The Shears Inn, Marlborough

The Shears Inn is a country pub with rooms at Collingbourne Ducis, in the Bourne valley on the Wiltshire downs south of Marlborough, and dogs are a straightforward part of the picture rather than a special arrangement. Owners travelling with pets describe a warm welcome and an easy, unfussy attitude to having a dog about the place, which is most of what anyone wants from an inn like this.

The setting does a lot of the work. The inn sits in the village with open downland around it, and guests with dogs single out the walking as the reason to come - there are routes in most directions and the downs give you as much or as little distance as you want. The bar has a fire going in the colder months and makes a comfortable place to bring a dog in after a long afternoon out.

Rooms are above the pub and come back as spacious, clean and surprisingly quiet given what is happening downstairs, which is useful if your dog is unsettled by noise. Food is a consistent high point: the kitchen earns praise for its evening meals rather than serving the token menu that sometimes comes with rooms attached.

The honest caveats are cosmetic rather than structural. Bathroom fittings are dated and have drawn comment for wear, and guests have asked for more hanging space in the rooms. Breakfast is a lighter offering than a full cooked one, so plan around that if you like to set off on a big meal. There is no published pet policy for the inn, so confirm the number of dogs allowed and whether any charge applies when you book. On balance The Shears Inn earns a 4.3/5 paw rating and suits walkers who want a proper village pub at the end of the day with the dog alongside.