Glaramara Hotel

Glaramara Hotel sits in the hamlet of Seatoller at the head of the Borrowdale valley, about seven miles south of Keswick, and it makes an excellent base for a walking holiday with a dog. The fells start at the door, the setting is quiet, and the hotel is well used to walkers arriving with muddy dogs in tow.

Dogs stay in a set of allocated rooms rather than across all 33, so ask for a dog-friendly room when you book. The charge is £12 per dog per night, with up to two dogs per room. Cats are not accepted.

The detail dog owners mention most is the in-room setup: a dog bed, a towel and a bowl are waiting on arrival, which several guests say they have not found elsewhere in the Lake District. Staff are described as friendly and helpful and willing to go out of their way, such as keeping an eye on a dog while its owner helps themselves at the breakfast buffet. The bar and lounge, with log fires, are relaxed places to spend an evening with a dog after a day on the hills.

Borrowdale offers serious walking straight from the hotel, from gentle valley paths to routes towards Seathwaite and the high fells, and a bus runs down the valley to Keswick, so a car is not essential.

The main caveat is dining. The dog-friendly eating area is limited, so if you want your dog with you at dinner, check the arrangement when you book. Some rooms are up several flights of stairs with no lift, which is worth raising if you have heavy luggage or an older dog, and a few guests found the breakfast choice limited.

Glaramara earns a 4.6/5 paw rating and suits walkers with one or two well-behaved dogs who want a settled base in the valley for a few days. It is not one for cat owners, or for anyone set on a formal dinner with the dog at the table.