10 of the best dog-friendly hotels in the UK
Ask any dog owner and they'll tell you, holidays just aren't the same without their canine friends. And there's often no better way to explore a new area than by getting out with your 4-legged companion for a long walk. The good news is, some hotels do a fantastic job of welcoming pets - offering everything from treats on arrival to specialist doggy menus, and providing access to the best walking routes. Here we present a selection of our favourite dog-friendly hotels in the UK.
Where stated, prices are intended as a guide.
Polurrian Bay Hotel
Location: Perched on the cliffs at Polurrian Cove, Mullion, Cornwall
Why your dog will love it: With the South West Coast Path and a sandy beach just outside of the hotel, you can take in the beauty of Cornwall's rugged coastline and explore the other nearby coves.
What else is nearby: Lizard Point is a 15-minute drive away, and Land's End and Mount's Bay take 40 minutes by car.
Suggested dog walk: Jo Baker of local dog-walking business Helston Happy Hounds says, "At the Penrose Estate (a National Trust property) you’ll find a wooded country park walk around Cornwall's largest natural lake. Loe Pool is cut off from the sea by a broad shingle bar heaped up by heavy Atlantic seas called the Loe Bar. The surrounding estate is a mixture of rich farmland and woodland. There are plenty of short or long circular walks through the estate and along the coast."
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New Park Manor Hotel
Location: Between Lyndhurst and Brockenhurst, in the heart of the New Forest National Park
Why your dog will love it: What’s not to love about stretches of open field, wooded glades and off-track forest walks? Jerry, the resident cockapoo, will greet you on arrival.
What else is nearby? Lyndhurst village is seven minutes’ drive away, and is known for its quaint independent shops, tea rooms and country pubs. The village of Brockenhurst is about the same distance in the other direction – here you can expect to find free-roaming wild ponies, deer and cows.
Suggested dog walk: There are some great hill-fort remains to explore in these ancient pastures, notably at Castle Hill, Burley and Buckland. The National Motor Museum at Beaulieu takes 20 minutes by car, and welcomes furry friends.
Price: from £115 per room, per night
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Armathwaite Hall Hotel
Location: In a 400-acre estate roamed by deer, near Bassenthwaite Lake in the Lake District
Why your dog will love it: With a 4-mile-long lake, impressive scenery and an abundance of crags and caves, dogs won’t have to sniff the same trail twice. The £15 pet supplement includes a dog bed and cushion, dog treats and waste bags.
What else is nearby? The Lake District Wildlife Park is within the hotel estate, and houses pandas, micro pigs, meerkats and zebras. The town of Keswick is 15 minutes away by car.
Suggested dog walk: Chris Harper of Podgy Paws pet shop in Keswick says, "I would recommend a walk up Dodd Summit trail, starting at The Old Sawmill Tearoom car park. This is a 3-hour-walk and offers magnificent views over Bassenthwaite and Derwentwater."
Price: from £205 per room, per night
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Battlesteads Hotel & Restaurant
Location: The picturesque Northumberland village of Wark
Why your dog will love it: Winston, the resident Labrador (below), always looks forward to meeting new friends and is sure to greet you on arrival. As well as canine company, your dog will find a log burner and cosy bar in which to relax after lots of fresh air.
What else is nearby? The hotel is four minutes’ walk from the River North Tyne and 30 minutes' drive from Kielder Water, a hotspot for cyclists and walkers. Northumberland National Park is just eight minutes’ drive from the hotel.
Suggested dog walk: Roberta Stewardson from English Heritage recommends an outing to nearby Chesters Roman Fort: "Dogs are welcome on the site itself (the only place they are not allowed is the museum). The best walks nearby are along the Hadrians Wall trail which takes you along the line of the wall. You can walk as far as you wish!"
Price: from £140 per room, per night
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Caer Beris
Location: The ancient market town of Builth Wells in Mid Wales
Why your dog will love it: The hotel is set in 27 acres of landscaped gardens and parkland, and dogs are encouraged to play in the river that runs through it. Caer Beris is exceptionally pet-friendly, and can even accommodate guests’ horses in the paddock next door.
What else is nearby? The hotel sits in the heart of the Welsh countryside and is bounded by the River Irfon, which offers catch and release fishing. The River Wye - the fifth-longest river in the UK - is a 15-minute walk away.
Suggested dog walk: As well as riverside strolls, there are bridle paths and quiet country lanes immediately outside of the hotel. The Brecon Beacons National Park is a 30-minute drive away.
Price: from roughly £130 per room, per night
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The Bull & Swan
Location: Stamford, Lincolnshire
Why your dog will love it: This quintessentially English country pub has a doggy dinner menu, and even offers room service for canine companions. Dishes include sirloin steak and organic chicken breast with gravy.
What else is nearby? The Nene Valley Railway (10 minutes away by car) welcomes pets aboard the trains; Rutland Water (15 minutes away), has a nature reserve and a 25-mile circular walking track.
Suggested dog walk: The Stamford Meadows beside the River Welland take five minutes to reach on foot, and offer a lovely space from which to take in the charm of this stone town.
Price: from £98 per room, per night
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Inn on the Square
Location: Keswick (previously voted the most dog-friendly town in the UK by the Kennel Club)
Why your dog will love it: Two dogs can stay in a bedroom, and there is a hose and dry towels available outside to give your pooch a shower after muddy walks. They can snuggle up by your feet in both bars and in the hotel lounge. The only part of the hotel they can’t explore is the steak house – for obvious reasons!
What else is nearby? Derwentwater is a 10-minute walk from the hotel, and is surrounded by wooded fells. The Borrowdale Valley and Skiddaw are both within 22 minutes’ drive.
Suggested dog walk: Chris Harper of Podgy Paws pet shop in Keswick says, "I would suggest walking around Derwentwater. It’s quite easy to navigate as you generally follow the path that runs along the shore line, with the exception of a slight detour into Portinscale before returning to Keswick (if going clockwise). The walk should take around three hours, although there is the option of jumping on the launch at numerous jetties to make it a little shorter. If you want to extend the walk, you can shoot up Catbells on the far side of the lake for amazing views over Derwentwater and Keswick."
Price: from £190 per room, per night
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The Manor House
Location: Moreton-in-Marsh High Street, Gloucestershire
Why your dog will love it: This 16th-century Cotswold manor house describes itself as "doggy heaven". There is a library and a lounge with a log fire, pretty walled gardens and an outdoor terrace - all of which welcome dogs. The “paw print charge” is £10 per dog, per night.
What else is nearby? The hotel is right on Moreton-in-Marsh’s historic high street, so there’s a lot to explore just outside the door, including an abundance of pet-friendly country pubs. It is also 14 minutes’ drive from the market town of Chipping Campden.
Suggested dog walk: Batsford Arboretum & Garden Centre (above) is a 30-minute walk away, and dogs are welcomed both in the visitor centre and in the arboretum itself. If you fancy a longer outing, you can walk the four miles to National Trust property Chastleton House and Gardens, where dogs can explore the fields on leads.
Price: from £120 per room, per night
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Saracens Head
Location: Beside the River Colwyn in the village of Beddgelert, in the northeast of Snowdonia
Why your dog will love it: There’s 827 square miles of National Park to explore right on the doorstep, and dogs get to stay for free.
What else is nearby? Portmeirion, which was built and designed to look like an Italian village, sits on its own peninsula a 20-minute drive away. The Llanberis Path (one of the gentler trails up Mount Snowdon) is a 30-minute drive.
Suggested dog walk: Gelert’s Grave, an easy 1-miler that takes you along the River Glaslyn to a noted local landmark. According to legend, the stone monument in the field marks the resting place of Gelert, the faithful hound of the medieval Welsh Prince, Llywelyn the Great. Saracens Head also serves a cask ale called Faithful Gelert, named after the legendary dog.
Price: from £105 per room, per night
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Holdsworth House Hotel & Restaurant
Location: On the outskirts of Halifax, in Brontë country
Why your dog will love it: Dogs receive bowls and blankets, and a welcome biscuit on arrival. There are heather-covered moors, canals and woodland within walking distance of the hotel.
What else is nearby? The Yorkshire Dales National Park and the Yorkshire Sculpture Park are both within an hour's drive, both of which are dog-friendly.
Suggested dog walk nearby: The hotel is on the Calderdale Way, a 50-mile circular footpath route with rolling hills and meadows for cross-country walks.
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