The Countryman Inn

The Countryman Inn sits at East Knighton, just outside Winfrith Newburgh in the Dorset countryside between the Purbeck coast and Dorchester, and it is the sort of country pub where the dog is treated as part of the party rather than tolerated at the door. Water bowls turn up around the bar and the garden, and there is a dog bath outside for rinsing off after a beach or heathland walk, which guests travelling in hot weather appreciate more than they expected to.

Dogs are specifically listed as welcome, and the practical arrangements back that up: level access out to a garden, ample parking on site, and staff who handle dogs of every size and temperament without fuss. The rooms are large by country-inn standards, and the inn adds small touches that have nothing to do with pets but improve the stay anyway, including a decanter of whisky and one of brandy left out on the landing for a nightcap, and games in the garden.

Food is a genuine draw. Dinner and breakfast both come in for consistent praise, though the pub is busy enough that a table on a Friday or Saturday can involve a long wait when the kitchen is under pressure. Weekend breakfast does not start until 8.30am, worth knowing if you are heading out early for a walk.

Two caveats matter for dog owners. Dogs are allowed throughout the dining areas, which suits most people staying here but has been raised as a negative by guests who would rather eat away from other people's pets. And the stair carpet up to the rooms takes a beating from wet, muddy paws, with its condition a recurring complaint, so wipe your own dog down on the way in. Rooms directly above the bar stay noisy until closing time, so ask for one further along if you or your dog sleep lightly.

With a 4.6/5 paw rating, the Countryman works best as a base for walkers using Durdle Door, Lulworth and the Purbeck coast paths, and for families pairing that with the Tank Museum and Monkey World a few minutes inland.