The best dog-friendly hotels in Herefordshire
An insider's guide to the best dog-friendly hotels in Herefordshire, including the top places to stay for comfortable rooms, pet-friendly restaurants and bars, large gardens, scenic walks, welcome packs for dogs, and hoses for muddy pooches, in locations including Ross-on-Wye, Ledbury, Wilton, Aymestrey, Goodrich, and Hay-on-Wye.
An unpretentious, olde-worlde style hotel, restaurant, bar and lounge, with a fantastic terrace overlooking countryside and the River Wye, but close to the centre of town as well. It's key selling points are the buzzy atmosphere and welcoming staff, but The Royal also has two dog-friendly rooms on a mezzanine floor six steps from garden level. Pets are allowed in all public areas except the restaurant, and there’s a fantastic terrace (with water bowls for pups) overlooking countryside and the River Wye. It’s a 20-minute drive to the heart of the Forest of Dean; assorted walkies maps are available. Charge: £10 per stay.
• The best hotels in Herefordshire
The Feathers is in a handsome black and white building dating back to Tudor times. Rustic furniture and real fireplaces help to create a warm, cosy atmosphere, complemented by friendly staff. Pets can stay in any bedroom, and a welcome pack of food can be arranged for the first night. Otherwise guests should bring everything needed. Dogs are allowed in the bar, lounge and garden, and there are many walks locally, in both open countryside and woods. Bettie, the resident Welsh Terrier, is around to help furry guests feel at home. Charge: free.
• The best country house hotels in Britain
A popular restaurant with rooms in a pretty location close to the River Wye, serving good food and housed in a handsome building: a former magistrates’ court dating back to the 16th century. It has eight rooms in which one or two good dogs can stay (but not on the beds), including a ground-floor one. Pets cannot enter the restaurant but are allowed in the bar area, lounge and garden under supervision. The hotel offers guides to good walkies nearby, there’s an outdoor hose for dirty paws and a water bowl for a slurp. Charge: £5 per dog, per night.
• The most romantic hotels in the UK
This 16th-century black and white former coaching inn, set in the heart of Herefordshire, offers superb food and six luxurious rooms. On request, the chef will whip up delicious dishes for furry friends (for example, braised chicken with veg; £5). Pooches can stay in all six rooms (paws off the beds and furniture) and two suites open onto the great outdoors. Dog towels, bowl, biscuits and water are included. Pets are welcome in designated areas of the bar and restaurant, and the garden. Charge: £10 per stay.
• The best luxury hotels in Herefordshire
This gorgeous Georgian country house sits amidst 13 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, with superb views towards Hentland and across the Wye Valley. Brooks has four ground floor, dog-friendly rooms with access to the gardens. An overnight package for pets and their owners includes a dog bed, water and food bowls and treats. Pets can go in the bar, lounge, pool room and garden, but not the restaurant. There are walks directly from the hotel, one of which leads to the Lough Pool and its dog-friendly bar. Charge: £10 per dog, per night.
• The best places to visit in England - and where to stay
The Hostelrie lies in the pretty village of Goodrich, close to picturesque Goodrich Castle, five miles from Ross-on-Wye and three miles from renowned beauty spot, Symonds Yat. All the friendly staff at this popular village-centre inn, housed in a handsome 19th-century building, own and/or adore dogs, as resident pooches Tank and Scampi will attest. Well-behaved pups can stay in all eight rooms – one has direct garden access – and go in the garden and bar where they’ll find water bowls and a jar of doggy biscuits. The beautiful Wye Valley and Forest of Dean are on the doorstep for mega-walkies. Charge: free.
• The best pubs with rooms in England
This superbly stylish b&b sits just on the Herefordshire side of the Welsh border, three miles from Hay-on-Wye. All five big, split-level rooms here have their own front door and good dogs can stay in any of them, as long as they keep off the furniture and rugs. Rooms open onto a courtyard with fields close by, ideal for late-night walks on a lead. No pets are allowed in the dining room and be sure to bring all your own equipment, but there’s a hose for muddy paws, maps can be borrowed and resident cocker spaniel Idris is everyone’s friend. Charge: free.
