Skelwith Bridge Hotel

Skelwith Bridge Hotel sits where the road out of Ambleside meets the Langdale valleys, and it has built a real reputation among walkers who bring a dog. This is not a hotel that merely tolerates them: guests travelling with dogs consistently describe staff who greet the dog first, and the kitchen goes as far as putting a dish for dogs on the menu.

Dogs are welcome in the bedrooms and in the bar, which is where dog owners eat and drink. The restaurant is kept dog free, and the signage explaining that is not always obvious, so ask at check-in where your dog can go. Guests have been turned away from the restaurant at breakfast after settling in, which is an avoidable start to the day.

The location is the other reason to book. Skelwith Force waterfall is a few minutes on foot from the door, and the paths to Elterwater, Chapel Stile and Little Langdale all start nearby, so a full day's walking is possible without moving the car. Ambleside is a short drive away, and there is ample parking on site, which matters in a valley where roadside space disappears by mid-morning.

The hotel is a traditional country inn rather than a smart one. Rooms are comfortable and often spacious, but the furniture and decor are dated, and reports of tired bathrooms, weak water pressure and unreliable heating come up often enough to expect them. One party found their room without hot water or heating altogether. There is no lift and some rooms are on the top floor, which is a consideration for anyone with an older dog or heavy bags, and the choice at the bar has been thin at times.

For walkers who want a dog-friendly base at the mouth of the Langdales and care more about the welcome and the footpaths than the furnishings, Skelwith Bridge Hotel earns a 4.4/5 paw rating.