Dog-friendly hotels in the Lake District for a weekend of wandering

Thanks to its Windermere location, this hillside hotel is an ideal base for meandering with your canine across the surrounding landscape. Yet its 14 acres of gardens – complete with their own private lake, wildflower-laden meadows and verdant woodland – ensure Linthwaite House is a scenic destination in its own right. Wander around the site with your dog, stopping to admire the sculptural art installations scattered across the grounds along the way.

Handy provisions for pups include water and food bowls for the room and spare leads should you forget yours, plus towels to dry off after a muddy stroll. While dogs aren’t allowed in the restaurant, there are kennels available for them while you dine on organic fare at Stella. The restaurant’s refined decor is given a modern twist with zebra-print cushions and lime-green furnishings that lend a buzzy feel. Afterwards, collect your pooch and sit together out on the terrace adjoining the conservatory bar. Order a cold glass of South African wine produced from vineyards belonging to the hotel’s owners.

Settle in for the night in a room with cosy touches such as wing armchairs and underfloor heating. A subtle country cottage feel permeates these spaces, with hints of pastel and floral linens in subdued colours adding decorative touches.

At the Rybeck there are six dog-friendly rooms to choose from, all based on the ground floor for quick and easy access to the 5 acre Edwardian gardens for an easy runaround. Your pup will be provided with a bed, two bowls for water, food and treats so you can travel light. Humans, meanwhile, receive complimentary provisions such as Farrer’s of Kendal Lakeland tea and coffee and aromatic Bath House products made in Cumbria.

While the hotel restaurant doesn’t allow dogs, they’re usually permitted in the cosy guest lounge (just make sure to check with staff in advance). If the weather’s warm enough, sit with a G&T at the Lake View Terrace and gaze on mountainous vistas all the way across to rock-strewn Conniston Fell while your pup has a refreshing tipple of water from his bowl. Pick from small-batch distillations crafted from ingredients such as nutmeg and star anise by Cumbria’s Shed One, or opt for a juniper and citrus infusion from Yorkshire’s Masons.

Staff here are happy to make suggestions on walking trails, with circuits around bucolic Claife and Hawkshead, via the 18th-century viewing station, some of the most popular.

Ring up beforehand and Lodore Falls will prepare cakes for your pup to snack on while you try out hearty British food, such as chip-shop-inspired fish butties and beef suet pudding cooked in ale, at the hotel’s lounge. Relax on plump sofas in the light-filled conservatory or perch on velvet chairs in the alcove-lined bar while contemplating your plans for the weekend ahead.

While your travel partner sets off for a walk with the pooch, a session in the spa comes recommended. This serene space is decorated in ceramics, stone and wood for a rustic aesthetic that nods to the natural surroundings. You may be hard-pressed deciding whether to spend your time at the scented steam room, herbal sauna or overflow hot tub – complete with views of the Derwentwater and the Catbells Mountain Range.

Dogs are permitted in Classic, Standard and Lake View Rooms at Lodore Falls, all with a country-cottage-style decor comprised of checkered linens and walls in warm hues. You’ll be provided with bowls and beds for pooches, as well as thoughtful touches such as Twinings teas for yourself.

With its own mooring space on the edge of Lake Windermere, this hotel encourages you to make the most of this region’s jewels – its waterways. Arrive via boat, dog in tow, and check into a canine-friendly room situated on the ground floor room so you can return to the great outdoors post-haste when your pup wants to play. Interiors have a traditional country manor feel, in keeping with Cragwood‘s grand facade, with many rooms featuring floral wallpaper, upholstered headboards and light pine-wood furnishings.

On arrival, your pet will be provided with a bowl to lap water and gobble up any doggy treats, blankets for snuggling and a selection of delicious morsels – but they may well be more interested in exploring. This hotel has features 20 acres of gardens and adjacent woodlands to run through.

Dogs are welcome in the lounges and on the terrace at Cragwood, where humans can order afternoon tea including fruit scones with Chantilly cream to nibble on while sinking into the deep leather sofas. Follow with a tot of gin or whiskey – there are more than 40 varieties to pick from at the bar.

Dogs are invited to stay in 15 of Inn on the Lake‘s rooms, each with cheerfully chintzy patterned wallpapers and linens, as well as miniature luxuries in the shape of complimentary Gilchrist and Soames toiletries.

The hotel’s sweeping lawns end where Lake Ullswater begins, so there are plenty of opportunities for both canines and yourself to take to the water when not resting in one of the hotel’s myriad common spaces. The Orangery, on the shores, makes the most of the inn’s location, offering 360-degree panoramic views from its window-lined walls. Dogs are allowed here, so you can sit with nibbles – think alternative treats like melted camembert and cauliflower fritters – under the iridescent crystal globe lighting.

The Candleroom is the place to go for drinks. This space nods to Cumbrian heritage with its farmhouse-style oak beams, slate feature wall and real ale menu – just right to complete your stay in the Lake District in authentic style. If activity is what you crave, there’s a 9-hole pitch and putt golf course, as well as a croquet lawn, to test your mettle on during the daytime.

Bringing a slice of Scandinavia to the Lake District through its hyper-modern design scheme, Inn on the Square differs from other quintessentially English hotels in this region. The front bar – where canines are welcome – features a crackling log fire and a mish-mash of cheerful colours on walls and furniture. It’s crowned by an Italian glass chandelier and cartoons illustrated by a local artist.

This hotel’s passion for pooches is reinforced by its warm welcome for your furry friend in 25 out of 34 guest rooms. Each space is decorated with geo-print fabrics in acid brights, while Herdwick rooms take the quirky aesthetic further with prints emblazoned in Cumbrian sheep adorning the walls. Lie back on premium mattresses with a Cadbury’s hot chocolate in hand while your dog relaxes on its own bed. Bowls are also supplied – just make sure to request one in advance.

Further amenities for four-legged friends include a hose pipe for rinsing before returning to your rooms after rugged landscape walks. Just 30 minutes away, you’ll find the megalithic Castlerigg stone circle, thought to be 5,000 years old.

Dog-friendly rooms at this hotel are predominantly located on the ground floor, giving instant access to 400 acres of deer-filled parklands. Up to two canines are permitted to stay in each space (although advance notification is required) and are provided with a cushioned bed and tasty treats. Waste bags are available for those long strolls across the rippling Skiddaw mountain range and a hairdryer on site means wet pups can be dried off before entering the hotel.

Your furry friend’s welcome in the lounge during daytime hours, or you can sit out on the terrace together with a warming glass of merlot and views of sparkling Lake Bassenthwaite. Order a walkers’ backpack filled with a hearty spread for tramping across the countryside, or stay within the grounds while toting one of the hotel’s luxurious hampers.

When your pooch is tired out from an intrepid morning, carve out an hour for yourself in the spa. Wind down with an al-fresco stint in the hot tub or steam away your cares under the soft light in the amethyst cave. Return to your room feeling relaxed and ready to recline on crisp Egyptian linens while your pup dreams of tomorrow’s adventures.