Those who prefer not to leave their pets in kennels or with a friend while they take a break know that finding a dog-friendly hotel isn’t always easy.
But at Combe House they not only welcome dogs, they highlight some wonderful scenic walks around coast, country and moorland – along with suitable pubs on the way. Toby’s book – compiled with a little help from his owner – lists routes where there are spaces to run, water to play in, sticks to chew and where they are likely to meet some playmates.
Back at the hotel, dogs can recover from their exertions with their owners in front of the huge log fire in the Elizabethan Great Hall and enjoy a box of tasty treats and a chewy bone in the room.
At The Hoste in Burnham Market dogs can socialise in the bar, lounge and conservatory and explore the glorious North Norfolk coastline a couple of miles away. The hotel’s favourite locations for walkies include Brancaster beach, Wells beach with its pretty painted beach huts, Holkham pine forest and the parkland around Holkham Hall.
Send your Fido chasing sticks up and down the hills and fells of the Lake District and they’ll return home fitter than ever. Linthwaite House in Windermere doesn’t allow pets in the main hotel building but it does offer two ground-floor rooms with their own private external access for dog owners. Dog towels, blankets and throws and food bowls are available.
It will also recommend some great local walks and dog-friendly pubs, and provide a bucket and sponge if Fido takes a mud bath along the way.
The Rose & Crown in Romaldkirk offers a quicker solution for mucky pups: a hosing down area for those who return from a swim in the river. Set in the heart of the Teesdale countryside, the 18th-century inn provides a bag of doggie treats and suggested walks from the front door. And while most country house hotels typically ask between £9-£15 a night for canine accommodation, the Rose & Crown makes no charge.
East Lodge in the Derbyshire Peak District doesn’t have facilities for pets but it does recommend handy ‘luxury boarding kennels’ for posh pooches. Guests can leave their dogs to be pampered at the Canine Country Club overnight, or for the day if they’re visiting nearby Chatsworth House.
That should set tails wagging.
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