Runa Farm, Barnard Castle

Runa Farm is a converted farm turned small hotel just outside Barnard Castle, on the edge of Teesdale in County Durham, and it runs designated dog-friendly rooms rather than treating pets as an exception. Owners travelling with dogs describe an easy, accommodating attitude from the staff, which comes up more consistently in reviews than anything else about the place.

Where it lands well, it lands very well. Dog-friendly rooms have been found stocked with a bed, blanket, bowls, treats and a ball waiting on arrival, which is more than most rural hotels bother with. The setting helps too: Barnard Castle is minutes away, Teesdale walking is on the doorstep, and the accommodation is split between main rooms and a courtyard block, with a private hot tub and a restaurant on site.

Provision is not consistent, though, and that is the fairest thing to say about it. Other guests booked into rooms sold as dog-friendly have found none of the extras at all. Dog owners have also struggled to find a waste bin anywhere near the courtyard accommodation, and were told by housekeeping to leave bagged waste outside the room door, which is not much of an answer. Room sizes vary sharply, and the smaller ones draw complaints at the prices charged.

Two further points matter specifically to anyone arriving with a pet. Housekeeping standards are uneven, with reports of mould around shower screens, unmopped bathroom floors, and a room that smelt strongly of dogs and had to be changed after a complaint. There is also a cat that roams the restaurant and has been found sitting on a laid table, worth knowing if your dog is reactive around cats or anyone in your party has an allergy. Runa Farm earns a 4.3/5 paw rating: a genuinely dog-welcoming place with good bones and patchy execution, best suited to owners happy to ask for a specific room and check it on arrival.