The Crown Inn, Coniston

The Crown Inn sits on Tilberthwaite Avenue in the middle of Coniston, a smaller and quieter village than the Windermere and Ambleside end of the Lakes, with walks accessible on foot and the Old Man of Coniston on the doorstep. It is a proper inn - pub and restaurant downstairs, rooms above, free parking on site - and it has built a genuine reputation among dog owners rather than simply tolerating them.

The arrangement is specific rather than blanket: eight of the thirteen bedrooms take dogs, so the room type matters when you book, and the charge is £10 a night. What guests with dogs mention most is what that buys, a treat and a toy waiting on arrival, which comes up repeatedly and clearly is not a one-off. The rooms are described as clean, spacious and comfortable, with good showers and everything stocked; food gets consistent praise across breakfast, lunch and dinner, so a wet day can be spent entirely under one roof. For all the dogs passing through, the place stays clean, and the absence of any doggy smell in the rooms or the pub is something guests specifically remark on.

Two things to sort before you arrive. Dogs are welcome in much of the pub but not in every part of it, and guests have been asked to move, so check at the desk which areas are open to you rather than guessing. More importantly, make sure the dog is actually recorded on the booking: parties have arrived to be told the dog was not on it despite having flagged it at the time, and the exchange sours the stay. Ring ahead and confirm.

The dog-friendly culture cuts both ways, and it is worth knowing which side of it you are on. Dogs are allowed in the dining areas, and guests without one have objected to that and to staff making a fuss of dogs and then handling food. Rooms are not soundproof either, so a dog that barks when left alone will be heard next door. The occasional housekeeping miss is the only other recurring gripe.

Best suited to walkers with a dog who want a village base with a good kitchen and a bar downstairs, and who would rather stay somewhere that expects dogs than somewhere that permits them.