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.

A number of the rooms are suitable for dogs, so the room type matters when you book. What guests with dogs mention most is the welcome pack: a treat and a toy waiting for the dog on arrival, which comes up repeatedly and clearly is not a one-off. The rooms themselves 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 - 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 not permitted in every part of the pub, and at least one household found this out when a member of staff intervened at the bar - worth asking at check-in which areas are open to you rather than guessing. More importantly, make sure the dog is actually recorded on the booking: one arrival was told the dog had not been booked despite it being noted at the time, and the exchange soured the stay. Ring ahead and confirm. Beyond that, the occasional housekeeping miss is the only 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.