For dog lovers, no holiday is complete without four-legged friends. So with gardens and woodland, cliff top peninsulas and coastal paths these are the hotels that will not only keep furry guests entertained, but that welcome their presence as well. Hunting lodges, country hotels and popular local pubs all provide an opportune place to rest and play – and you thought this was a holiday all about you. Here are the Good Hotel Guide’s top 10 dog-friendly hotels…
1. The Peacock at Rowsley, Derbyshire
A 17th century manor house with beautiful gardens that reach to the River Derwent, The Peacock at Rowsley is a charming holiday location where the presence of your family dog completes the experience. Warm and welcoming, it’s about sophisticated pub food and a cosy environment. Dogs are welcomed with treats and a bowl, and even a biscuit at turn-down.
http://thepeacockatrowsley.com
2. Prince Hall, Devon
An 18th century mansion on Dartmoor, Prince Hall is the stuff that dreams are made of in the most spectacular surroundings. It’s said that Arthur Conan Doyle was inspired to write The Hound of the Baskervilles while staying at the house; today, better-behaved dogs are made very welcome, with all manner of treats.
3. The Pear Tree at Purton, Wiltshire
A charming country house in a very special garden filled with wild flowers, The Pear Tree at Purton really is a treasure trove of a hotel. Choose between characterful vicarage rooms in the older part of the building or more spacious executive rooms surrounded by 7.5 acres for four-legged friends to roam in. Dogs are provided with a bowl, welcome chews, a bottle of mineral water, and even a bath towel per dog in case they find the lily pond or wetlands and go swimming.
http://www.peartreepurton.co.uk
4. Overwater Hall, Cumbria
An 18th century hotel with a friendly atmosphere, Overwater Hall enjoys lavish praise for its hospitality and for its superb food. Dogs are spoiled with a good doggie welcome and the run of the grounds, including a woodland boardwalk. Cumbria is a walker’s paradise at any time of the year, with its spectacular scenery, fells, lakes and gardens, and for all of these reasons, your dog will love it, too.
http://www.overwaterhall.co.uk
5. Trigony House, Scotland
Surrounded by rolling hills and farmland, Trigony House is a cheerful hotel where canine companions are welcomed with treats and allowed everywhere but the dining room. With relaxed access for dogs, a pretty garden, and good walking country all around, the hotel is well suited for dog owners, they may even be permitted to devour a sausage with their owners in the bar.
6. Holbeck Ghyll, Windermere
An ivy-clad Victorian hunting lodge overlooking Lake Windermere, Holbeck Ghyll is a relaxed and happy hotel prized for its location, its food and its locally distilled damson gin. Dogs are welcome in lodge rooms, and of course this beautiful setting is the perfect place to get out and explore with canine friends at your side.
7. Mullion Cove Hotel, Cornwall
Just steps from the coastal path, Mullion Cove Hotel is a cliff-top hotel with views over the historic harbour. National Trust land stretches out to the south, and walks are easy in the dramatic scenery. Meanwhile, dogs are allowed in most rooms and one of the lounges in the hotel.
8. Briarfields, Norfolk
Walkers, birdwatchers and dog owners flock to Briarfields, a family-friendly hotel on the north Norfolk coast, with its vista stretching across salt marshes and the sea. Summertime calls for Pimm’s in the suntrap courtyard or on the decked terrace, while children scramble in the playground; when the wind picks up, take refuge by the wood-burners inside – there are books, board games, real ales, local sea buckthorn gin – it is the stuff that good books are made of.
http://www.briarfieldshotelnorfolk.co.uk
9. The Master Builder’s House, Hampshire
With beautiful views over the Beaulieu River and set at the end of the grassy street that is Buckler’s Hard village, The Master Builder’s House in the New Forest National Park is an idyllic spot for a holiday for both you and the dog. There’s a dog menu available, and you can also arrange for a comfy dog bed, bowls and special treats to be in situ when you arrive.
http://www.hillbrookehotels.co.uk
10. The Sun Inn, Lake District
In a historic market town, on the border of North Yorkshire, Cumbria and Lancashire, The Sun Inn is Nestled between the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. A 17th century inn with multiple awards to its name, and welcomes dogs with a complimentary ‘pooch pack’ on arrival including a towel, a dog bowl and a special doggy treat and a dog trail map provided, including a short walk immediately from the door.