In the dog house: The best places to stay with your pooch in Scotland

Some ‘dog-friendly’ places accept our canine companions on sufferance; others welcome them with open arms.

As the new Good Hotel Guide goes live online, we asked the editors to recommend five Scottish hotels where your pooch won’t feel like the underdog.

Remember, to avoid a disappointed gnashing of teeth, always be sure to let the host know that you’ll have your best friend in tow.

Prestonfield House, Edinburgh

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Highland cattle and peacocks roam the parkland under Arthur’s Seat at James Thomson’s country-house hotel, a 17th-Century mansion only five minutes from the city centre. Interiors are lavish and theatrical, a riot of impressive antiques, ancestral portraits, ornate plasterwork, silk drapes and Mortlake tapestries.

There is no charge for a four-legged guest in any of the bedrooms or the sumptuous suites, and a comfy dog bed can be provided, while, among public areas, only fine-dining Rhubarb Restaurant is off limits. It’s not cheap, but we rate this hotel incredible value for what it is, and you could always come by for a slap-up festive afternoon tea by the fire and a walk in the grounds after a morning’s Christmas shopping.

B&B doubles from £375. À la carte £70, set menus lunch £45, dinner £70, afternoon tea from £650. www.prestonfield.com

Trigony House, Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway

Otto the resident Doberman is a perfect host at this 18th-Century country-house hotel, a former sporting lodge for Closeburn Castle, in wooded grounds amid the rolling Kier hills. For a charge of £15 a night (stay for four, and on a fifth night your dog stays free), they will provide a bed, towels, bowls, treats and a map of the best walks from the front door.

Washing facilities await your return from a muddy hike or a doggy paddle in the River Nith. There is a canine breakfast menu, a dog sitter can be arranged, and you can even book a course with an onsite dog trainer. Guests enjoy traditionally furnished bedrooms, locally sourced menus and a mini spa with sauna cabin and outdoor hot tub.

B&B doubles from £150. Set-price menu £32/£40.50 for 2/3 courses. trigonyhotel.co.uk

Forss House, Thurso, Caithness

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The River Forss wraps around the grounds of this Georgian mansion above a waterfall on a wooded estate, with rugged coastline and Highland countryside waiting to be explored. Resident canine connoisseur Beinn can vouch for the delicious breakfast sausages, while route maps are provided for local walks, though they ask that you bring towels and bowls.

Most of the bedrooms and public areas are entirely dog friendly. The fine-dining restaurant is out of bounds for Bonzo, but the same menu is served in the conservatory, and in-house ‘picnics’ can be ordered to eat in your room. Breakfast is included in the price of a smart room or suite if you book through the hotel. A £229 ‘petaway’ package includes breakfast and a three-course dinner.

B&B doubles from £136. Set-price dinner £70, tasting menu £95. forsshousehotel.co.uk

The Meikleour Arms, Meikleour, Perth and Kinross

Set in woodlands, on the Marquess of Lansdowne’s estate, with fishing rights on the River Tay, this wonderful Georgian coaching inn will waive a nightly £15 charge for your dog if you book direct, though they may, very reasonably, bill for damage or extra cleaning, so mucky pups should take advantage of the hose and towels provided after a good nose around the woods and riverbank.

The dog-friendly bedrooms are all on the ground floor, with serviced estate cottages more suitable for bigger beasts and longer stays. The interiors are filled with artworks and photographs that tell something of the inn’s history. In the restaurant, the Franco-Scottish menus showcase local produce, with home-grown and foraged ingredients, or you might just choose to have a pint and a sandwich in the bar or beer garden. Dog walkers and sitters can be arranged.

B&B doubles from £110. À la carte £40. meikleourarms.co.uk

Melville Castle, Lasswade, Midlothian

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Your dog will feel like king of the castle at this 18th-Century mansion, set in a clearing on the River North Esk (dubbed ‘Melville’s beech grove’ by Sir Walter Scott), and approached by a tree-lined drive. The hotel revels in its history (George IV and a young Queen Victoria both visited in their turn; Mary Queen of Scots used an earlier castle as a hunting lodge).

The interiors are filled with antiques and original features. Well-behaved dogs are welcome in designated bedrooms (maximum two), including a four-poster suite, for a nightly charge of £20 (special offers may apply). A tote with ball, treats and maps is included in the price, and an extra £10.50 buys a doggy afternoon tea, best enjoyed alongside human tea. The brasserie is a dog-free zone, but dinner can be brought to you by room service.

B&B doubles from £100. À la carte £45. melvillecastle.com