Melville Castle Hotel

Melville Castle is a 4-star country-house hotel in its own wooded grounds at Lasswade, a few miles south of Edinburgh, and dogs are built into the offer rather than tolerated at the edge of it. It earns a 4.5 out of 5 paw rating.

Dogs stay for £20 per dog, per night, up to two per room, and the dog-friendly bedrooms have to be booked in advance. Turning up with a dog that was not declared can mean the room is not released, so flag it when you reserve. Dogs arriving are handed a tote bag with a tennis ball, poo bags, treats and a local walking map, and a dog bed can be requested at booking, though there are only a few. Bowls, towel, food and lead are yours to bring. There is also a dog afternoon tea, served daily between midday and 5pm at £13 per dog.

Reports from guests who brought a dog are few but consistent: this is the rare grand hotel where the dog is part of the trip rather than a complication, and couples pick it for milestone weekends on exactly that basis. Staff are warm, the building is full of period detail, and the grounds do the practical work, with woodland and river walks starting at the door so the first and last walk of the day needs no drive.

Central Edinburgh is a short drive away, which makes the castle a quieter base than a city hotel for anyone planning days in town, and there is free parking at the front for unloading crates and gear. Set against that, the pet fee and the dog tea add up across a long weekend, the two-dog cap rules out larger packs, and dog rooms are limited enough that late bookings can come unstuck.

Best suited to couples and small families who want a scenic Scottish castle stay within reach of Edinburgh, with grounds to walk in and a dog that settles in unfamiliar rooms.