The Little Mill Inn

The Little Mill Inn sits by the river at Rowarth, a hamlet tucked into the hills above New Mills on the western edge of the Peak District, and it is the kind of country pub where a dog under the table is entirely unremarkable. Dogs are a normal sight in the bar and at breakfast, and the welcome comes up again and again in guest feedback rather than being something you have to ask about.

The pet charge is published up front: £15 per dog, per stay. Because it is a one-off rather than a nightly rate, a long weekend with two dogs stays cheap. Dogs are welcome throughout, the bedrooms and the garden included, so there is no part of the stay where one has to be left behind.

What makes it work for dog owners is the layout. The inn has a large beer garden running down to the water, with a restored waterwheel and a small waterfall as the view, so there is somewhere to sit outside with a dog and a drink without it feeling like an afterthought. Accommodation is split between rooms in the inn - some with balconies over the wheel - and shepherd's huts a short walk away, which suit anyone who would rather not take a dog up and down a staircase past other guests. There is a children's play area too, so it doubles as a family stop.

Food is a genuine reason to book rather than a fallback. Guests describe large, well-cooked plates built on local produce, a strong breakfast, and prices in the middle of the range. Staff get consistently warm write-ups, and the same names come up as the reason people rebook.

The caveats are small. The shepherd's huts are snug but compact, and they have no fridge, so anyone staying in one should bring a cool bag for milk and for anything the dog needs kept cold. Best suited to walkers and couples heading into the Peaks with a dog who want a proper pub at the end of the day. It earns a 4.6/5 paw rating.