As we wait patiently for the sun to get his hat on, there’s no need to put the summer vibes on hold, thanks to your guide to the best beer gardens in the land
Teuchters Landing
1c Dock Place, Leith, Edinburgh
Why go to a bog-standard beer garden when you can enjoy chilling on one that floats on the water? That’s what is on offer at Teuchters Landing, where the outdoor seating area is positioned on a pontoon in the Water of Leith. The pub is housed in the former waiting room for the steamboat ferry to Aberdeen (hence the name) with an extensive list of more than 90 different single malt whiskies to enjoy.
teuchtersbar.co.uk
The Waterside
19 Ness Bank, Inverness
There’s nothing worse than sitting in a beer garden that ends up in the shade. Being located on the banks of the River Ness, the beer garden at The Waterside benefits from uninterrupted sunshine nearly all day. Despite being near the city centre it feels wonderfully tranquil, and is the perfect place to finish a stroll down the river. Bonus point – they brew their own craft beer and whisky in the adjoining Uile-bheist Distillery, which can be visited via a guided tour.
thewatersideinverness.co.uk
![]()
(Image: Getty Images)
The Falls of Dochart Inn
Gray Street, Killin, Perthshire
Beautiful, if awash with tourists in the summer, the Falls of Dochart in Killin is one of Scotland’s finest natural water features. But rather than competing for a parking space or getting elbowed out of the way by enthusiastic selfie-takers, you can enjoy the waterfall in peace from the adjacent beer garden at the Falls of Dochart Inn. You can hear the tumbling water while you sit in the garden area, which makes for an incredibly peaceful pint.
fallsofdochartinn.co.uk
St Columba Hotel
Isle of Iona, Argyll
With a jaw-dropping position on a hill above the shore, the St Columba Hotel boasts spectacular views to the Ross of Mull and beyond. The well-maintained garden is the pride of the owners, and you can relax on the picnic benches while kids run around on the grass below. Peace and quiet is almost guaranteed on an island with little traffic or noise, but you can’t guarantee warm weather (especially with the bracing sea wind), so it’s best to pack a jumper just in case.
stcolumba-hotel.co.uk
West Side Tavern
162 Dumbarton Road, Partick, Glasgow
Glasgow’s West End doesn’t have abundant space for beer gardens, making the sizeable outdoor area at West Side Tavern a great spot to plonk yourself on a sunny day. Mercifully, it is walled on all sides, so even if there is a bit of a breeze you won’t get too chilly. They specialise in cocktails, with an impressive list of original creations named after New York City icons. Try the ‘Jennifer Lopez’ with banana rum, brown butter and honey – perfect for sipping in the sunshine.
westsidetavern.co.uk
Clansman Bar
Rowardennan Hotel, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
The Clansman Bar is pretty unassuming inside. But step outside, and into the beer garden, and a majestic, postcard view of Loch Lomond opens up before you. Sitting just at the foot of Ben Lomond, the garden peeks through trees and over to the hills and water beyond. On a sunny day there are few places better to sit back and take in Scotland’s natural beauty.
rowardennanhotel.co.uk
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here