The exclusive County Durham hotel Rockliffe Hall has joined the ever-growing list of hotels that are now offering dog-friendly rooms. Alexa Copeland took her collies along

LUXURY is something that Rockliffe Hall excels at. Since its opening in 2009 the five-star resort in Hurworth has won countless awards in every area, from its acclaimed spa facilities to its flagship 3AA Rosette Orangery restaurant. And now the Rockliffe experience has been opened up to a whole new breed of guest – man’s best friend. Due to popular demand, the hotel has allocated a select number of rooms for guests and their four-legged friends. Being a dog owner myself, I was intrigued to see just how five-star luxury and muddy paws would mix so I took my two collie companions along to find out.

I’ll admit to feeling a little apprehensive at the thought of taking my lively and inquisitive border collies along to such a high class venue. However, my fears were eased by the welcome from hotel staff who struck a perfect balance between professional efficiency and genuine friendliness. I was delighted to find that our room was on the ground floor of the Tiplady Lodge, set apart from the main hotel and, thankfully, with double doors opening straight onto a patio area overlooking a perfectly manicured lawn. And there were some lovely touches to ensure my canine companions felt like valued guests. Food and water bowls were laid out for them, along with a toy each and some dog biscuits which my older dog, Cody, much appreciated. The younger, ever-energetic Daisy preferred the toy but its incessant squeaking did not bode well for every other guest in the building so it was swiftly hidden away.

The room itself was comfortable and clean, though not overly decadent. There is, understandably, a long list of dos and don’ts when it comes to the behaviour of canine guests, and the hotel’s Dog Policy must be signed at the start of the stay. A £50 fine can be imposed for any soiling of the room leading to damage, and a maximum charge of £400 awaits if your dog goes all rock star and leaves the room in such a state that it cannot be re-let after your departure. The hotel also reserves the right to insist that your dog is removed from the premises if it proves a nuisance or a danger to other guests. Admittedly the policy could induce nervousness if you are not confident in your dog’s behaviour, but it is perfectly understandable given the flawless reputation that Rockliffe has worked hard to establish.

Despite the strict policy, the reality of our stay was one of relaxation and enjoyment and I daresay that guests who want to take their dogs to Rockliffe aren’t the kind that want to sit in their room all day. The resort is perfectly-placed to explore some stunning countryside, sitting so close to the Yorkshire Moors and Dales. The County Durham countryside and the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty are also easily reachable and boast of miles of unspoilt valleys and glorious landscapes providing a haven for dog walkers. For those who would rather stay closer to Rockliffe, Hurworth village offers many pleasant walks but hotel guests don’t even need to venture out of the grounds to enjoy some satisfying strolls. A trail has been created specifically for dog-accompanied guests and although we proved rather useless at following it properly, we nonetheless enjoyed a most pleasant walk within Rockliffe’s beautiful 375-acre estate.

We left our tired-out companions in the room as we headed out for an evening of fine dining in the Orangery. Each dish from the a la carte menu was exquisite and boasted many locally-sourced ingredients with even the venison coming from a Dales deer. Special mention must also go to the excellent sommelier for the evening, Alex Bore, who expertly chose the perfect wine accompaniment to each of our four dishes.

Upon returning to our room, a last glass of wine was enjoyed on the patio with the subtly illuminated Rockliffe mansion providing the perfect backdrop. The dogs lay contentedly at our feet and certainly seemed to have enjoyed dipping their paws into luxury living. And whilst some owners may admit that it’s sometimes nice to get away from their dogs once in while, it’s also nice to have the choice of making the most of everything a resort of Rockliffe’s calibre has to offer with your loyal companions by your side.