The Montagu Arms

The Montagu Arms is a historic country house hotel in the middle of Beaulieu village, and it takes dogs seriously. Guests who bring theirs describe a place that sets out to welcome them rather than merely tolerate them, from the moment they walk in from the car park to breakfast the next morning.

The practical side is generous. Dogs can stay in the Hayloft suites, the Courtyard retreats and suite, and selected snugs in the main house, for a one-off charge of £30 per pet per stay rather than a nightly fee. A dog hamper is waiting in the room, and owners mention a bed, bowls, a toy, treats, shampoo and poo bags, along with dog beds and cushions to borrow in the lounge, a treat table for dogs, a stick station in the garden, and a sausage at breakfast. Dogs are allowed in most of the hotel, including Monty's Inn, the pub next door that the hotel runs, but not the main restaurant.

The staff are what guests with dogs talk about most. Owners of an elderly golden retriever, a greyhound and a pair of dogs brought along to a wedding all describe a team that goes out of its way for four-legged guests, and one first-time visitor with a spaniel says they were made to feel completely at ease.

The setting does the rest. A footpath runs from behind the hotel along the Beaulieu River to Buckler's Hard, about two miles each way, and the New Forest, with its ponies and donkeys, starts at the edge of the village. The gardens are well kept and good for a pottering sniff on the lead.

There are a few things to know. One guest expected a ground-floor room for easy access outside and found theirs upstairs, so ask if that matters, and rooms at the front overlook the road and gravel drive, which may unsettle a dog sensitive to noise. Some rooms are showing their age. The cooked breakfast is an extra, and not every guest thought it matched the rest of the stay.

For a New Forest break where walks start at the back door and the dog gets as much fuss as you do, it is a very easy choice.