. The Chilterns are quiet in winter and the bare beech woods have a real cathedral hush to them.
The Stag and Huntsman in Hambleden is a brick-and-flint village pub with fires, good food and a genuinely warm welcome, the perfect full stop to a woodland walk.
Winter walk safety and kit
The main hazard on New Year's Day is not the terrain, it is the daylight. In late December and early January the sun sets before 16:00 across much of Britain, and earlier still in Scotland, so start early and always carry a headtorch as backup. Plan to be back at the car, or the pub, with light to spare.
Underfoot, mud and ice are the real story. Wear proper walking boots with grip, take walking poles if the ground is slick, and be extra careful on stiles, stone steps, rock slabs and anything limestone, which turns to glass in frost. On higher or exposed routes like Dartmoor, Mam Tor and the Dales, check the Met Office forecast the night before and be ready to shorten or swap the walk if the cloud drops or the wind gets up.
Layers do the work in winter: a warm base, a fleece or midlayer, and a waterproof shell that also stops the wind. Pack a hat, gloves, a hot drink in a flask, a snack and a small first-aid kit. Follow the Countryside Code, keep dogs under control around livestock and ground-nesting birds, and take your litter home. One more thing worth doing on the day: ring the pub or check online, because opening hours on New Year's Day are all over the place and the last thing you want is a locked door at the end.
Make a proper trip of it
Half the fun is not rushing home. Pitch up near your chosen walk the night before, or turn it into a short break, and you get a lie-in near the trailhead and a slower morning. If you like the idea of seeing in the New Year outdoors, read our guide to camping over New Year, and our pick of the top winter camping destinations in Britain. Keen walkers should also see our guide to the UK's national trails for longer routes once the days lengthen.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best New Year's Day walk in Britain?
For an easy walk with big scenery, the Buttermere circuit in the Lake District is hard to beat: flat, around 4.5 miles, and ringed by fells. If you want a pub to match, few are cosier than The Bridge Hotel at the finish.
Are pubs open on New Year's Day?
Many country pubs open on New Year's Day, but hours are often reduced and some close after the night before. Always ring ahead or check online on the day, as opening times vary widely and popular walkers' pubs fill fast.
How long should a winter walk be?
Keep it short. Three to five miles is plenty for a winter day walk, especially on New Year's Day, because daylight is limited and the ground is slow going in mud and ice. Aim to finish with light to spare.
What should I wear for a New Year's Day walk?
Wear layers: a warm base, a midlayer and a windproof waterproof shell, plus a hat and gloves. Waterproof walking boots with good grip are essential for winter mud and ice, and walking poles help on slippery ground.
When does it get dark on New Year's Day?
The sun sets around 16:00 in southern England and earlier in Scotland in early January. Start your walk in the morning, always carry a headtorch as backup, and plan to be back before dusk.
Can I camp near these walks over New Year?
Yes. Plenty of campsites and glamping sites stay open through winter near these areas. Browse our campsite listings to find a pitch close to your chosen trailhead and make a short break of it.
The short version
Pick a walk near you, keep it to a few frosty miles, start early and finish at a warm pub. From Buttermere to the Northumberland coast, these 12 routes each pair proper winter scenery with a fire and a hot meal. Plan your break with our guide to camping in British weather, season by season, then find your pitch in our campsite listings.
