The Mariner Hotel

The Mariner Hotel stands on the main street of Kippford, a small sailing village on the Solway coast a few miles south of Dalbeattie, and it is the kind of owner-run coastal hotel where turning up with a dog is unremarkable. Guests who bring one describe a welcome that is matter-of-fact rather than grudging, with the dog treated as part of the party.

The property's booking listing sets out no formal pet terms, so it is worth confirming how many dogs can come and whether a charge applies when you book. What guest reviews do make clear is how the welcome plays out in practice: guests arriving with children and dogs alike rate the team as patient and accommodating, and reviewers repeatedly note that rooms are clean and fresh with no lingering dog smell, which is not a given in a hotel that takes pets.

The location does much of the work. Front rooms look out over the Urr estuary and the boats moored below, and the shoreline path between Kippford and Rockcliffe starts a short walk from the door, which makes early and late walks easy without getting in the car. The kitchen turns out home-cooked dinners and a substantial breakfast, and the village is small enough that everything is on foot.

The caveats are honest ones. Parts of the hotel are dated, and anyone expecting a contemporary refit will notice. The building is old and the village is quiet, so this is a stay for people who want the water and the walking rather than an evening out. On the strength of a consistent run of dog-friendly reviews it earns 4.4 out of 5, and it suits couples and families who want a Solway base where the dog comes along as a matter of course.