The Smugglers Inn, Osmington Mills (Weymouth)

The Smugglers Inn is a historic coastal pub with rooms at Osmington Mills, tucked into a valley on the Dorset coast between Weymouth and Lulworth Cove, and it is about as natural a fit for a dog holiday as this stretch of coast offers. The South West Coast Path runs past the door: west along the shore towards Weymouth Bay, east towards Ringstead Bay and on to Durdle Door and Lulworth. Guests travelling with dogs come back to the walking above everything else.

Dogs are welcome by prior arrangement, in the dog-friendly bedrooms and throughout the pub, with a water bowl and treats available on request. Check whether a pet charge applies when you contact the property to book. The rooms above the pub are few in number and full of character, and dog owners consistently report them clean, warm and comfortable, with room enough for a dog bed alongside.

Being able to take the dog into the bar for dinner and back down for breakfast is what makes it work. The cooking gets strong praise across the board, and after a day on the coast path a proper meal without having to arrange anything for the dog is exactly what you want.

The flip side of being this popular with dog owners is that you will not be the only one. Breakfast in particular can get busy and loud with dogs, and the tables are on the small side, so an anxious or reactive dog may find the dining room hard work. It is also worth knowing that the car park is uneven and potholed, which is a nuisance if your car sits low or you are unloading a dog crate in the dark, and the bar runs a quiz night that goes on until around half ten.

Best suited to couples and small families with a sociable dog who want a proper old coastal pub on the Jurassic Coast, with walks straight from the door and the dog welcome in the bar. It earns a 4.7/5 paw rating.