Maison Talbooth, Essex

Maison Talbooth is a luxurious treat of a hotel tucked away in the heart of Constable country on the Essex/Suffolk borders. For you, think sunken baths in marble bathrooms and king-size beds, a heated outdoor pool and a hot tub on the patio of every ground floor room. Rover won’t be complaining either, with walks through gorgeous Dedham Vale to Flatford, which inspired Constable’s The Hay Wain.

Maison Talbooth, Stratford Road, Dedham, Colchester, Essex, CO7 6HN Tel: 01206 322367: milsomhotels.com.

Doubles from around £215, B&B; no charge for dogs.

Dogs can stay in rooms unattended – ask for the Shakespeare room as it has a hall with doors at either side where dogs can be left safely. One medium-sized or two small dogs are welcomed.

Hodgkinson’s Hotel, Matlock Bath

Matlock Bath is a pretty little town on the edge of the Peak District – with walks aplenty right on the doorstep. Hodgkinson’s Hotel, an elegant Georgian townhouse right on the main street, has eight pretty bedrooms and views over the river and woods. Bowls and dog biscuits are laid out on arrival and there’s a sausage waiting with your dog's name on it (literally) at breakfast.

150 South Parade, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, DE4 3NR Tel: 01629 582170; hodgkinsons-hotel.co.uk;

Doubles from aroud £93 B&B; one-off £10 charge for dogs.

Dogs can be left in rooms unattended. Check at time of booking how many dogs are allowed – it depends on the size of the dogs and the size of rooms available when you book.

Fowey Hall Hotel, Cornwall

Cornwall has declared itself Britain’s most dog-friendly county with the launch of its Dogs Love Cornwall campaign, and beautiful Fowey Hall is already onside. The inspiration behind Toad Hall in Wind of the Willows, the luxe, 36 -bedroomed hotel is perched on a hill overlooking the estuary and the pretty town of Fowey. It’s the perfect place for breakfast on the lawn in the summer and cosying up in front of a coal fire in winter. Bramble is the maitre’dog and has a charmed life, with beach walks with guests whenever the mood takes her and all the gourmet scraps from the restaurant she can eat.

Fowey Hall Hotel, Hanson Drive, Fowey, Cornwall, PL23 1ET Tel: 01726 833866; foweyhallhotel.co.uk;

Doubles from around £170, B&B; £10 per dog per night. Dogs can be left unattended in bedrooms and there’s a maximum of two dogs per room.

Stocks Hotel, Sark

Sark, the second smallest of the Channel Islands, really is a pups’ playground, with no cars and long runs on the beaches and through the woods. Blankets, bowls, rugs and bedding are all on hand in the three dog- friendly bedrooms (out of 23), which have direct access to the grounds. Although dogs aren’t allowed in the restaurant and some of the public areas, you can take them for a sundowner in the bar next to the terrace.

Stocks Hotel, Dixcart Valley, Sark, GY10 1SD Tel: 01481 832001; stockshotel.com

Doubles from around £170; £25 charge per dog per night. Cages and duvets are provided so dogs can be left unattended in rooms. Maximum two dogs per room.

The William Cecil, Stamford

In the pretty market town of Stamford, Lincolnshire, The William Cecil is so pro-pet it even offers doggy room service in each of its eclectically elegant bedrooms. Presented with a stylish Union Jack-themed bed on arrival, hungry dogs can choose from sirloin steak or pork sausages. The hotel sits right on the edge of the grand Elizabethan Burghley estate, with a gate leading from its gardens into the grounds, perfect for long, scenic walks.

William Cecil, St Martins, Stamford, Lincolnshire PE9 2LJ Tel: 01780 750070; thewilliamcecil.co.uk;

Doubles from around £100 B&B; £20 per dog per room per night with a maximum of two dogs. Dogs can’t be left unattended in rooms but there’s a dog sitting service available.

Phileas Dogg’s Guide to Dog-Friendly Holidays in Britain by Jane Common is out now, £12.99, http://amzn.to/1kGQIzH