Table of Contents
These UK pubs offer views that are guaranteed to be worth enjoying.
Because they are located on small islands.
And with access via ferries, tidal walkways and beaches, you’ll be thirsty by the time you get there.
From the coast of Devon to the breezy west coast of Scotland, via Cumbria and Northumberland, scroll down to find bars in unique coastal locations (and with quirky histories) that you’ll want to raise a glass to.
The Pilchard Inn – Burgh Island, Devon
MailOnline Travel has found five pubs located on UK islands. One public house, The Pilchard Inn, is located on Burgh Island (above) in Devon.
The Pilchard Inn (pictured) is only accessible via the stunning Bigbury Tombolo tidal beach.
Burghisland.com describes The Pilchard Inn as “a former smugglers’ hideout with low ceilings, open fireplaces and plenty of nooks and crannies to explore.”
Dating back to 1336, The Pilchard Inn is situated on Burgh Island, just 250 metres (820 feet) off the Devon coast, near Bigbury-on-Sea.
It can only be accessed via the stunning Bigbury Tombolo tidal beach and is described thus: burghisland.com as ‘a former smugglers’ hideout with low ceilings, open fireplaces and plenty of nooks and crannies to explore’.
Burgh Island is also home to an art deco hotel built in the 1920s, which has a strong connection to Agatha Christie, who called it her “home away from home”. It is said to have inspired two of her most famous novels: And There Were None and Evil Under the Sun.
Ship Inn – Piel Island, Cumbria
To visit the Ship Inn (above) on Piel Island, Cumbria, guests must take a ferry from Roa Island.
The Boat InnA historic pub believed to be over 300 years old, it is situated on the 50-acre Piel Island off the coast of Cumbria, near Barrow-in-Furness. If the setting wasn’t unique enough, it boasts views of the ruins of a castle dating back to the 14th century.
One of the pub’s notable traditions is the bizarre “King and Knights of Fur” ceremony, in which each new owner is crowned the “King of Fur”.
The new owner sits in an antique chair, wearing a helmet and holding a sword while beer is poured over his head.
To visit the Ship Inn, guests must take the ‘Skin ferry’ From Roa Island, it operates daily between 11am and 4pm. Those wishing to stay longer can rent a tent and pitch it outside for £5.
The Puffer Bar and Restaurant, Easdale, Scotland
Puffer Bar and Restaurant (pictured) sits on the edge of Easdale Island, the smallest permanently inhabited island in the Inner Hebrides.
The view from Easdale Island to Ellenabeich on Seil Island
This family pub It lies on the edge of the car-free Easdale Island, the smallest permanently inhabited island in the Inner Hebrides, about 15 miles south of Oban, off the west coast of Scotland.
This small, cosy pub has a bar and café and offers home-cooked food made from local produce to visitors and the island’s approximately 60 inhabitants.
Easdale is separated by a 200-metre-wide stretch of water from the island of Seil, which is connected to the mainland by the Clachan Bridge.
The only way to get there is by taking a ferry from the village of Ellenabeich on the island of Seil. The ferry costs £2.70 for an adult and £1.50 for a child. The timetable can be found at easdaleferry.argyll-bute.gov.uk.
The Crown & Anchor, Ship Inn and The Lindisfarne Inn, – Holy Island, Northumberland
The three images above show Holy Island from the shore, the tidal causeway that visitors can use to reach it, and the island’s Crown & Anchor pub.
Picturesque Holy Island, off the coast of Northumberland, is a pub paradise.
Visitors can reach the island via a three-mile tidal road and stop by the 200-year-old Crown & Anchor, the Ship Inn or the Lindisfarne Inn for a refreshing pint.
It takes approximately two hours to cross the tidal road on foot and 10 minutes by car. A list of safe crossing times can be found on the page Northumberland County Council website.
For more information visit www.visitnorthumberland.com.
The Ferry Tavern, Cheshire, England
The Ferry Tavern has been serving pints since 1762 and has a unique location on an island on the Trans Pennine Trail.
The Ferry Tavern It sits on its own island between the River Mersey and the Sankey St Helen’s Canal and has been serving pints since 1762.
The pub’s website explains how its location on the Trans Pennine Trail means it attracts walkers, cyclists and horse riders as they travel the trail.
The surrounding waters, meanwhile, attract seals, porpoises and dolphins.
