Dog friendly stay at Delta Marriott Preston with Betty the PoodleDog Friendly Stay En-Route to The Lakes: Our Stay at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Preston.
If you’re planning a trip up north and want a genuinely dog-friendly stay en-route, Delta Hotels by Marriott is a great shout.
We decided a visit to The Lakes was long overdue and thought we’d turn it into a two-day trip, staying at the Delta Hotels by Marriott Preston on the way. We booked the ‘Paws & Relax’ package, which is available at a selection of Delta by Marriott and Marriott hotels across the UK.
Betty has become accustomed to the luxury of her own comfy dog bed, treats and little extras, so by this point she wouldn’t be particularly impressed with anything less.
Location
At around 45 minutes from Manchester and just over an hour from The Lakes, the hotel makes an ideal overnight stop en-route.
We had planned to take full advantage of the surrounding area. I’d done my research before we left home and found some lovely woodland walks that could be accessed straight from the hotel.
However, given that the hotel has fantastic grounds and a huge green area out front, you can probably guess that we never actually ventured further than the hotel!
Betty was in her element chasing her ball across the grass and saying hello to everyone enjoying drinks outside. She was particularly pleased that so many people were happy to give her attention. I’m beginning to think she views every hotel stay as an opportunity to build her own fan base.
Checking in
As usual with Betty, she couldn’t wait to get inside. After lots of attention and fuss from the staff, we had a seamless check-in and headed off to find our room.
And what a room we had! It was huge, bright and airy, with plenty of space for Betty’s zoomies before she set about exploring every nook and cranny.
We love the personalised note explaining everything you need to know when staying with your dog. It’s such a thoughtful touch and makes you feel that dogs are genuinely welcome rather than simply tolerated.
After thoroughly exhausting herself, Betty settled down on her comfy bed looking extremely pleased with life. That was until she noticed we were getting ready to leave for dinner and she might actually be expected to exert herself by walking downstairs. The look of betrayal was quite something.
The restaurant and bar
Although the restaurant is dog friendly, it was such a beautiful evening that we decided to have dinner outside.
It was lovely that Betty could join us rather than having to stay in the room while we dined, giving us plenty of time to relax, enjoy the evening together and work our way through the cocktail list.
The food was delicious and the staff provided great service.
Breakfast
The bed must have been far too comfortable because we slept much longer than planned, which is very unusual for me.
With just a slight hangover, we headed down for breakfast, but not before taking Betty outside for her morning business.
Breakfast was excellent, with plenty of choice. I obviously had to try both the fruit and yoghurt and some of the hot buffet. I needed fuel for the walk we were intending to do in The Lakes, after all. That was my excuse anyway.
Betty was once again welcome in the designated dog-friendly breakfast area and enjoyed her usual breakfast, along with a cheeky sausage.
I think she was beginning to wonder whether this was actually her holiday and we were simply tagging along.
Hiking to Cathedral Cave
After packing up and lots more fuss for Betty when we checked out, we were in The Lakes in no time.
Our chosen walk was to Cathedral Cave, which I’d wanted to visit for a while. We extended the walk by parking at Elterwater and walking to Little Langdale, making it around a 2½-hour round trip.
It was so worth it. The cave was spectacular.
You enter through a short tunnel which opens out into a huge chamber. You can feel the icy cold as soon as you enter the tunnel, which would be a very welcome relief on a hot summer’s day.
Betty, of course, loved the whole thing. She had spent the previous evening charging around the hotel grounds, so I’m sure she appreciated a proper adventure.
After the walk, we stopped at the Three Shires for a very welcome drink and a sandwich before heading to Windermere for a wander around.
I do love Windermere and Bowness. They have such a buzz about them, although we always try to explore different places whenever we visit The Lakes.
What a fabulous two days we had.
Verdict
Having stayed at a Delta Hotels by Marriott before, we knew the standard we could expect, and this hotel certainly didn’t disappoint.
From the outside, the hotel has the look of a grand Victorian manor house (which of course it is), with beautifully kept lawns, while inside it’s modern, bright and stylish.
Staying here en-route to The Lakes was a perfect choice. We loved the friendliness of the staff towards Betty, the lovely big room with its comfy bed and, of course, all the thoughtful little extras that made her feel just as welcome as we did.
It’s exactly what we look for in a dog-friendly hotel: somewhere that doesn’t simply allow dogs, but actually makes them feel part of the stay.
Would we stay again? In a heartbeat!
Although I suspect Betty has already added it to her list of places she expects us to revisit.