Shrigley Hall Hotel, Macclesfield

Shrigley Hall is a grand country-house hotel standing in its own parkland at Pott Shrigley, on the western edge of the Peak District a few miles from Macclesfield. The setting is the reason to bring a dog: acres of grounds, and Cheshire hill country immediately beyond the gates. It earns a 4.5/5 paw rating.

Dogs stay in a designated pet-friendly corridor rather than anywhere in the building, which keeps things simple, and up to two pets are allowed per booking. A pet charge applies; the amount is not published on the property's booking listing, so it is worth settling when you reserve.

One specific piece of advice comes from guests with dogs: the hotel hosts a great many weddings, and those can finish with fireworks. If your dog is noise-sensitive, ask whether a wedding is booked for your dates, because guests staying with dogs are not always told in advance.

The caveats are real, and they are not about the dog welcome. This is a period building part-way through a long refurbishment, and cleanliness is the most common complaint: unhoovered rooms and corridors, dust, tired bathrooms, mould around a shower. Dog owners have raised it too, in the form of hair on the hallway floors and stairs, which is the flip side of a pet-friendly policy in a building with old carpets. Rooms vary enormously, so ask for a refurbished one - guests moved out of a dated, damp-smelling room into a newer one have been far happier with what they got. Overall guest scores sit at 7.5/10, well below what the setting promises, and there are a lot of stairs with lifts that are not always working.

Best suited to dog owners who want space to walk and a grand setting, and who will ask for a refurbished room rather than take whatever they are given.