With temperatures finally rising and sunshine until as late as 9pm, there’s no better way to unwind after a long day than having a pint in a pub garden.

Luckily for Wiltshire locals, the picturesque county offers some of the best pub gardens that make an ideal stop-off for weary walkers or food fanatics.

With relaxing riversides, dog-friendly gardens, and beautiful views, we’ve compiled a few of our very favourite pub gardens that you need to try this summer.

This list is based on pubs that were picked out for their gardens in the Muddy Stilettos awards, with a few of our favourites chucked in there too.

The five best pub gardens to visit in Wiltshire this summer

The Cross Guns – Avoncliff

Located in the small village of Avoncliff, near Bradford on Avon, The Cross Guns offers exceptional views of the nearby railway, canal and river.

The pub itself dates back to the 1490s making it one of the oldest pubs in the area, and it is situated along the famously beautiful Two Valleys walking route.

The historic wooden beams, stone floors and fireplace inside have been maintained to keep the historic feel, but it is the pub's expansive riverside gardens that really draw in the customers in the summer.

The Lock Inn – Bradford on Avon

The Lock Inn is a firm favourite with Bradford on Avon locals and sits alongside the town's famous canal and the Towpath Trail.

Known for its great menu, the pub works as a coffee and cakes tearoom during the day and then serves up a hearty meal in the evenings.

But the pub has really embraced its canal-side location by offering the excellent Boatman's Breakfast, which you can even eat on the inn's own boat.

Dogs, cats, children and muddy boots are all welcome here.

The White Hart – Ford (Chippenham)

Swindon Advertiser: It doesn't get much more picturesque than the White Hart in Ford.It doesn't get much more picturesque than the White Hart in Ford. (Image: The White Hart)

There are a lot of White Harts around Wiltshire, but you don't want to miss this one.

Located just outside of Chippenham, this pub sits in the idyllic location of Ford and is a stone's throw away from the Bybrook River as well as stunning woodland.

The dog-friendly pub dates back to Tudor times and previously served as a coaching inn linking London to the West Country.

Not only does the pub have a stunning traditional exterior and bag fulls of history, but it's also famous for its delicious food - particularly its steaks.

The Hourglass – Devizes

Unlike some of the more historic pubs, this modern bar and restaurant sits on the banks of the Kennet and Avon canal in Devizes and close to the Avebury stone circle (Stonehenge's less famous brother).

The Hourglass serves up exceptional food using fresh ingredients, and has been described as 'waterside dining at its best'.

For canal boat lovers and people watchers, this is the best spot to be as the balcony garden overlooks the boaters travelling up and down the canal.

The Runner – Swindon

Not many people mention picturesque waterside gardens and Swindon in the same breath, but that's exactly what this pub has to offer.

Situated on the side of Wootton Bassett Road, you'd never guess from the outside that The Runner is a waterside pub, but the garden is perhaps Swindon's best-kept secret.

This pub offers a wide range of food and drinks, a large car park, and the staff welcome dogs throughout the pub.