The unspoilt and dramatic scenery of the northern Lake District is at times overlooked by the guide books, yet its attraction to both the seasoned walker and the less energetic traveller is beyond dispute. And what better place to use as a base for exploring this beautiful and remote corner of England than an award-winning, 11-bedroom country house hotel that comes complete with 18 acres of gardens and woodland and a restaurant combining the best of regional produce with cooking of wonderful flair and imagination.

If there was a surprise in store for Paws For A Walk, it was that such an oasis of comfort and style should be quite so welcoming for dogs. But in the case of Overwater Hall, the description "dog-friendly" means precisely that. Dogs and their owners are not simply tolerated but positively encouraged. On the night we stayed there, it seemed that every guest had a canine friend or two with them. As well as our own two border collies, there were a pair of red setters, a boxer, a bearded collie and two labradors. All of them met up after dinner in the spacious and comfortable lounge and from the contented looks on the faces of the dogs you could have been forgiven for believing they had all been treated to as fine a meal as we had enjoyed.

Our starters of escabeche of sea bass and guinea fowl had been followed by an intermediate course (tiny parcels of delicately smoked trout) and then superb main dishes of a creamy chicken supreme served on sweet and buttery leeks and salmon char with asparagus. Desserts were equally impressive, both in taste and presentation. Had the weather been kinder then a late evening stroll through the grounds would have been a perfect end to the day but with the Lake District buffeted by unseasonable wind and rain, coffee and a chat in the bar with Stephen Bore, one of the three co-owners, was more in order.

It was Stephen who had welcomed us on our arrival and led us into the comfortable interior of the entrance hall. Richly furnished and decorated, this was a taste of things to come. An elegant staircase led to our bedroom, warm, welcoming and spacious enough to include a sofa as well as an enormous, deep- pillowed bed. Our window overlooked the gardens, where red squirrels were frequent visitors, with the dark peaks of the Skiddaw range in the distance. The bathroom was impressively large and modern, with a stylish shower as well as a deep, double-ended bath, fluffy towels and bath robes and Gilchrist and Soames toiletries. ownstairs the hotel features a marvellous drawing room with views over the gardens and countryside, the previously mentioned lounge for those with dogs, a cosy bar where canines are also welcome, and the sumptuous charms of the restaurant, where the cuisine is masterminded by Adrian Hyde, who with his wife, Angela, completes the trio who have lovingly run verwater Hall for 16 years. Under their ownership, the Grade 2 listed Georgian mansion, with its ivy-covered walls, italianate terrace, turret rooms and castellations, has been gracefully brought up to a high standard of comfort and style.

The owners' attention to detail does not end at the front door. Outside, the grounds are a delight and a particular attraction to those with dogs
is a boardwalk that weaves its way through the hotel's woodlands and provides a marvellous
stroll for dogs and their owners alike. The
owners' consideration for their environment is evident, too, not only in their care for the wildlife that abounds in the hotel grounds but also in their adoption of eco-friendly systems for power and heat and an insistence on using as much local produce as possible. For walkers there are plenty of routes right from the hotel door, and more Lake District fells further afield. On the other hand if the weather is poor it is no great hardship to stay in the hotel, read the papers and relax.