There’s a special kind of calm and satisfaction that comes from hiking before the world wakes up — quiet trails, crisp dawn air, shifting colours, and that magical moment when you reach a vantage point just as the sun peeks over the horizon. Add a warm coffee, tea or cocoa to that moment, and it becomes more than a drink, it’s a ritual. Many hikers say that sipping a hot beverage at sunrise after a hike makes the view feel deeper, the achievement more real, and the whole experience more memorable.
If you’re into hikes + warm drinks + a view, these 7 sunrise hikes are some of the best ways to start your day
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Mam Tor — Quick climb, big reward
After a short, manageable climb, just 15–20 minutes from the car‑park at Mam Nick, you reach the summit of Mam Tor (517 m), giving you sweeping views north over the Edale Valley and south into Hope Valley. At sunrise, the valleys below often lie swathed in mist or low cloud, creating a magical “above‑the‑clouds” atmosphere that turns even a simple walk into something dreamy.
For hikers, Mam Tor is a sweet spot, you don’t need extreme endurance or equipment to reach a summit with dramatic views. The path is well‑maintained and, on clear mornings, you’re rewarded by endless lowland panoramas, muted dawn light, and the kind of peace that makes a flask of hot tea or cocoa feel like a small ceremony. Whether it’s your first sunrise walk, or one of many, Mam Tor offers that perfect “first sip with a view” without over‑commitment.
Catbells — A gentle climb, a grand view
Derwentwater, shimmering lake framed by hills, first catches your eye on the approach up Skelgill Bank, the lower slopes of Catbells. From there, a steep but short ridge‑climb leads to the summit at 451 m. Despite the modest height, once you top out you’re greeted by a brilliant panorama: Derwentwater stretching out below, with the mountains and fells surrounding the lake rising beyond.
Because the walk is relatively short (about 6 km / 3.7 miles round‑trip) and the scramble near the top is manageable, Catbells becomes a perfect “sunrise‑and‑sip” hike — especially if you don’t have hours to spare.
On a calm morning, with the first light shimmering on Derwentwater and the air still cool, pulling out a flask feels like a delicate celebration: the lake below reflecting dawn, the hills whispering in quiet, and a cosy drink grounding you in the moment.
Helvellyn (via Thirlmere) — For those chasing dawn and altitude
For hikers craving a bit more ambition, that’s where the route up Helvellyn
Starting near Thirlmere, comes into play. Taking part in a sunrise-guided walk up Helvellyn means beginning in the dark, under the stars, and reaching the summit just as dawn breaks.
From there, the entire Lake District landscape unfolds, mountains, valleys, lakes, illuminated with first light. It’s the kind of dawn that feels expansive, alive, and energised.
Reaching the summit itself feels like an achievement, especially if you’ve climbed through pre-dawn hush, and when you finally sit down with a thermos of hot drink, the taste of coffee or tea becomes a small reward for your early rise and effort. As shared by someone who did it
It’s a hike that demands a bit more, deeper commitment, more stamina, but the payoff is huge: the crisp morning air, sweeping 360° views, and a drink that warms you from the inside while the world around you wakes up