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It's often a wrench to leave the family pet at home or in kennels when the rest of the family are off on holiday, but these days there's no real reason why your precious pooch can't come along too.

Writer Jane Common and her dog Attlee travelled the country to find the best dog-friendly digs for their book Phileas Dogg's Guide to Dog-Friendly Holidays in Britain, which has leapt to the top of the Amazon charts since its release.

Here, exclusively for MailOnline Travel, Jane puts together the top five quirky hotels where dogs - and their owners - are not just welcome, but positively encouraged. 

Pooches welcome: Attlee staying at Whitby's Bats and Broomsticks

1. Bats and Broomsticks, Whitby

Whitby is Britain's Gothic capital and if you really want your dog to go the full Dracula hog, book into Bats and Broomsticks in the town.

A life-size model of Dracula greets guests at the door; while another vampire awaits inside, wielding a tray of lollipops.

A coffin emblazoned with the words RIP is centre-stage in the hall.

In your room, there's a bat above the bed and even the water bowl laid out for dogs is decorated with pentacles.

The soundtrack at breakfast is The Sex Pistols and there's a library of horror films, should you fancy a scream of a night in.

This might not be one for dogs of a nervous disposition but proprietor Kev pulls it off with his tongue firmly planted in his cheek.

Bats and Broomsticks, 11 Prospect Hill, Whitby, Yorkshire, YO21 1QE. 01947 605659. From £65 per double per night and there's no extra charge for dogs.

A sign of good reading: The Bell, for quirky designs, and, left, a copy of Jane's new book

2. The Bell in Ticehurst, Sussex

The Bell features what every hound on holiday dreams of – a tree in each bedroom, providing the perfect en-suite...

Of course, allowing your dog to lift his leg against the decor isn't allowed.

But it might be amusing to watch Rover's befuddled reaction to an indoors Silver Birch.

It's just one of many quirky design features at this boutique village pub with rooms.

Televisions are disguised as mirrors; top hats used as lampshades; there's a yurt in the back garden and a tower of books reaching floor to ceiling in the restaurant.

The Bell Inn, High Street, Ticehurst, Sussex, TN5 7AS. 01580 202300. Prices start at £90 per double per night and dogs stay free.

Fairly intense: Glamping for dogs makes sense when it's in Glastonbury

3. Middlewick Holiday Cottages, Glastonbury

An e-den is a unique, specially-designed for Middlewick wooden camping pod with a fridge, electricity, double glazing and a private shower and toilet cubicle.

This isn't camping, pups – it's glamping. The e-dens sit in a field with views of mystical Glastonbury Tor so hounds and their owners can experience the hippy vibe with a hike up there in the morning.

Middlewick Holiday Cottages, Wick Lane, Glastonbury, Somerset, BA6 8JW. 01458 832351; Prices start at £65 per e-den per night; dogs can stay for £15 a weekend.

4. Brynkir Tower, Gwynedd

It's no folly for Fido to book into 20-metre-high Brynkir Tower in Gwynedd – he'll love peering out at the surrounding countryside, plotting his next adventure, from the windows on each of the six floors.

The Gothic folly, one of the finest follies in the country, was built in the 1820s and retains many of its original features and a spiral staircase all the way down.

Brynkir Tower, Garndolbenmaen, Gwynedd, LL51 9AQ. Book at 01248 430258. Sleeps four; prices start at £385 a week with a £20 charge for dogs.

5. The Four Seasons Hotel, Perthshire

Starter or straight to main? Attlee peruses the menu at the Four Seasons

The Fab Four stayed at The Four Seasons Hotel back in 1964 – now the Fab Paw can check into one of the very cabins in the woods behind the hotel which the Beatles shared.

And, just like Ringo, Rover can expect some five star service, with a menu for mutts in the hotel restaurant with choices ranging from Hairy Hamish's Highland Haggis to Rooster and Rice.

Dogs receive a welcome letter from the hotel's two canine concierges, Sham and Payne, upon arrival and can also request the services of a pet butler, should they require more walks than their owners can provide during their stay, as well as biscuits on demand.

Four Seasons Hotel, Lochside, St Fillans, Perthshire, PH6 2NF.
Prices start at £108 per chalet (sleeps three) a night with no charge for dogs.

Phileas Dogg's Guide to Dog-Friendly Holidays in Britain published by Constable and is out now available from Amazon and all good bookstores