A large chunk of Derbyshire is made up of the Peak District National Park, an area that is a renowned destination for dog lovers who enjoy the great outdoors. If you and Fido fancy exploring the vast valleys and peaks then you will want to research the best dog-friendly pubs in Derbyshire.
The Best Pubs in Derbyshire that Dogs are Catered for
The Peak District is made up of Dark Peak, White Peak and South West Peak. The Dark Peak is largely rugged, ideal for those of us who are up for a challenging hike. From heather moorlands to its grit stone plateaus this would suit the more energetic breed of our four-legged friends such as Border Collies and Jack Russells. The rolling meadows, pastures and streams of the White Peak are ideal for the more chilled out canine set such as retrievers and spaniels. The South West Peak is a bit of each with trails over pastures and farmland and higher areas that require dogged determination.
Pet friendly pubs are strategically placed along each of these sections offering welcome refreshments and pub grub for you and treats for your canine companion. These pubs that welcome dogs all have something special waiting for you and your pup.
It’s not all about walkies in the wild though because Derbyshire has some great dog friendly attractions from stately homes such as Chatsworth to picture perfect villages and towns such as Bakewell and Ripley.
This compilation of Derbyshire dog pubs is going to make planning your trip away that much easier, pointing you in the right direction when it comes to a perfect break for you and your pooch.
Our Top 7 Choices
Find below 7 of the best dog friendly pubs in Derbyshire
1. Devonshire Arms, Pilsley
This Chatsworth estate-owned dog friendly pub has been decorated by the Duchess of Devonshire herself and is in strolling distance from the farm shop. Ideally placed for a lot of well-behaved walkies on the 1000-acre estate and then some wild abandon outings along the surrounding Peak District trails. Most of its posh pub grub, from the eggs to the venison, comes straight from the estate. The bar area, where you can have lunch and dinner, is where dogs are welcome on a lead and the rooms are dog-friendly too. Walk up to the farm shop and stock up a picnic basket and explore the peaks, with your pooch by your side.
2. Holly Bush Inn, Belper
Reputedly once a favourite hang-out for highwayman Dick Turpin this 17th century pub retains much of its original features. It is a popular stop-off point for dog walkers visiting the area and for real ale drinkers too. It won the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) Amber Valley Pub of the Year a few years back, so you can expect a well thought out selection of real ales from local microbreweries. Some beers like Bartleby’s vegan ale brewed in Belper don’t have far to travel. There is plenty of fuss for Fido in this dog-friendly pub that is known for its Sunday roasts and legendary pork pies.
3. The Goyt Inn, High Peak
It could be a nice gravy bone for your four-legged friend in this dog-friendly pub right on the High Peak Canal. It is a popular meeting place for dog walkers who have completed a stage of the canal walk. For Fido it is a bowl of water and treats and for you one of the five guest ales from the bar that has the Casque Mark. Great in winter where your pup can drift off in front of a log fire and super in summer with a beer garden full of fellow furry patrons.
4. The Poet and Castle, Ripley
If our pooches could talk, they wax lyrical about this little gem where they are fussed over and spoilt with treats from the biscuit tin behind the bar. You can choose a quiet spot in front of the log burner to warm those wet paws or weather permitting take advantage of the extensive beer garden where Rover can romp to his heart’s content. You have a choice of 10 real ales and there is a “Hair of the Dog” keg outside with cool clean water on tap to rehydrate after a long walk. There is a traditional pub grub as well as the newly introduced pizza menu.
5. Cheshire Cheese Inn, Hope Valley
You are right in the heart of the Peak District here, not far from the Blue John Cavern in a one of the pubs that takes dogs and provides lots of fuss and fresh water for our four-legged walking companions. Not much has changed since the days of yore when it was an overnight pit stop on the Salt Route from Cheshire across the Pennines to Yorkshire. Cheese was the currency at this dog-friendly pub and the original cheese hooks remain in the lower bar. Ale lovers will be hooked with its range of locally brewed ales like Bakewell Best Bitter from Peak Ales and Abbeydale Brewery’s Moonshine.
6. Prince of Wales, Baslow
Once you’ve visited Chatsworth House and given your canine companion a good work-out on the estate’s expansive parkland, this has to be your paw o’call. It’s a stylish restaurant and pub that allows dogs and well behaved humans and has pub grub provenance is bucket loads with grass-fed beef from the neighbouring farm going into its famous Baslow Pie and Stanage Millstone Cheese from nearby Cow Close Farm. There is a great selection of real ales and even a 0% ABV fresh water cask of Mutt’s Nuts that’s on tap outside.
7. The Shire Horse, Ashbourne
The team here are ardent dog lovers and there is even a hound in residence to make your pup feel right at home. If Mutley is not much into socialising that is okay too because there is the cosy Paddock Room with a roaring fire to curl up in front of. This is a definite go-to for those who are in the “gin and bear it” club with more than 30 to choose from. There is also a comprehensive wine list and two cask ales to tap for beer lovers. Pub grub is given a lift here with locally sourced produce such as the Derbyshire lamb and Coldeaton Jersey ice-cream fresh from the farm nearby.
Last Word
Derbyshire is a popular destination for dog owners who are reluctant to leave Rover behind and why should you with all that this county has to offer? You will find that the many pubs that allow dogs will jump through hoops for our furry friends with oodles of fresh water on tap (sometimes in a cask) and biscuit barrels behind the bar. Some of the best dog walks in Derbyshire are located close to the pubs and a vast range of pet-approved holiday homes in Derbyshire, so there’s no reason not to bring them.
Some Derbyshire dog friendly pubs have to be visited to be believed, providing delightful Derbyshire hospitality and giving our furry family members the time of their lives. If you want something a little bit different, then view all the pet friendly log cabins in Derbyshire that are available.