Every now and then it’s lovely to be able to sniff out dog friendly places that are outside of London. So when we were invited to stay at The Bath Arms in Horningsham, Wiltshire and not that far from (you guessed it) Bath, we were looking forward to our dog friendly getaway!
First things first, where exactly is Horningsham? Well, it’s a quaint little village about 20 miles outside Bath, on the edge of the Longleat estate and just next door to Warminster and Frome. It took us just over 2 hours by car to get there so very do-able from London for a weekend away. We were certainly looking forward to getting out of the hustle and bustle of London for the weekend and some long walks in the countryside…
First Impressions of The Bath Arms
When we arrived, we certainly felt like we’d ticked the box for a getting out of the city. The charming village feel of both Horningsham and The Bath Arms was a breath of fresh air.
We checked in (the reception is at the bar which was quite quirky) and were given the keys to the Garden Room, which was in the annex part of the building as that’s where the dog friendly rooms are. I really liked that as it meant we opened the door and Belinha had access to a big garden which was perfect.
The room was great, with a large comfy bed and TV and the bathroom very spacious. The bath was perfect for washing off muddy dogs from those long country walks (although not sure Belinha would agree)…
The Bath Arms had kindly provided a dog bed and of course a dog bowl and treats. Belinha immediately went about trying out the dog bed and also exploring her new pad, indoors and out!
Once we’d got settled in, it was time for dinner. We’d read that The Bath Arms have an excellent bar and restaurant onsite with all food sourced locally and ethically, so we were definitely looking forward to it!
The Bath Arms Restaurant
Dogs are allowed in the bar and central restaurant area but not in the dining room. This was absolutely fine as there was plenty of space in the dog friendly areas and Belinha soon made several new four-legged friends from both local and visiting dogs with little spaniel Tess being a favourite.
The food was simply fantastic and way above what you would expect from typical pub fare. To start we had the Focaccia, smoked garlic with olive oil and Balsamico. On the menu we weren’t too sure about the idea of smoked garlic but it was simply delicious!
I had the butternut and wild mushroom fregola with roasted chestnut cream…
And Peter kept it traditional with a sirloin steak (with triple cooked chips of course).
Although pretty full by the end of our mains, dinner had been so scrumptious that we couldn’t resist dessert. Plus photos of the desserts on the Bath Arms instagram did a pretty good job in convincing us and we weren’t disappointed. The chocolate brownie with homemade ice-cream and the lemon meringue tart with homemade blackberry sorbet were both visually and edibly amazing!
The staff were super helpful and the service was fantastic. We felt very much at home and it was one of the most relaxing and delicious dinners we’ve had in a long time. Des the manager made the time to chat with us and gave us lots of tips about where to go and explore the next day which was really helpful.
Exploring Around The Bath Arms
On Des’s recommendations we decided to first do the Longleat Pleasure Walk which is approx. a 2 mile walk along the edge of the Longleat Estate. As it is literally on the edges of Longleat dogs do need to stay on a lead but it is a lovely walk that gives a great view of Longleat House.
After that we decided to head over to Heaven’s Gate to take in Longleat from above and despite some showery bursts we weren’t disappointed. The views were amazing and the sculptures commissioned by Lord Bath several years ago were an impressive addition to the landscape. You can walk here from the Bath Arms (circa 40 mins) but we decided to drive.
Another place to walk nearby is Sheerwater Lake which is about 10 minutes drive away with a great walk around the main lake. However as we planned to drive over to Bath before heading back to London and Belinha was starting to get tired, we saved that for another visit.
The drive to Bath took about 30 minutes and there is of course plenty to do and see in this bustling and historic town and a perfect pitstop before taking the motorway back to London. Here are a couple of Bath dog-friendly coffee stops that we discovered to refuel in before you do:
- Society Cafe
- Chapel Arts Cafe (serves Vegetarian and Vegan food only)
So Is It A Paws Up For The Bath Arms?
We very much enjoyed our stay at The Bath Arms. Not only was it relaxing to get out of London to country walks and open spaces, but the atmosphere at The Bath Arms was so friendly and inviting (for dogs too) that it was like a home away from home even though it was our first visit. Being so close to Bath was an added bonus and there are plenty more places to explore nearby too. So yes, it’s a paws up from Belinha (and from us).
Room prices start from £95 per night for bed and breakfast which includes your dog. The Bath Arms will provide treats, a bowl, bed and dog food if needed. The chef can also prepare something more specific for your pooch should it be required however this is charged separately.
Getaway Accessories | Belinha wears: Snood by Ellery Bow | Polka Dot – Flowers Reversible Bandana by Montydog Bandanas | London bow-tie by Noddy and Sweets | Tartan – London Reversible Bandana by Ellery Bow
Disclaimer: Although we were kindly invited to stay at The Bath Arms, this is an honest review – we only write about products and services we genuinely like and believe in.