Pendle Inn, Barley

The Pendle Inn sits in the middle of Barley, the small Lancashire village at the foot of Pendle Hill, and for walkers with dogs the setting is hard to beat. Guests stay in self-contained chalets, cottages and small apartments set around the pub, so a dog has its own front door and the car is parked close by. It earns a 4.0/5 paw rating from guests who brought their dogs.

Dogs are welcome in the pub as well as the accommodation, and owners describe the staff as friendly and genuinely pleased to see dogs, with water bowls left out by the door for walkers coming off the hill. Parties travelling with more than one dog, including a group with three, report settling in without any trouble.

The location is the main draw. Pendle Hill can be climbed straight from the village, the sculpture trail in the woods is around ten minutes on foot, and there is a small park and grassy picnic area opposite with a shallow stretch of river where dogs and children can paddle. The Barley Mow across the road is a handy option for breakfast, as breakfast has not always been available at the inn itself. Mobile signal is poor, though WiFi is provided.

The accommodation is where opinions split. Several dog owners found their unit tired and in need of maintenance: cold rooms with only a small heater, a bathroom door or toilet seat not fitting properly, a leaking skylight and unreliable hot water. Cleanliness draws complaints too, including a strong dog smell and dog hair left on a sofa from earlier guests, and karaoke nights in the pub can be heard across the car park late into the evening. Food gets mixed reviews, with the lunch menu rated more highly than the evening one.

For walkers who want a dog-friendly base right under Pendle Hill and do not mind basic, sometimes worn accommodation, the Pendle Inn does the job well. Anyone who values a spotless, warm room should weigh up the recent feedback before booking.