Fancy a dog-friendly, foodie getaway in a cosy eco-lodge? The Weeping Willow has all that and more.

Come on Maggie,’ I encourage, as my husband, Rufus, and I drag our suitcase over the gravel towards our home for the night – an eco-lodge at The Weeping Willow pub and restaurant, located in the large village of Barrow in Suffolk. We are closely followed by our two children, Martha (14) and Seth (12), and our very stubborn dog, Maggie, who has planted her paws firmly to the ground, and is refusing to move. I can understand her reluctance. Our lodge, one of seven, nestles in the grounds of the Weeping Willow – one of the oldest buildings in Barrow, dating from the 16th century. As we walk past the dining room and pub garden, delicious smells waft through the air, and happy customers sip cold white wine on the patio. Dogs lie at their owners’ feet, basking in the evening sunshine, occasionally being fed a delicious treat. After three hours in the car, Maggie obviously thinks she deserves nothing less.

Our dinner booking isn’t until 8pm, which means we have half an hour to get settled before joining the diners. Our lodge is light, airy and cosy – and has exceptionally comfy beds. There is a large double in the main bedroom, and a separate room with bunk beds for the children; there are also fluffy dressing gowns for guests and a gorgeous bathroom. Maggie is delighted to find a roomy, comfy dog bed, which she curls up in instantly. It’s no great surprise that when dinnertime arrives, she refuses to leave. We head down without her, passing wildflowers and mature borders that are so beautiful I can’t stop taking pictures. Rufus has a pint of Adnams, the children order soft drinks, and I enjoy a gin and tonic as we relax in the warm evening air.

We soon move into the adjacent dining room. It’s an impressive space adjoining the pub, with floor-to-ceiling windows, an open kitchen and a buzzy atmosphere. We are all very hungry and order starters and mains – Rufus opts for a Scotch egg with red onion marmalade, followed by melt-in-the-mouth venison with baby beets and fondant potatoes; I have trout with pickled kohlrabi and the tastiest beer-battered haddock and chips. The kids go for burgers, and we finish with a delicious dark chocolate mousse and sticky toffee pudding. On the short walk back to the lodge, we all agree that our meal has been spectacular. And that’s not the end of the foodie delights. Morning comes, and after a trot round the picture-perfect village green, we sit down for breakfast – this time with Maggie, too.

The boys choose a full English: a delicious plate of local sausages, bacon, baked beans, tomatoes, mushrooms, black pudding and eggs; Martha and I have the vegan version with avocado on toasted sourdough, tomatoes, mushrooms and spinach. We decide to take a walk around the village and surrounding countryside to burn off our morning feast – a circular route recommended by the wonderful staff at The Weeping Willow. It’s a glorious day and we enjoy exploring the village, passing the duck pond and church before heading out across idyllic countryside. It’s so pretty that even the children don’t complain. We have planned to spend the rest of the day in nearby Cambridge, and head back to the lodge to pack. This is not universally welcomed. Maggie sees us zipping up cases, and hunkers down in her dog basket, looking doleful. She plods behind us as we head back to the car, but then lies down in the grass, her nose between her paws, dreaming of another life in which she can spend her days lying between a pillowy bed and a flower-strewn lawn, occasionally being tossed a butchers’ sausage from the kitchen. She clearly thinks we’re barking mad to leave.