Scotland has some pretty spectacular sections of coastline to explore. But after spending the day with the sand in your toes and the wind on your face, there are few better places to be than a cosy seaside pub. Sit outside and enjoy the views or hunker down inside by the fire- you can’t lose either way. Here’s 15 of the best.

1. The Mishnish, Mull

Main Street, Tobermory, Mull

01688 302500

www.themishnish.co.uk

Fans of Balamory might know the yellow house as the residence of Josie Jump: but in real life it is home to one of Mull’s most popular pubs. The Mishnish has an enviable location in the middle of the town’s colourful harbour, with views out to the Sound of Mull, but the real attraction lies indoors. Revellers can enjoy remarkably good food, a traditional log fire and frequent live music performances: with bands on almost every weekend during the summer. These lively performances – and impromptu jamming sessions – are known to run in to the wee hours for those who have the stamina.

2. The Cock Inn, Dumfries and Galloway

Auchenmalg, Glenluce, Wigtownshire, Dumfries and Galloway

01581 500245

If the immature among us can get past the name, the Cock Inn is easily one of the best pubs in Dumfries and Galloway. It is fairly out of the way but its isolated location only makes for a more peaceful pint – with virtually nothing between you and the Irish Sea. The food is superb, with an entire menu that’s dedicated to seafood. The mussels, king scallops and langoustines are delightful, as is the mixed seafood medley starter (with fresh creel caught prawns, crab meat and local lobster) available for the very reasonable price of £8.50.

3. The Ship Inn Stonehaven

5 Shorehead, Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire

01569 762617

www.shipinnstonehaven.com

The year was 1771: Britain’s first cotton mill had just opened, James Cook was on his way to Australia, and the metric system had not yet been invented. But it was also the year that Stonehaven’s Ship Inn was built, a whitewashed building that sits right on the harbour. It still stands nearly 250 years later, and as one of the oldest pubs on the Aberdeenshire coast it offers the kind of warm welcome that you would hope for after coming in from that bracing sea wind.

4. The Tavern Bar, Eyemouth

High Street, Eyemouth, Scottish Borders

018907 51221

www.tavern-bar-eyemouth.co.uk

Forget the trendy, hipster pubs of Edinburgh – the Tavern Bar is about as traditional as you can get. It isn’t much to look at, but it sits right on Eyemouth Beach and has a huge no-frills beer courtyard and access to a children's playpark. There are sea views from the inside the pub too, where you will likely hear live music in the evenings.

5. The Stein Inn, Skye

Macleods Terrace, Waternish, Stein, Skye

01470 592362

www.stein-inn.co.uk

One of the best known (and best loved) pubs in Scotland, the Stein Inn boasts an enviable sea-facing position in the north west corner of Skye. The island’s ever-increasing tourist population means that you might struggle to get a seat outside, but if you do manage to find one it will be well worth the wait. While you’re there, make a point of sampling the Stein’s locally caught seafood, as well as its collection of more than 100 whiskies. Not all 100 at once, though.

6. Helgi’s, Orkney

14 Harbour Street, Kirkwall, Orkney

01856 879293

www.helgis.co.uk

Small but mighty, this Viking-inspired pub provides a great social hub for the people of Orkney. It is situated right beside the (sometimes unforgiving) Kirkwall harbour, but inside you will find a wonderfully cosy wood-panelled pub. Helgi’s makes a point of promoting produce from Orkney, with the food menu based around local ingredients and an impressive selection of Orcadian whisky and beer.

7. The Applecross Inn, Wester Ross

Shore Street, Applecross, Strathcarron, Wester Ross

01520 744262

No list of seaside pubs would be complete without a mention of the Applecross Inn. This reliably welcoming pub has plenty of experience of hosting worn-out travellers who have braved the Bealach na Bà, offering them wonderful views of the sunset across to Raasay. The food is as fresh as you would hope for a coastal venue, but be sure to try the crab and smoked salmon salad if you want real quality seafood.

8. Pennan Inn, Fraserburgh

Pennan, Fraserburgh, Aberdeenshire

01346 561201

www.thepennaninn.co.uk

Pennan will be eternally recognised as the star of 1983’s Local Hero, where it was used for filming the fictional village of Ferness. With its quaint seaside cottages and single-row harbour it is easy to see why film crews fell in love with this quiet corner of Aberdeenshire. But if Pennan was the star of the screen then the Pennan Inn is the star of the village – a charming little pub that looks right out on the sea and serves as the centre point of the harbour. The food is faultless, the welcome is warm and the staff are as hospitable as you could hope for. Movie buffs will want to pay a visit to the red telephone box right outside the pub, which featured in a crucial scene from the film.

9. The Waterfront Ayr

4 South Harbour Street, Ayr

01292 280 212

www.waterfront-ayr.co.uk

The Waterfront actually overlooks the River Ayr rather than the sea, but it will take you less than five minutes to walk there from the beach. It’s dog friendly too, with the affable staff likely to pay as much attention to your pooch as they are to you.

10. Crown Hotel, Portpatrick

9 North Crescent, Portpatrick, Dumfries and Galloway

01776 810261

www.crownhotelportpatrick.com

This charming hotel is best known for its beer garden and the views across Portpatrick Harbour and the Irish Sea. The food is another highlight, with home-cooked, hearty portions and chefs that are more than willing to accommodate any allergies or intolerances. Be sure to try the delightful Cullen Skink soup.

11. The Ship, Broughty Ferry

121 Fisher Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee

01382 779176

www.theshipinn-broughtyferry.co.uk

It might be a struggle to get a table at the Ship, one of Broughty Ferry’s most popular pubs, but you won’t be disappointed if you do. You can enjoy bar food downstairs or a swankier menu in the first-floor restaurant, which has fine views of the water below. If you’re lucky you might even spot a dolphin, with several sightings being reported from The Ship in recent years.

12. Café Continental, Gourock

40 Kempock Street, Gourock

01475 638693

www.cafe-continental.com

One of Gourock’s best-loved institutions, Café Continental offers a consistently good atmosphere at the weekends. Despite its name, it is just as popular for dinner and drinks as it is for coffee and cake, with a prime position on the Firth of Clyde offering excellent views over the water. Booking is advised, especially at weekends.

13. Glenuig Inn, Arisaig

Glenuig Inn, Glenuig Sound of Arisaig, Invernesshire

01687 470 219

www.glenuig.com

The view from the beer garden of the Glenuig Inn must be one of the best in Scotland, with the scenic Sound of Arisaig framed by hills on either side. With a business that is so centred around the natural landscape, the new owners have made a great effort to reduce the environmental footprint of the hotel. The amount of waste sent to landfill has reduced by 97.5% since 2009, there is no single-use plastic in the inn and they use 100% renewable energy.

14. Sango Sands Oasis Bar, Durness

Sango Bay, Durness, Sutherland

07838 381065

www.sangosands.com

It isn’t the fanciest of pubs, but the bar at Sango Sands makes up for it with its view. It is situated in a stunningly remote corner of Durness, offering an unspoilt outlook across the white sands to the Atlantic Ocean beyond.

15. The Pier, Aberdeen

Esplanade Sea Beach, Aberdeen

01224 379940

www.pieraberdeen.co.uk

Quite literally on the pier in Aberdeen, this trendy pub offers customers a slice of the seaside in the middle of the city. They serve decent food but cocktails are their speciality –the rum-based creations in particular – alongside plenty of local beer. There are seats outside, but if the weather isn’t playing ball you can enjoy the view from inside through the huge windows.