The Queens, Warwick-on-Eden

The Queens is a village inn at Warwick-on-Eden, a few minutes off the M6 just east of Carlisle, and it is one of the more thoroughly dog-friendly places to break a journey to or from Scotland. Dogs are not confined to a handful of rooms here - guests describe bringing them through the bar and the restaurant without a second thought, which is the difference between a pub that tolerates dogs and one that is built around them.

Practically, that means you can eat dinner with your dog at your feet rather than taking turns. There is an enclosed field beside the inn that guests use for a proper run, and the grounds work well for a last walk late at night or a first one early, which matters on a stopover. Breakfast is cooked to order and included in the rate, the kitchen has a real local reputation, and the bar keeps regional ales and lights a fire.

Rooms are comfortable and generously sized, with large beds and good shower rooms, though a few guests note the decor is starting to look tired in places. The one access issue worth flagging is the staircase up to the rooms, which is steep enough that guests with reduced mobility have mentioned it.

The flip side of an open-door dog policy is that you will not be the only dog there. Some guests have been kept awake by a dog left alone and barking in a neighbouring room, and a couple of visitors without dogs have found the number of them in the dining room more than they wanted. Neither complaint is about the inn's own conduct, but if you are a light sleeper, or your dog reacts to others, it is worth knowing.

For dog owners driving the M6, or using Carlisle as a base for Hadrian's Wall and the northern Lakes, The Queens is close to ideal, and it earns a 4.8/5 paw rating.