Dog Friendly Holidays in Bath

What the dog friendly choice in Bath looks like

There are 29 dog friendly stays listed on BritStays for the Bath area, and every one is marked Pet Friendly. Most are hotels (17), with 6 camping options, 4 caravanning sites, 1 holiday park and 1 cottage. If you picture a dog friendly break as a rented cottage with its own garden, you have very little choice here. If a hotel room or a pitch suits you, there is plenty.

The stays are clustered in two places. Bath itself has 13 (plus a couple more listed as near Bath), and Bristol has 10. The rest are spread more thinly, with 2 in Wells and one each in Wotton-under-Edge and Frome. These listings are city and countryside stays, not seaside ones, so plan your walks and days out around the landscape inland.

Which kind of stay suits which kind of trip

Couples wanting a city break with the dog. A Bath hotel puts you close to the centre. No. 15 Great Pulteney offers a spa, hot tub and bar, which makes it a treat-yourself option. The Travelodge in Bath is a simpler choice and lists a restaurant and disabled access. In Bristol, The Berkeley Square Hotel and the Rodney Hotel both list a restaurant, and the Rodney adds WiFi. Travelodge Bristol Emersons Green has a bar, restaurant and takeaway food.

Families and larger groups. The Malthouse is listed as Bath, South West England. It sleeps 14 and has WiFi and parking, so it can work for a gathering of several households with dogs in tow. Bath Mill Lodge Retreat at Newton Saint Loe sleeps 8 and has a gym, bar and restaurant on site. Stowford Manor Farm Camping, near Bath, lists a swimming pool, cafe and takeaway food, which helps keep children occupied.

Campers and caravanners. Old Down Touring Park has toilets and a picnic area. Penn Hill CL Site has parking and is near a bus stop, which is handy if you'd rather leave the car on site. Around Bristol, Bristol Camping and Green Gables both offer toilets and parking.

Market towns and quieter bases. There are two different Swan Hotels in this set, so check which one you're booking. The Swan Hotel in Wotton-under-Edge has a bar and restaurant. The Swan Hotel in Wells lists a swimming pool, hot tub and gym.

Facilities worth checking before you book

Across the 29 stays, these are the most common facilities:

• Parking: 23 stays
• Restaurant: 17
• Bar: 14
• WiFi: 14
• Near a train station: 12
• Disabled access: 10
• Near a bus stop: 9

Most places have parking, which matters if you're travelling with a crate, bedding and a muddy dog. A restaurant on site is useful, but "Pet Friendly" doesn't always mean your dog can join you at dinner. Ask whether dogs are welcome in the restaurant or bar, or only in your room. Twelve stays are near a train station, so a car-free trip is realistic if your dog travels well by rail.

Things to do once you're there

The area has a good run of historic houses and gardens. Landmarks listed for the region include:

• Dyrham Park (National Trust)
• Ashton Court Mansion House
• Badminton House
• Great Chalfield Manor
• Iford Manor
• Saltford Manor House
• Sutton Court
• The Bishop's Palace

Rules for dogs at historic properties vary. Some allow them in the grounds but not inside, and some don't allow them at all. Check each one's own guidance before you set off.

For indoor visits, the Museum of Bath Architecture is in Bath. Further afield, there is the Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre and Aquaventure in the Cotswolds. If you're travelling with a dog, you may want to split up for indoor attractions, or plan them around time back at your stay.

When and how to book

Choice narrows quickly in some categories. With only one cottage and one holiday park in the set, self-catering for a larger group is limited, so book early if The Malthouse or a similar group stay is what you want. Hotels make up the bulk of the options, so there is usually more flexibility there, especially in Bath and Bristol.

Before you confirm, ask each stay:

• How many dogs they accept, and whether size matters
• Whether there's an extra charge for pets
• Which rooms or pitches are dog friendly, as it may not be all of them
• Whether dogs can be left alone in the room
• Where the nearest place to walk your dog is

School holidays and weekends are generally the busiest times for family and camping stays. If your dates are fixed, secure the pitch or room first and plan your days out afterwards.