There’s nothing better than walking breaks with your hound in tow, and PetsPyjamas’ Pet Inspectors Rufus and Heidi know the best dog-friendly places to stay. Here are their top 10 hotels as well as their favourite walks to enjoy nearby…
Set on the Chatsworth Estate, The Devonshire Arms provides a fabulously cosy base for a walking holiday in Derbyshire. Well-behaved dogs can stay in any of the four luxurious Brookside House rooms. Enjoy a selection of delicious British dishes in the hotel’s gastropub – the perfect refuelling stop after a long day of roaming!
Take a walk: On the doorstep lies a paradise for walkers and four-legged friends! The Peak District National Park has endless hills and dales for you and Fido to explore, with trails ranging from challenging hikes to relaxing strolls.
For a truly glamourous walking petaway, stay at five-star hotel and former home of the Astor family, Cliveden House. Book the Cliveden Doggy Break and your furry friend will receive a welcome pack including a bed, bowl and mat, gourmet meal from the chef’s canine menu, personalised lead and a dog walking map of the estate.
Take a walk: Set in 376 acres of National Trust Gardens, your pooch is sure to have lots of fun off-lead frolics around the estate! The dog walking map of Cliveden will guide you and your furry friend to all the top sniffing spots. After a long day exploring, enjoy a delicious afternoon tea in the hotel’s Great Hall with your canine companion.
This ivy-clad British inn overlooks the sweeping Conwy Estuary and is the perfect dog-friendly stopover for a long weekend. Only half a mile from Snowdonia National Park, The Groes Inn offers the perfect balance of great service, award-winning food and stunning location. All furry guests will be provided with water bowls in your room, while blankets and biscuits are supplied at the bar. Good excuse to stop by for a drink or two!
Take a walk: Take the inn’s favourite walk through the local lanes where you’ll walk alongside the River Conwy, pass traditional Welsh cottages and maybe even encounter some buzzards.
Situated at the end of a superb sea loch in 58 acres of parkland – The Torridon Hotel makes for a truly idyllic escape with your hound in tow. Fido is welcome to stay with you in the hotel’s deluxe cottage room which has its own private enclosed garden! Four-legged guests will also be provided with a comfy bed and bowls
Take a walk: Considered one of the greatest places to go walking in the UK – the Torridon area and its hills will provide you and your pet with breath-taking views. The hotel also offers guided half and full day walking trips – ideal for discovering the local hotspots.
Escape to the Suffolk coast with your pet and stay at former haunt of smugglers, The Ship. A fabulous place to eat, drink and relax – the hotel will provide a bowl of water and dog biscuits for your canine who can dine with you in the bar, conservatory and breakfast room. There is also a large garden for your dog to play and walk in at any time!
Take a walk: Dog-friendly all year round, Dunwich Beach is only a few minutes’ walk from the hotel – you and Fido can enjoy a peaceful amble along the 3-mile coastal path from the village car park to Walberswick. No doubt you’ll need to refuel, so pop into the beach café for a delicious portion of fish and chips.
Nestled in the heart of Borrowdale Valley, Lodore Falls Hotel makes for a magical dog-friendly escape. Dog beds and bowls will be provided for four-legged guests, plus you can enjoy light meals and afternoon tea with your best friend by your side in the lounge. Be sure to explore the 40 acres of private grounds with Fido and see the hotels namesake – its very own waterfall.
Take a walk: With Lodore Falls choice location, the surrounding area is rich with walking trails. If you’re feeling adventurous though, walk the eight miles around the lake of Derwent Water with your pooch. Stop in Keswick for some food and drinks to refuel halfway.
Originally built in the 16th century, The Acorn Inn is a home-away-from-home and makes for a wonderful autumnal getaway with your pet. You can reserve a table in the bar so Fido can join you for breakfast – plus the barman keeps a special stash of complimentary dog biscuits for four-legged guests!
Take a walk: Adjacent to the hotel is the 600-acre Melbury Estate and Deer Park which The Acorn Inn will provide maps of the best walking routes, and even a picnic if you wish! If your furry friend fancies a walk along the coast, Chesil Beach is only a 40-minute drive away and is dog-friendly all year round.
Bovey Castle is an elegant yet unfussy country house hotel with real character and an incredibly pet-friendly ethos. Play a game on the impressive championship golf course or stop by the spa for a treatment. Bovey Castle is also a canine paradise with biscuits at reception, sausages for breakfast and a dog welcome pack when you arrive with bedding and bowls.
Take a walk: Bovey Castle’s choice location within Dartmoor National Park opens it up to a wealth of fantastic walks for you and your pet! Ask at the front desk for information and maps on the best walks in the area. There are even some nearby dog-friendly beaches should your furry friend fancy a taste of the coast.
With its stunning beach location, The Cary Arms makes for a stylish petaway during the autumn. Book the Gourmet Doggy Getaway – you’ll receive a walker’s massage, three-course meal, full English breakfast each morning and a lunch picnic. Fido will enjoy a doggy dinner each night as well as a welcome pack on arrival.
Take a walk: Only a few minutes’ walk from Babbacombe Beach, you and your dog can enjoy beachside romps all year round along this unspoilt cove which connects to the South West Coast Path. Water-loving canines can also enjoy a swim in the sea depending on the tide – beware the chillier temperatures though!
Nestled at the foot of the South Downs, The White Horse offers stunning views as well as luxury accommodation and award-winning food and drink. Pets will be spoilt with a welcome pack on arrival and are encouraged to relax with their owners in the pub area and the beautiful courtyard rooms – the perfect spot after a day of doggie explorations!
Take a walk: Embark on a wonderful circular walk around Chilgrove with your pet. The route will take you through Philliswood as well as past the tranquil village of East Marden.