Berkshire

The Dundas Arms

There has been something of a reaction against the 2000s phenomenon of the “gastropub”, where beer and crisps were replaced with wine and fine dining. Kintbury pub The Dundas Arms is a great example of an establishment that has managed to get the pub/restaurant balance right. Located right on the Kennet and Avon Canal, it traces its roots back to the 1700s. Since the late 1960s it has served as a pub and restaurant.

Eat: With the same menu available in either restaurant or bar (where the draft beers and ciders are mostly local and all kept in excellent condition) head chef Gavin Houghton focuses on using Berkshire’s best produce (with fish pulled out of the nearby Kennet), but also manages to strike a balance between fine restaurant fare and simple pub food (including sarnies, burgers and fish and chips). Dogs are allowed everywhere apart from the main restaurant and there is an extensive outside seating and eating area for the summer (which is also when you can really enjoy the well-stocked humidor).

Sleep: With eight rooms (five that are dog-friendly) this is also a pub with rooms. The five River Rooms are available for dog owners. With impressive flock wallpaper, sleigh beds and flat screen TVs, they are all comfortable, good-sized rooms. They also each have a private terrace out onto the River Kennet, which is a charming touch, as long as your dog isn’t water obsessed. There is a £10 charge for dogs, and the pub provides high-quality Orvis dog beds and a water bowl.

Walk: With the Kennet & Avon Canal towpath right on the doorstep there is plenty of good walking, and the Ridgeway (part of the network of National Trails) is also nearby. The magic number is 87, with the canal, one of the most picturesque waterways in England, stretching for that many miles , while the Ridgeway  also runs for 87 miles through similar ancient landscapes (through part of the North Wessex Downs). However far you go, it is a perfect spot for walking all year round.