Man’s Best Friend deserves a few days away too, right? More and more hotels are making our pampered pooches feel comfortable on holiday too, and the Lakes are a great holiday destination for furry friends who love nothing more than a day of walkies (perhaps with a refreshing dip included)! We’ve created a list of some of the best dog-friendly hotels in the Lake District, from the most pricey to the more budget friendly, to ensure everyone gets to enjoy a few days away from the daily grind.
Posh Pooches: Best Luxury Dog-Friendly Hotels Lake District
Armathwaite Hall Hotel & Spa – Basenthwaite
Dogs stay free at this Bassenthwaite gem. A truly indulgent experience, this luxury Keswick hotel welcomes VIPs (Very Important Pooches) with open arms. Well-behaved dogs are welcome in the Hall Lounge from 10am until 7pm every day, and they even have a doggy hairdryer on hand in case your pooch gets a bit soggy on one of their Lakes escapades!
With a dog menu offering up the finest in canine cuisine (wet and dry), your doggo will be made most comfortable in one of the dog friendly hotel rooms. These ground-floor rooms open out onto their patio and gardens for easy access to the outdoors. Each room can welcome a maximum of two dogs, at a rate of £20.00 per night. This fee includes a comfy dog bed, cushion, treats, and waste bags. Request before confirming your reservation.
From £285.
>>> Check rates and availability
Rothay Manor – Ambleside
This boutique hotel in Ambleside welcomes pups like one of the family. Their dog-friendly rooms range from their Classic room Kirkstone and their Superior Courtyard room Scandale, right up to their Luxury Suites – Red Screes and Fairfield, and their new Pavilion Garden Suites. Canine companions aren’t admitted to the restaurant, but relax with them in the comfortable Drawing Room over an indulgent afternoon tea, or dine with them for breakfast and dinner in the Brathay Room. Slip that lead on and head off into their beautiful gardens (doggie waste bins are subtly dotted about to make clearing up a doddle), and many walks lead right from the front door – a doggy dream. Add your doggy to the guest list at a price of only £25 per dog per stay, which includes a comfy George Barclay dog bed, towel, bowl, treats, and waste bags. Nip into the dog wash/boot room to rinse off muddy paws and wrap up in a Ruff & Tumble dressing gown after a day up the fells to feel perfectly coiffed and ready for supper!
>>> Check rates and availability
Forest Side – Grasmere
This glamorous gastronomic Grasmere hotel welcomes up to two well-behaved pups in any of their six dog-friendly North Wing rooms (make sure to request at booking). Furry friends can explore 43 acres of woodland in the hotel’s grounds, so a day’s ramble can turn into a late afternoon stroll, an early evening wander, or a first-thing hike.
For £25 per dog per stay, they receive their own welcome pack, including a personalised welcome letter, dog bed, two bowls, and a selection of tasty treats, to make sure that they feel as welcome as you do. Dogs aren’t allowed in the lounge or restaurant areas.
From £229
>>> Check rates and availability
Linthwaite House – Bowness-on-Windermere
This glamorous lakeside manor in Bowness-on-Windermere from the LEEU collection welcomes our furry friends – of a small to medium size – in three of its dog-friendly rooms. All are Superior rooms, on the ground floor or outside of the building to ensure easy access to the outdoors. These approximately 25 m² rooms offer views over the ground’s woodlands, carefully landscaped gardens, or courtyard. For £35 doggies receive a bed and bowl to keep them comfy and well served, and they are welcome in the grounds but not in the public areas of the hotel.
From £223.
>>> Check rates and availability
The Yan – Grasmere
Waggy tailed members of the family are welcomed at The Yan @ Broadrayne, a boutique hotel in Grasmere. Your pampered pooch will receive a bag of locally made, all natural doggy treats as a welcome gift upon arrival, as well as doggy towels and waste bags to keep them well looked after. Their dog-friendly Standard bedrooms offer space for both you and pooch, and the fell views make for a perfectly picturesque spot to rest your paws after an adventurous day. These rooms have space for one dog and a standard sized crate, but please bring your pet’s bed, water and food bowls.
From £320
>>> Check rates and availability
The Yew Dale Inn Pub Hotel & Neapolitan Pizzeria – Coniston
This central Coniston pub hotel advertises ‘we welcome dogs’ onsite, and that service rings true (they might even be slipped a sausage at brekkie)! If you would like to bring one (small) furry friend, they must be booked in by ringing the hotel reception. After a day of Lakes exploring, come back to the comfort of pizza and craft beers, and a clean and comfy room. Let a member of the team know, and your furry chum can come along for the ride, for an additional £10 per dog per night. They shouldn’t be left unattended in the room, and should be kept on a lead at all times. Indulge in everything from breakfast and morning coffee, to snacks, lunches, afternoon tea and dinner in the inn – making sure to check in with the owners and staff to ensure you make the most from the stunning Lake District.
From £205
>>> Check rates and availability
Pocket Friendly Pups: Best Budget Dog-Friendly Hotels
Holbeck Ghyll Country House Hotel – Windermere
This hotel invites doggies to stay in its Lake View Suite with Hot Tub and its Lake View Junior Suites. Located in their lodges nearby the main house, these lake view suites offer a spacious bedroom and open-plan lounge area, with views over the lake. For £25 per dog per stay, your pooch will feel at home, provided with a dog bed and bowls. Dogs are not allowed in the indoor lounge or restaurant area, but dog friendly dining can be enjoyed by the atmospheric inglenook fireplace and in the bar area.
From £130.
>>> Check rates and availability
Ambleside Inn – Ambleside
The Inn Collection Group offers pet-friendly stays across its venues, but we like the Ambleside Inn for its location in the heart of cheerful Ambleside town and its recent renovation. The Ambleside Inn is super dog-friendly, welcoming dogs to almost all parts of the hotel. In summer dogs are kept on the first floor only, as the top floor is warmer – true pampering! 80% of the bar is accessible to dogs (a small portion is kept dog-free for those with allergies), so you can enjoy your pup all day long. They sell dog snacks and drinks from a fantastic small company called Sir Woofchesters on the bar, and have a barrel in the beer garden filled with fresh cold water to keep doggo hydrated (alongside a free dog snack on the bar, for ‘good boy’s). This is all charged at only £10 per night per dog.
From £119
>>> Check rates and availability
The Coniston Inn – Coniston
Muddy boots and paws are both welcome at the Coniston Inn, another Inn Group hotel. This newly restored inn on the lakeside is a dog walkers’ paradise, and will make any pup feel perfectly at home. With private grounds giving onto the surrounding fells, their designated dog rooms are perfect for an overnight stay with a furry friend, at the cost of only £10 per night per pet.
From £125
>>> Check rates and availability
The Dunes Hotel – Barrow-in-Furness
This modern hotel in Barrow in Furness is located just off the A590, just 10-minute drive from Barrow. Estuary views and bright, spacious rooms are enough to make everybody feel welcome – just let them know on reservation, and your pooch can stay with you in your room and throughout the bar and restaurant. Journey off down to the estuary, or enjoy the lovely grounds of the hotel, tucked down a quiet country lane – perfect for taking the dog out. Pets stay for £15 per pet per night.
From £67.
>>> Check rates and availability
Hopefully, some of the pet-friendly stays above will receive the paws of approval from your furry friend as you enjoy some of the best dog-friendly hotels in the Lake District.
If you are stuck for things to do with your pooch when it rains, read our blog post-Top 5 best things to do in the Lake District when it rains with dogs.
