The Maxwell Arms Hotel

The Maxwell Arms is a small town-centre hotel in Dalbeattie, and what guests travelling with dogs say about it is refreshingly plain: the staff are welcoming and the place takes dogs without fuss. It is the sort of unshowy small hotel where arriving with a dog does not turn into a negotiation at the desk, and guests say straightforwardly that they were glad the hotel accepts them.

Rooms come in for consistent praise - large, comfortable and clean, with a well-stocked tea and coffee tray. No formal pet terms are published, so confirm the number of dogs and any charge when you book. What guest feedback does make clear is that dogs are taken as a matter of course rather than squeezed into one designated room type.

Dalbeattie is a good base for a dog. The forest on the edge of town carries waymarked walking and the 7stanes mountain bike trails, and the Solway coast is close by: the shoreline path between Kippford and Rockcliffe is one of the better short coastal walks in the region, about seven miles away. The town itself is small enough to cover on foot.

Two caveats are worth knowing. Food service has not been reliable - guests have arrived to find nothing available from the kitchen - so plan on eating out and check ahead if you were counting on dinner in the building. The car park has also been dug up for works during recent stays, which is worth confirming if parking on site matters to you.

This suits walkers, cyclists and people touring the Solway coast who want a comfortable room, an easy welcome for the dog and somewhere central to leave the car. Anyone hoping to eat where they sleep should check what the kitchen is doing before booking.