Dog-friendly Scotland
Explore Scotland's dog-friendly destinations for an ideal holiday with your four-legged friend. Whether it's a quaint hotel, cosy cottage, B&B, or a charming country house, find the perfect spot for a short break with your pooch. Discover stunning Scottish landscapes and create lasting memories on your next adventure.
Banff, ScotlandConstructed in 1864, this picturesque, renovated church building that has been lovingly restored making it a luxurious place for you and your family or friends to stay. Its exterior form has happily been retained, bearing clear witness to its original function, whilst inside a stained glass window is the central feature to the first floor living room. Other features of note include high ceilings, large windows, plenty of spacious accommodation and large mature gardens. The majority of the living space is to the ground floor. The open plan kitchen and dining area with sliding door opening to the rear garden was formerly the church hall. Five bedrooms have been stylishly designed, along with a contemporary bathroom and two additional shower rooms, whilst a cinema and games room will keep you busy on a rainy day. The extensive gardens of an acre comprise of a woodland driveway to the front. The enclosed rear garden has mature trees and shrubs, including a monkey puzzle tree, lawns and three patio seating areas. The summerhouse and patios are the ideal place for enjoying a morning coffee or evening drink while taking in the surrounding views and starlit sky.
The property is nestled in a very beautiful part of Scotland and offers many activities in short striking distance, including walking, cycling, golfing, fishing and the seaside. The property is just 3 miles from Mintlaw, home to Aden Country Park covering 230 acres. Recognised as one of Scotland’s top green spaces, the park is a popular spot for walkers, cyclists and families thanks to its picturesque surroundings and busy events calendar. Mintlaw hosts a wide variety of amenities including pub, takeaways and local supermarket.
8 miles to the east is Cruden Bay, which has a sweeping expanse of pink sands and dunes approximately 1½ miles in length. This sandy beach is popular with day trippers, water sports enthusiasts and for sea fishing. Here you can also visit the remains of Slains Castle, once a place where celebrities were entertained on numerous occasions in the 19th Century. One of the most notable guests was Bram Stoker and it is believed the castle is the inspiration for the setting of ’Count Dracula’. 14 miles south of Torreagles is Newburgh beach, home to a colony of around 400 seals, adjacent to which are Forvie Nature Reserve and Foveran Links, a site of special scientific interest.
Golfers will appreciate numerous challenging courses less than a half hour’s drive from the property, including three of Scotland’s top twenty championship courses, Cruden Bay Golf Club, Trump International Golf Links and Royal Aberdeen Golf Club. Whatever you decide to do during your stay, this is an ideal base to explore this lovely part of Scotland. Beach 8 miles.£182From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & book
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Oban, Scotland"Stunning locations in breathtaking scenery..."
In a magnificent setting by the sea, Ardmaddy Castle sits in its own bay with unrivalled views over Seil Sound and the world famous local Slate Islands, designated one of Scotland’s National Scenic Areas. Graded ‘4 Star’ by the Scottish Tourist Board, these four cottages (SBZ, SRW and SRY) and Caddleton Farmhouse (UNP) are set in secluded, peaceful locations around the estate and offer an ideal base for exploring this stunning part of the West Coast of Scotland.
The Stables (SBZ) is and immaculate and sensitive conversion of the former stables overlooks Ardmaddy Bay and is furnished to Visit Scotland ‘4 Star’ standard. Modern and comfortable, it still retains much of its traditional character and warmth, and has patio doors overlooking the sea. All four bedrooms are tastefully furnished and have fitted cupboards.
The castle’s spectacular gardens are open all year round through Scotland’s Gardens Scheme and are a delight for gardening enthusiasts. The area is renowned for its abundant wildlife with porpoise, dolphins, basking sharks, otters, deer, eagles and wealth of seabirds often seen. Sailing, rowing and motor boats are all available for guests to hire, and there is free fishing on Ardmaddy’s stocked hill loch. Guests can also use the castle’s tennis court.
The bustling harbour town of Oban known as the ‘Gateway to the Islands’ is only 12 miles away and has wonderful seafood restaurants, shops and bars. From Oban there are boat trips to the Inner Hebridean Isles, including Mull, Iona, Staffa, Colonsay and Tiree. For the outdoor enthusiast, local activities include horse riding, coasteering, canyoning, canoeing, sailing, diving and golf. Fort William and Glencoe are a short drive away offering very popular climbing and skiing. Explore beautiful gardens and ruined castles in an area rich in historical legacy or take a leisurely walk or cycle along one of the many forest tracks. Visit Bonawe Iron Works, Cruachan Hollow Mountain, the Sealife Centre and Inveraray Jail. Or relax and enjoy the unspoilt natural beauty surrounding the cottages at Ardmaddy. Shops 12 miles, pub/restaurant 2½ miles.£125From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Kelso, ScotlandThis beautiful Victorian country house, formerly stables and a groom’s flat, sits between its own large garden and the cobbled courtyard of Lochside House. Ideal for family gatherings and parties, it is also the perfect base for exploring Northumberland and the Scottish Borders with its fine beaches, historic buildings and stunning scenery. The large secluded garden and inner dog proof yard is complete with BBQ, firepit, garden furniture, badminton and a large hot tub for relaxing in, or for family and friends to splash wildly in. To the front there is a beautiful outlook over the SSSI Yetholm Loch wildlife reserve with a backdrop of green rounded hills. The surrounding parkland grazes horses and rare breed Soay sheep. Across the whole valley are extensive new native tree plantings along with other associated environmental works. Farm and woodland walks ideal for exploring, nature lovers and dog walks.
Inside, you can enjoy the comfort of soft sofas surrounded by period furniture and paintings, lots of books, an open fire, grand piano, Wi-Fi, television and a DVD player. There’s a special place for everyone in this spacious house. The well-equipped kitchen has an electric range and a large dining table. An adjacent barn houses a shared snooker table and dart board. The lawns of Lochside House also have a shared trampoline and swing.
The Yetholm Loch wildlife reserve can be reached along beautiful woodland walks and is home to many species of birds and animals. If you are lucky, you may see an osprey swooping down to catch a fish or an otter playing in the sunshine. There is a family boat which guests are welcome to use for fishing, or for the fun of rowing surrounded by wonderful scenery. The village of Yetholm is a couple of miles away with pubs, garage, butcher, grocery store and post office. Kelso is only 7 miles away with supermarkets and a wide range of other shops. Edinburgh and Alnwick with its famous gardens are about an hour’s drive. Extensive hill walking and beautiful beaches within a thirty minute drive.
Lochside Stable House can be booked together with Lochside Garden House (S4484) and Avenel Cottage (UK10920) to accommodate up to 29 guests.£151From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Aberfoyle, ScotlandSet in a unique location in the middle of Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, Craigmuick Cottage is perfect for guests wanting a holiday in a superb, secluded location. Your journey to the cottage will take you through the beautiful scenery of Loch Lomond into The Trossachs National Park, where the cottage, accessed via a forestry metal gate and a forestry track with pot holes, is set in one and a half acres of landscaped and natural woodland. Due to the location you can enjoy a peaceful holiday without any mobile phone coverage, although you can still keep in touch with loved ones and make calls via the Wi-Fi. The bubbling River Duchray passes by at the side of the grounds, and the area is a haven for birds and other wildlife including osprey, red kites, red squirrels and red deer. The cottage is located just 2 miles from Aberfoyle where you can pick up supplies from the local supermarket and a delicatessen with an award-winning butcher. You can also enjoy the good selection of eating places.
Dating back to the 1800s, the property was once the home of Scottish poet William Glen (1783-1826). The cottage has been lovingly renovated and furnished to a very good standard, keeping some of the original features alongside contemporary and excellent quality fittings. The spacious property can comfortably accommodate 10 guests. On the ground floor, the spacious and airy open plan living area boasts a traditional stone fireplace with an Aga wood burner in the living room, and is just the place to relax on a chilly evening. The dining area with a large table is the perfect spot for the whole group to sit together at breakfast and plan the day’s activities. The contemporary kitchen offers excellent quality appliances including a range cooker, and is thoughtfully equipped with everything you will need to prepare a family meal or a celebration dinner. Just off the kitchen is a spacious utility room with laundry facilities, handy for hanging wet coats and storing muddy boots. There is also a cloakroom and double bedroom with en-suite facilities. A great bonus for families with children of all ages is the TV/playroom, complete with a cosy seating area and a selection of board games, DVDs and books. On the first floor, guests will find four spacious bedrooms, two of which offer en-suite facilities, a large family bathroom with twin wash hand basins and a walk-in shower.
Stepping out into the garden, the patio is perfect for al fresco dining and playing games, and in the evening, star gazing in the forest. If you can tear yourself away from the cottage, you are in the perfect setting for a variety of outdoor pursuits. From your front door there are miles of forest tracks to explore on foot or bike. The area is great for hill walking, mountain biking, golf, pony trekking and fishing on the lochs. For days out, Stirling with its historic monuments, ancient castle and shopping centre is a mere 25 minutes’ drive. Loch Lomond, the single biggest expanse of inland water in the British Isles, has charming villages and bays to explore, and is just half an hour from the cottage. Gleneagles is 40 minutes away, the cosmopolitan city of Glasgow is less than an hour’s drive, and Perth and Edinburgh are just over an hour away. Shop, pub and restaurant 2 miles.£368From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Brechin, ScotlandThis gorgeous detached cottage is situated in the peaceful hamlet of Guthrie, in the heart of the beautiful Angus countryside. A brilliant choice for memorial holidays with family and friends and nestling in between Guthrie Castle and the ancient medieval church, it is in an ideal location for many activities available in the area.
Lovingly renovated, this listed building was once the old post office and smithy, and now combines a high level of comfort with modern amenities, without sacrificing its charming character. New for 2021 is a wonderful games room with retro pinball machine, pool table and table football ( pinball and table football are coin operated) . The open plan living area is supplemented by a second sitting room with kingsize sofa bed, offering additional sleeping in real comfort. Outside, there is a lovely sitting area at the front, and a spacious fully enclosed garden at the rear with patio and barbecue, ideal for outdoor dining.
An area of stunning contrasts, in the quiet rural surroundings of the Angus countryside, it makes a perfect location for walking, golf, cycling, fishing and even tracing your ancestry. There are numerous activities on the doorstep, the Angus Glens offer easy and more challenging walking, and there are great golf courses at Carnoustie, Edzell and Brechin. Superb beaches can be found at Montrose and Lunan Bay, just a short drive away, and the Pictish Stones are nearby for which the area is renowned. Glamis Castle is well worth a visit and offers a selection of events throughout the year, whilst Arbroath is of course home to the Arbroath Smokie, so you can sample the real thing during your visit. Travel a little further afield to St Andrews, Dundee or Perth, and enjoy their numerous facilities. Beach 8 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 2 miles.£278From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Ballindalloch, ScotlandA warm and friendly welcome awaits you at this gorgeous Highland home, where you will be greeted with beautiful decoration and stylish Scottish touches. Situated in stunning Tomintoul, Hawthorn House is a perfect spot to enjoy this wonderful part of Scotland.
Set in the heart of the village, Hawthorn House can sleep up to eight people in four bedrooms, one of which is downstairs. Benefiting from a lovely wood burner, this home is very spacious, yet still has a welcoming and cosy feeling throughout. A modern and spacious kitchen with large windows overlooking the garden also adds to the attractiveness of the property. A lovely, large garden is the perfect place to enjoy some outdoor family time, and being fully enclosed means the adults can relax while the kids and dogs play.
Hawthorn House is within easy strolling distance of the village square where you can enjoy a coffee or browse through the local gift shops. Stock up on essentials at the village store and newsagent. Treat yourselves to a fabulous meal in the lovely restaurant and there are also a few village pubs in which to sample the locally produced beverages... all wait to welcome you in this picturesque setting.
Tomintoul, sitting in the Cairngorm mountain range, is believed to be the highest village in the Highlands, the perfect location from which to explore the area’s many attractions. You will be well placed for winter sports at the Lecht Ski Centre, or enjoy the activities on offer at the surrounding Glenlivet Estate. Here you can walk or cycle the many paths, all whilst appreciating the stunning Scottish scenery and local wildlife.
From Hawthorn House you can easily access the famous Scottish Whisky Trail, with the Glenlivet distillery only 5 miles away and many other distilleries located in and around Dufftown, approximately 18 miles away. The diverse town of Aviemore, situated in the Cairngorms National Park, is 25 miles away and provides a fun filled family day out. Whether you want to visit the mountains, lochs, the Highland Wildlife Park or the Landmark Forest Adventure Park, you will find something for everyone under an hour’s drive away. The Queens Scottish residence, Braemar in Royal Deeside, is approximately 30 miles away. Explore this historical region and see how the Royal Family live. We cannot forget the dramatic North Coast with the beaches of Nairn and Lossiemouth within driving distance. Shops, pubs and restaurant 175 yards.£156From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Dunoon, ScotlandSurrounded by 150 acres of glorious wooded grounds, abundant in wildlife. Amidst a glorious landscape of unspoilt wooded glens, fragmented coastline, stunning sea lochs and breathtaking bays, the delightful cottages at Home Farm nestle in the peaceful wooded valley of the River Ruel. The steading and cottages, formerly the home farm to the estate, have been lovingly restored and are very comfortably furnished in contemporary Scottish style. Their spacious courtyard setting affords each of them a sense of privacy and they all boast access to 150 acres of wooded grounds, abundant in bird and wildlife, with free trout and salmon fishing on the Ruel beat owned by Home Farms - the fishing hut provides an ideal picnic spot. One of the most admired views in Scotland, The Kyles of Bute, awaits discovery just 6 miles away, as do the tranquil village of Tighnabruaich’s lovely natural bays, sandy beach, shops, restaurants and 9 hole golf course. Colintraive, 9 miles, offers a pub serving good food and there is a summer shop (limited opening hours) adjacent to Home Farm. Beach 5 miles. Shop 13 miles, pub and restaurant 7 miles.£105From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Kirkcudbright, ScotlandMaggie’s Den is a spacious terraced cottage with a lovely enclosed garden to the rear, ideal for children or your four legged friends! The cottage is welcoming and the kitchen/dining room to the rear overlooking the garden is the real hub, fantastic for cooking and generally socialising while the kids enjoy the garden. From the kitchen/dining room it opens up to the comfortable living room whilst the bedrooms are all on the first floor and a large games room on the second floor, perfect for that family holiday!
Maggie’s Den is in the heart of Gatehouse of Fleet, a delightful village in this beautiful part of South West Scotland. Gatehouse of Fleet now has a slower pace of life but it once had a thriving industry with cotton mills, shipbuilding, a brewery and its own port. Nowadays the rich past can only be seen in the street names and inside the former textile mill, The Mill on the Fleet.
There are many attractions in and around the town including the Mill on the Fleet Visitor Centre and Cardoness Castle. For a more laid back day there are delightful beaches within a few minutes’ drive, including Mossyard and Carrick. The area has numerous walks available, from scenic coastal walks to forest trails. With sailing, swimming, riding, fishing, golf, boat trips and watersports close by, there is something for everyone. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, there are many beautiful gardens to visit including Threave Gardens (National Trust). Close to the Galloway Forest Park, home to the first Dark Sky Park in Europe and central to 5 of the 7Stanes cycle route at Kirroughtree Forest and Dalbeattie Forest, it is a popular location for cyclists and mountain bikers. Only a short drive away is Kirkcudbright, known as ’the artists’ town’, which attracts visitors throughout the year drawn by the harbour, the historic high street and the diverse range of annual events and visitor attractions. The popular programme of summer festivities culminates with the spectacular Tattoo, an event not to be missed. Beach 2 miles. Shop and restaurant 200 yards, pub 400 yards.£81From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Ullapool, ScotlandSet in its own private grounds on the stunningly beautiful little Loch Broom, Kildonan is a bright, spacious and modern detached house. It enjoys wonderful uninterrupted views across the loch to the Summer Isles beyond, surrounded by hills and mountains. Tucked away down its own quiet track it is ideal for a luxurious get-away from it all holiday for families and friends. The large kitchen/dining room is modern farmhouse style, with flagstone flooring and built-in units. Across the hallway is a spacious living room, with deep soft leather sofa suites and a large wood burner. The games room is on the ground floor and is a wonderful bonus for all ages. Here is a large central pool table, as well as a dart board and other games. The rural country gardens surround the house making this an ideal place to relax in the evening. A wide staircase leads up to the first floor, where there are four generously proportioned bedrooms, one with an en-suite. They are all very attractively presented with colour co-ordinated soft furnishings and high quality beds and furniture. As well as the en-suite there is a family-sized bathroom with a deep roll-top bath and a separate shower cubicle.
Kildonan is ideally located for maximising the views, sitting on a promontory near the head of Little Loch Broom, which in summer is ideal for swimming. Badluarch jetty, at the end of the single track lane, offers easy access to the water. Badluarach is a small crofting hamlet, with scattered cottages, sheep and cattle for company. The adjoining lane leads out onto open moorland. The area is a paradise for hill-walkers and climbers, with numerous walks directly from the property and the renowned munro of An Tellach just 5 minutes away. It is equidistant from Ullapool and Gairloch. The coastline that runs along this west coast is simply stunning. It forms part of the renowned North Coast 500 route which encompasses some of the most dramatic and unspoilt scenery to be found anywhere in the British Isles. Miles of sandy beaches are interspersed with coves, tumbling rivers and high mountains. In the nearby village of Dundonnell there is a restaurant and bar which is open throughout the summer months. Both Ullapool and Gairloch, just 30 minutes’ drive away, have excellent facilities, including a good selection of shops, pubs and restaurants as well as visitor attractions. Beach 4 miles. Shop 13 miles, pub and restaurant 8 miles.£132From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Fircliff - The House on Bute is a superb waterside, B-listed Georgian property sitting within a large and enclosed walled garden. The accommodation is over three floors with unobstructed sea views from all main rooms over Loch Striven, the Firth of Clyde and the surrounding hills. It is a fabulous setting for groups or large families to get together in the exquisitely presented rooms with many unique items of furniture and design features. The kitchen and dining area is the focal point of the house and can easily accommodate all fourteen guests round the large bespoke dining table. There are four en-suite bedrooms with showers, the master bedroom having an additional cast iron roll-top bath, one family bathroom and one cloakroom. The younger party members can be accommodated in a room with twin beds and a bunk bed. In addition a dual purpose room with twin beds can double up as a games room. The boot/utility room offers space for outdoor wear, a drying rack, a washing machine and dog bed and crate. The adjacent shoreline offers easy access to launch kayaks and other water craft. Larger boats can also be launched locally.
There is plenty to do on the Isle of Bute, from adventure experiences to watching wildlife to visiting historical sites. There are many popular walks around the island, including the West Island Way. Recommendations are given and the boot room comes into its own for wet coats, muddy boats and mucky dogs! The quiet roads lends to excellent cycling, and the house in on the route of the 5 Ferry Challenge. Fishing is available on the inland and coastal waters. Loch Fad is 3½ miles away where you can rent a boat to fish for rainbow and brown trout or pike. The loch was also the location used for the first run of the recently restored Bluebird. There are three golf courses (9, 13 and 18 holes) on the island along with a putting green in Rothesay. There are sandy beaches galore where, if lucky, you can spy ospreys, terns, basking sharks, humpback whales, dolphins and seals. The Isle of Bute has been an important island historically, with marks left on the island that can be visited, from standing stones, to the location of a Viking parliament and more recently Rothesay Castle. Mount Stuart House and Gardens offers a fantastic day visit and the St Blane’s Chapel is situated in a tranquil corner of the island. The Discovery Centre houses a 97 seater cinema with weekly showings. In the summer you can book tickets to take a trip on the famous paddle steamer The Waverley.
The nearby Port Bannantyne offers a marina, pubs, restaurant, post office/shop and petanque club. The main ferry crossing from Wemyss Bay to Rothesay takes approximately 35 minutes and for access to the Cowal Peninsula the ferry from Rhubodach to Colintraive (only a 10-minute drive away) takes only 3 minutes, both do not need to be booked in advance. There is an excellent bus service on the island. Beach 3 miles. Shop ½ mile, pub 550 yards and restaurant ¼ mile.£273From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
