Have you heard the one about a pub at Ben Nevis' summit?
Rumours of a pub opening on the UK's tallest mountain swirls around on social media every now and then, but there's no truth to this – not yet, anyway.
So, which pub actually claims the title of Britain's highest pub? We take a look.
What is the highest pub in the UK?
Britain’s highest pub is the Tan Hill Inn in North Yorkshire, which stands at 528m above sea level. It's a haven on an exposed stretch of the Pennine Way and as its stone floors and exposed beams attest, it’s been standing here and weathering the storms for some time.
The current building dates to the 17th century but was preceded by at least one other: in 1586, author William Camden passed by and recorded the existence of a lonely inn. The reason behind its unusual remoteness – the nearest settlement, tiny Keld, is about four miles away – is coal, which was extracted here from the 12th century and perhaps even in Roman times. Tan Hill Inn served the miners who once lived here, as well as drovers and local farmers. All the miners’ cottages have disappeared now, as have the mines themselves.
Today, visitors can stay in one of the pub’s cosy rooms or camp outside. But should you visit in winter, you’d do well to keep an eye on the weather forecast. In November 2021, and again in January 2025, customers were snowed in for days before rescuers reached them. Still, if you’re going to be holed up for night after night, there are worse places to be than a pub.
Main image: Getty
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