Sea air whipping a glow to your cheeks. Your four-legged friend bounding by your side. Exploring empty beaches on foot and paw, stomping up hills to giddy views, and snuffling through woodland stripped bare by the cold. Winter is a magical time to explore the UK with your dog; and what better way to warm up after a brisk winter walk than by a crackling log fire in a paw-friendly pub?
Take a winter break in Britain and visit these dog-friendly pubs with roaring fires:
The Dog, Winham, Kent
Where better to start than at a cosy inn aptly called The Dog in the heart of the Kent countryside? After exploring the rolling hills of the Kent Downs with Rover, thaw out by the fire in this charming pub. A dedicated dog menu, water bowls, and cosy blankets ensure your canine companion feels right at home flopped by the fire, while you fill up on contemporary cuisine and local ales.
The Dartmoor Inn, Lydford
It’s an unspoken rule that all walks on Dartmoor must be marked with a hearty pub lunch and a local tipple. So ensure you uphold the tradition and stop at this this 16th century pub to tuck into winter classics beside the crackling fire. What with rustic charm, award-winning cuisine and a cosy ambience just a short detour from some of the National Park’s dog-friendly walking trails, you won’t be able to resist. Dogs are warmly welcomed with water and treats, too.
The Flying Stag, Fife Arms, Braemar, Scotland
If you want to strike out into a winter wonderland with your four-legged friend, wrap up and explore the snow-capped hills and scenic forests of the Cairngorms National Park. And when you’ve earned a dram of whisky, warm up rubbing shoulders with locals and visitors at The Flying Stag in Braemar. Here, hound-friendly hospitality comes with a roaring fire, Scottish whiskies and hearty food, all under a flying stag created by renowned artist James Prosek.
Tinners Arms, Zennor, Cornwall
One our favourite places for waggy-tailed walks in winter is the wild terrain of West Cornwall. Set off along the South West Coast Path from your dog-friendly holiday cottage in St Ives to Zennor and you’ll spot seals, shipwrecks and pearly coves said to be home to legendary mermaids. At the end of your walk, muddy boots and sandy paws are welcome in the 13th century Tinner’s Arms, where you can hunker beside the fire under the low ceilings of this cosy inn tucked in the rugged, Atlantic-lashed landscape.
Griffin Inn, Dale
After chilly days exploring the trails and beaches of Pembrokeshire Coast National Park with your furry friend, warm your cockles in this cosy coastal inn nestled behind the sea wall at the mouth of the Milford Haven waterway. Soak in the glow of the fire with Fido at your feet, tuck into local seafood and real ales, and enjoy the warm hospitality of a traditional pub that’s been warming the heart of this small community in Wales for over 300 years.
The Drunken Duck Inn, Ambleside, Lake District
A walk in the peaks and valleys of the Lake District is sure to bring a glow to your cheeks in winter. If the skies are clear head into the hills with your hound, and when dramatic mists descend seek shelter in lakeside woodlands for walkies. Whether you hike up Helvellyn or wander around Windermere, rest your legs (and paws) in the iconic Drunken Duck Inn, where fine food is served by a open hearth in a hound-friendly ambience.
The Lister Arms, Malham, Yorkshire Dales
A winter yomp in the Yorkshire Dales with your dog by your side takes you across windswept hills and sheltered valleys. After exploring the likes of Malham Cove, Gordale Scar, or Malham Tarn, head to the dog-friendly Lister Arms; an 18th-century pub that serves award-winning ales and home-cooked dishes championing Yorkshire’s local producers. What’s more, it’s all to be enjoyed with Rover at your feet, beside a roaring fire. This a wonderful dog-friendly pub to visit during a holiday with a dog in Yorkshire.
The Smugglers Inn, Osmington Mill, Dorset
Once upon a time this pretty thatched pub was the headquarters for 17th century smugglers in South Dorset. And while it has retained its historic character, with low ceilings, wooden beams and a roaring fire for the those chilly winter nights, these days it’s not contraband you’ll find stashed behind the bar, but dog treats and casks of award-winning local ales – including home-brewed Badger Beers. So what better place to warm up after fossil hunting and hikes with your hound on the Jurassic Coast?
Book a Winter Break with Your Dog
Enjoy wild walks and warm up beside the fire in cosy local inns, when you book one our dog-friendly retreats this winter.
