Scotland’s best beer garden revealed – just in time for summer

IT might feel like summer’s already over before it’s really begun, but weathermen are predicting lovely sunny days WILL return to Scotland.

And what better way to spend enjoying those warm afternoons and nights than with a cool refreshing tipple taking in glorious views.

While we might not always have sunshine, beer gardens are where you’ll want to be when it does make an appearance.

And to help you choose where to go, Big7Travel has ranked beer gardens around the country and come up with their top 15, covering everything from ambience and scenery to the food and drink selection.

So whether you’re a seasoned beer connoisseur or just looking for a fun day out with friends, these are the best Beer Gardens to visit in Scotland.

1 Brel – Glasgow
With a great food menu, year-round appeal, wide selection of beers (strawberry beer, anyone?), and smashing cocktails, Brel came out top as the best beer garden in Scotland. A trip to Glasgow is worth it alone for its saucy mussels and soda bread, perfectly complemented by a glass of fizz.

It’s pretty special when the sun shines down on the tiered grassy garden of colourful cushions, relaxed benches, and happy customers, but sunshine isn’t a given in Glasgow. Spend cosy, cooler evenings around the fire pit, roasting marshmallows beneath the twinkling fairy lights. The stuff beer garden dreams are made of.

9

2 Dores Inn – Inverness
The Dores Inn undoubtedly has the best view of one of the country’s most famous attractions – Loch Ness. Keep an eye out for the monster while sipping on ale in the (hopefully) glorious sunshine from the shore.

If you fancy taking a stroll, a dip, or a kayak, the pub has access to Dores Beach too – it’s easy to see why folk often spend the whole day here, soaking in the idyllic scenery. Round off the day by tucking into the hearty country pub fare. Don’t miss their famous scones, either.

3 The Stein Inn – Isle of Skye
As the oldest pub in Skye, the Stein Inn has perfected the art of pints in the sun. The beer garden is a relaxed grassy verge dotted with picnic benches, and in the warmer months, it’s crowded.

The views are spectacular – bring your swimming cozzie, taking a dip is encouraged. Or you can sit back and watch the kayaking and paddleboarding while tucking into the menu of fine Scottish pub fare. Be sure to stick around for sunset and soak up the magic that is the Isle of Skye by sampling the 99 malt whiskies behind the bar.

9

4 Ben Nevis Inn – Fort William
This traditional pub sits at the foothills of Ben Nevis with glorious views of Glen Nevis. It’s the perfect spot for a well-deserved post-hike pint.If you’ve worked up an appetite, the 200-year-old converted barn also serves up wholesome meals.

Get involved in the traditional Scottish cheer and stick around for the live music performed by friendly locals and regulars – on Tuesdays from the beginning of April and Thursdays from the beginning of November.

9

5 Badachro Inn – Gairloch
Beer garden views don’t get much better than Badachro Bay, a quiet nook of Loch Gairloch. The shining blue water is backed by green hills, the perfect place to soak in the scenery and watch sailing boats bob along the loch while nursing an ale.

Get involved in the traditional Scottish cheer and stick around for the live music performed by friendly locals and regulars – it’s on Tuesdays from the beginning of April and Thursdays from the beginning of November.

Take advantage of the super fresh seafood and tuck into their menu of langoustines, mussels, sole, and more – local fishermen deliver their catches straight to them from the pier. The cherry on top is the warm Highlands hospitality.

9

6 The Taybank – Dunkeld
Sitting on the banks of the River Tay in Perthshire, the bright white hotel-come-pub is hard to miss against the backdrop of lush green forest. Sitting in the heart of Dunkeld, it has picnic tables dotted around the courtyard and grassy verge, large marquees, fire pits, and strings of fairy lights.

Keep an eye out for their regular events, too – they often put on craft markets, live music sessions, open-air cinema screenings, small festivals, and more. Enjoy their menu of wood-fired pizzas, flatbreads, seafood, and more.

9

7 Cold Town House – Edinburgh
This renovated church on the Grassmarket is one of Scotland’s most loved beer gardens. It’s popular for good reason – the spectacular view of Edinburgh Castle being one of them. Enjoy the extensive drinks menu, from frozen cocktail to pints straight from the on-site brewery!

The rooftop space is playful, with hanging plants, a retro campervan for a bar, and cosy gondolas for Edinburgh’s unpredictable rain showers. You can even hop on a ski lift and dine in the sky.

8 Teuchters Landing – Leith
Its iconic floating beer garden was once the waiting area for the steamboat ferry from Leith to Aberdeen. Today, it’s a suntrap garden with a panoramic view of the water and dockside.

Hop on board and sample one (or two) of their 90 malt whiskies, and tuck into the traditional pub grub fare, including, in true Scottish style, haggis stovies. And if the sun doesn’t warm you up, the hospitality of the friendly, welcoming staff surely will.

9

9 Applecross Inn – Applecross Village
Get a Highland welcome when you step into the Applecross Inn – a remote pub in a green corner of the Applecross Peninsula. Soak in some of the most breathtaking scenery in Scotland from the beer garden, facing the waters of the Inner Sound. You can see the Isles of Skye and Raasay on a clear day.

The bar is stocked with around 50 Scottish malt whiskies, 12 Scottish gins and vodkas, and a range of locally brewed Scottish beers. This is a great stop along the NC500.

10 The Buf – Prestwick, Ayrshire
If you find yourself in the seaside town of Prestwick, you’ll soon be on the hunt for the best beer garden in the area. The Buf is mainly a sports bar, but its suntrap garden is the perfect place to savour a crisp pint. It’s known for its delicious, shareable menu – from tempura dirty fries to share boards of beef sliders.

11 Giddy Goose – Dundee
The cheerful space is filled with colourful hanging plants, relaxed picnic benches, and stringed fairy lights and is more reminiscent of a countryside pub garden. Be sure to try their famous Neapolitan pizzas and cheeseburgers and a frozen daiquiri on a hot day is bliss.

They have regular live music nights, DJ sets, and pub quizzes – it’s the kind of place where sunny afternoon drinks can seamlessly turn into a late night fuelled by their own Giddy Goose Pilsner.

9

12 The Ship Inn – Fife
This laidback boozer has a long-withstanding reputation for its beer garden which overlooks Elie Beach. Enjoy sunny afternoons watching cricketers practise on the sands and stay until dusk to soak in the beautiful sunset.

The panoramic scenery is reason enough to visit this popular pub in the serene East Neuk of Fife and when the sun sets and the sea air starts to chill, relax in the fire-warmed pub with a classic board game – snakes and ladders, anyone?

9

13 The Outhouse – Edinburgh
Upon first look, this no-frills spot might not seem like one of the best beer gardens in Scotland, but the suntrap beer garden is the perfect place to spend a sunny day, with an eclectic crowd attracted to its relaxed vibe and prime location.

Come for the excellent garden but stay for the craft beers and spirit selection. They don’t serve food, but they’re more than happy for you to order food in and keep the good times going. There are regular live music sessions and DJ events for optimum fun in the sun, too.

14 The Old Inn – Isle of Skye
The waterfront patio, dotted with white picnic tables, overlooks the idyllic Loch Harport. Nothing beats a drink with a view, especially after a long walk along one of Skye’s many routes.

It’s popular with both locals and tourists, and you can expect live music in the evenings – traditional bands play regularly. Food-wise, you’ll find pub classics and daily specials made with fresh local fish, meat, and produce.

9

15 The Castle Tavern – Inverness
The Castle Tavern is a proper traditional boozer, serving real ale and pub grub classics. It’s full of old-school Scottish charm, with a history spanning back to the 1700s and has views of Inverness Castle and the River Ness, the Castle Tavern.

It’s a wonderful place to savour a well-deserved drink after a day in the Highlands – those finishing the Great Glen Way trail often end up here. It even has an outdoor screen for big sporting events.

We pay for your stories and videos! Do you have a story or video for The Scottish Sun? Email us at [email protected] or call 0141 420 5200