I have been to Summer Lodge in the past but only to the dog-friendly whiskey bar for pre-prandials before the main course at the dog-friendly Acorn Inn (luscious dinner) over the road (which is part of the same hotel group). This visit was with my fairy godmother, as a treat / R&R after a particularly hard time for both of us. It was absolutely just what the doctor ordered. The understated luxury of the room, the excellent breakfast (those eggs! like manna), the spa, which has a sauna - yay! - the walks nearby as well as the local bakery all combined to make 24 hours seem as if it were 3 days' rest. The staff were delightful: accommodating, interesting, efficient, kind. I would, however, suggest to Red Carnation that they make the whiskey bar more comfortable - the seating is rather hard apart from two big upright chairs more suitable for blokes than for petite women, and the lighting was rather bright until we asked for it to be dimmed. It would also be a good idea for them to set aside a section of the dining room / conservatory and front lounge for guests with well-behaved dogs on leads. Even though the hotel is dog-friendly (yay!) and even though there is a fee for bringing a dog, we were nevertheless excluded from using these lovely bright, beautiful and comfortable areas of the hotel. Speaking of dogs - we LOVED the special treats and beds and towels for them, along with an outside dog bath - very useful after mucky walks. I can hardly wait to return...
