Fishmore Hall Hotel and Boutique Spa

Fishmore Hall is a small country-house hotel above Ludlow, a Georgian building set in its own grounds about a mile out of town, with a spa and a well-regarded restaurant. It takes dogs seriously in the way small owner-run hotels often do rather than the way chains do: bowls appear in the room, staff make a fuss of the dog, and dogs are welcome through most of the building rather than confined to a back corridor.

Dogs stay for £30 per stay - a flat charge rather than a nightly one, which makes it good value on a longer break - and up to two are allowed. Dogs of all sizes are accepted, with the one condition that they must be over a year old. Bowls are provided on request, and dogs are placed in selected rooms and suites rather than anywhere in the hotel, so it is worth booking ahead if you want a particular room.

The grounds and the position are the draw. There is space to walk on site, Ludlow's castle and market are a mile downhill, and Mortimer Forest and the Shropshire Hills are close for a longer day. The restaurant is the reason many people come, and the food consistently earns the strongest praise in reviews.

Two things to weigh. Because dogs are welcome throughout, including the bistro, other people's dogs are part of the experience - guests have been disturbed by barking both at dinner and from a neighbouring bedroom, so a hotel this dog-friendly is not the choice for a quiet, dog-free weekend. And there are no bins in the grounds, which is a small but real irritation on a dog walk; take your own bags and expect to carry them back.

Rooms are individual and one or two have unusual layouts, with baths sited in the bedroom and open showers that leave less privacy than some couples expect, so it is worth checking the room description before booking. On balance, at 4.4/5, Fishmore Hall is one of the better options in this part of Shropshire for owners who want good food and a properly welcoming hotel.