Checking into the hotel where dogs get treated better than humans

It was hard to decide between the blueberry facial, pedicure or the full pamper session. After a busy day exploring the delights of Somerset, they all sounded good to me – but which would my dogsprefer?

They were, after all, just some of the luxurious treatments Ernie and Stan could enjoy at the KD Pet Spa.

I’m often told I spoil my dogs but the moment we checked in to Montigo Resorts Somerset at Charlton House, they became the ultimate pampered pooches – and a trip to the in-house grooming salon, run by the BBC’s Pooch Perfect winner Kelly Davis, was just the beginning.

The country house hotel, in Shepton Mallet, goes out of its way to make two and four-legged guests feel welcome and the boys had beds, bowls and treats waiting for them. Ernie and Stan also received a warm welcome at all the attractions we visited with fuss a-plenty and yet more treats, which they lapped up with gusto.

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Somerset is often overlooked in favour of neighbouring Devon and Dorset but when it comes to dog-friendly breaks, it delivers – and you can pack a lot of food, drink and fun into a few days. One of our first stops was to Clarks Village, in Street, which was voted the UK’s most pet-friendly shopping centre at the 2024 DogFriendly awards.

It bills itself as a place “where retail meets relaxation” – and, while I wouldn’t normally put those two words together, visiting is actually a joy.

The retail outlet, on the site of the old Clarks shoe factory, is home to more than 90 big brands, including Levis, Le Creuset and M&S. Many of the shops allow dogs inside and also offer prices that are up to 60% lower than the recommended retail price.

When we visited, accessibility was key for us as Ernie was using a dog buggy while recovering from a leg injury. But the wide paved walkways made it a breeze to wheel him around and the shady, landscaped garden was a great spot to sit and relax. The boys also had a good chance to exercise their puppy dog eyes when I tucked in to a delicious halloumi wrap from street food vendor, My Greek Fat Wraps.

We were shown around Clarks Village by Canine Executive Officer Dudley – a three-legged Hungarian Vizsla who is quite the local celebrity. As CEO, Dudley regularly tests out doggy accessories and treats and he pointed Ernie and Stan in the direction of Marshfield Farm Ice Cream’s new Puppuccino
Pops and the nearest water bowls (Le Creuset ones, of course).

The doggy CEO role is just a one-year contract – and Dudley’s replacement was picked last week
at the Clarks Village Pawsome Pooch event.

Street is also close to Glastonbury – home of the festival – and if you and your pet are in good shape, the hike up to Glastonbury Tor will reward you with fine views of the surrounding countryside.

It’s not a particularly buggy-friendly walk though, so learning that you can pretty much drive all the way up to visit a microbrewery in the shadow of the Tor was music to my ears.

And Glastonbury Brewing Co is a real treat for both humans and dogs. Ernie and Stan were handed some biscuits almost as soon as they walked through the door and while they eyed up the doggy merchandise, my husband Nick and I sampled some of the great range of local ciders, ales and spirits.

More of that famous Somerset cider can be enjoyed at Orchard Park Farm, in nearby Hornblotton, where you can wander among acres of apple trees. It is also where you’ll find Emma’s Orchard – a 3.2-acre secure field in the running to be named British Dog Field of the Year 2025.

If your pooch’s recall isn’t great or, like ours, they’re more town dogs than country dogs, you’ll love the field, which can be hired exclusively for £10 an hour. It’s a great place to let pets run free without the worry of them doing a disappearing act.

Dogs will also love exploring the grounds at Montacute House – an impressive National Trust property dating back to the Elizabethan times.

While pets aren’t allowed inside the main house, they are welcome to follow the pet-friendly trails around the garden and parkland. Some routes are accessible and once you’ve worked up an appetite, you can tuck into one of the Trust’s cream teas in the cafe, – dogs are allowed in an area indoors and throughout the courtyard garden.

It was always a pleasure to retire to the hotel, where the spa for ­two-legged guests was as pawsome as the one for dogs. The spacious Garden Lodge we stayed in was ideal, being slightly away from the other hotel rooms but with direct access to the grounds. It felt like a mini apartment, with its kitchenette and separate sitting area.

Ernie and Stan enjoyed keeping an eye on the other guests from the French doors – although not as much as they enjoyed tucking in to their breakfast sausage in Bobo’s Bistro.

Dogs aren’t allowed in the hotel’s main restaurant, which is housed in a conservatory. But Bobo’s, right next to it, is the next best thing and you can still sample the full hotel menu, which is packed full of local produce.

The boys would have been fired up about the barbecue food at Tiigo too, served in the hotel’s walled courtyard garden. Sadly for them, we visited midweek and it is only served at weekends – but it just means we’ll have to go back to try it.

And we will because Somerset, with all its dog-friendly delights, is really up our Street.

Book the holiday

• Rooms at Montigo Resorts Somerset at Charlton House in Shepton Mallet start at £182 a night B&B. Dog fee £50 for the duration of the stay. somerset.montigoresorts.com
• More info at visitsomerset.co.uk