Macdonald Frimley Hall Hotel & Spa

Macdonald Frimley Hall is a four-star country house hotel on the edge of Camberley, set in its own landscaped grounds off the Portsmouth Road. It takes dogs more seriously than most hotels of its kind. Every room and suite is dog friendly, so you are not shunted into a back corridor, and dogs can sit with you in the bar and the lounge rather than waiting upstairs while you eat.

The cost is £25 per night for a dog, paid at reception when you arrive, and the hotel also takes a refundable £100 deposit against any damage. Book the room first, then ring the hotel to tell them your dog is coming. Guide dogs stay free.

Only a couple of guests have written about bringing their own dogs, but what they say is warm. One couple staying two nights with their dogs could not fault the service, and another said their puppy had as relaxing a break as they did. Across the wider run of reviews, the staff come up again and again as friendly and attentive, especially at breakfast.

The grounds are the main draw for dog owners. The gardens are open for daily walks, which covers the first and last outing of the day without needing the car. Inside, the hotel has a grand drawing room known for its afternoon tea, a restaurant that guests rate highly, and a small spa with a pool and sauna.

There are drawbacks. Guests often describe the rooms as dated, and the spa sits in a separate building across the car park and can feel tired and crowded. The deposit on top of the nightly charge adds to the bill, so budget for both.

For a weekend in Surrey with a dog, where you want a proper hotel, good food and somewhere to stretch your legs on the doorstep, it is a sound choice.