Irton Hall, Holmrook

Irton Hall is a historic hall near Holmrook on the western edge of the Lake District, with rooms in the hall itself and self-catering cottages set around the grounds. It is within reach of Eskdale, Wasdale and Scafell Pike, and it has the character of a country estate that has been opened up rather than a hotel built as one. The grounds are the main draw: broad lawns you are free to wander, a log fire indoors, and food in the on-site restaurant that guests rate as generous and good value.

Dogs are welcome in the bedrooms and in the bar, but not in the restaurant or dining room. That is a workable arrangement for an evening meal, since the bar takes dogs and serves food, but it does mean the sit-down restaurant and, in practice, breakfast are off limits with a dog beside you. Work out in advance who is holding the lead.

The bigger thing to weigh is the livestock. Peacocks, chickens, geese, pigs and cats roam the grounds freely, along with the owners' own dog, and most guests write about that as one of the pleasures of staying here. For a dog with any prey drive it is the opposite. There is no enclosed, secure area to let a dog stretch its legs, and free-roaming poultry mean a dog off the lead is a real risk rather than a theoretical one - which is the one thing dog owners have flagged about the place. Very few guests who write about Irton Hall mention travelling with a dog, so beyond the stated policy there is not a great deal to go on, and anything specific is worth confirming with the hotel directly.

What that adds up to is a good base for a settled, lead-trained dog whose owner wants a comfortable, well-priced country stay within striking distance of the western fells, with the walking done off-site. It is a poor choice for a dog that chases birds, or for anyone counting on a secure patch of ground on the doorstep.