Pet Friendly Holidays Argyll and Bute

Holly Tree Cottage is tucked away in charming, historic Tain in the Scottish Highlands. Granted its first royal charter in 1066, Tain is the oldest royal burgh in the Scotland and you will find many interesting buildings throughout that you’ll enjoy wandering around and inspecting, especially since many host nice bars, cafés and restaurants. Holly Tree Cottage is a 19th-century, detached cottage set on a quiet street with the centre an easy walk away. The cottage itself is spacious and the owners have tastefully finished it to a very good standard. The kitchen/dining room is a lovely space where you will spend a lot of time, with its enormous wood burner taking centre stage. This room spills out to the garden, which is perfect for children and dogs to let off some steam. The garage is accessible from the garden and contains the washing machine and tumble dryer, as well as enough space to store kayaks, surfboards, golf clubs, bicycles and motorbikes. Back in the cottage there’s a great living room with another wood burner, a family bathroom and also a small double bedroom. Up on the first floor are two bedrooms, a double and twin, and a reading snug on the landing.
Tain has much to offer, including the Glenmorangie Distillery and the fantastic Old Tom Morris Golf Links. There is no beach in Tain, but the coastline, dunes and some tidal stretches of sand are great to explore on foot and footpaths through the golf course afford amazing views across the Dornoch Firth. Nearby Dornoch, Portmahomack and Shandwick all have spectacular stretches of golden sandy beaches to enjoy, and each place is worth a visit, too. Popular Dornoch has some great places to eat and drink in as well stunning historical buildings and Royal Dornoch Golf Links.
Tain also has the NC500 touring route skirting round it, so you can explore some of the best places in the whole of the UK. Head north via Golspie, Brora and Helmsdale to reach John O’Groats, Duncansby, the ferry to Orkney, Dunnet Head and many amazing beaches along the far north coast. The interior roads are also spectacular and worth exploring via Bonar Bridge and Lairg as well as Altnaharra. You can get across to Assynt and the west coast for a day surprisingly easily. Fly fishing is available on nearby salmon and trout rivers, as well as lochs on estates. Rest assured that a week’s stay won’t be long enough; you’ll love the accommodation and the surrounding area, and will want more time here. Beach 9 miles.

Situated within the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park, Benmore Drimfern is a fantastic bungalow with an open plan living space as well as a second living room with panoramic views. It makes an ideal base from which to explore this stunningly beautiful area with Benmore Botanic Gardens on the doorstep as is the fantastic Pucks Glen with amazing walks and waterfalls. The surrounding area is known as Argyll’s Secret Coast with its sparkling sea lochs, romantic ruins, ancient forests and stunning scenery. This coastal route takes you through some of the most stunning parts of Argyll’s Secret Coast; a magical undiscovered corner of Cowal. A number of public gardens are located in the area, such as Ardkinglas, Crarae and Benmore Botanic Gardens with its avenue of giant redwood trees. There are three golf courses available locally and many opportunities for a spot of fishing.
The town of Dunoon is nearby and offers a good centre for shopping, leisure facilities and a small cinema. The Argyll Forest, part of the simply gorgeous Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, is on the doorstep and has numerous forest tracks, marked walks, cycle ways and wonderful waterfalls to explore. For those a bit more adventurous, the ferry at Colintraive to Rhubodach takes only three minutes to cross the sea loch and arrive on the Isle of Bute, a famous tourist destination over the years with many attractions such as Mount Stuart House and Gardens as well as the Victorian seaside resort of Rothesay. From this luxurious home, guests can explore many small villages such as Tighnabruaich and Kames with a spectacular viewing point en-route which looks out over the Kyles of Bute. Loch Fyne with its famous restaurant and oyster bar is not far away as is Inveraray; both great for a day trip.
Benmore Drimfern (UK38742) and Benmore Formentor Cottage (UK38743) can be booked together to accommodate up to 12 guests.

Situated in in the small village of Kilchattan Bay on the Isle of Bute, Dykenamar sits only a stone’s throw from the water’s edge with a glorious sweeping sandy beach where children and dogs can run freely. A small stone pier near the house is suitable for launching small boats and jet skis into the beautiful clear sea. It has a post office/café and a country inn (1 mile away) with good food.

There are three golf courses on the island, cycle tracks, horse riding, kayaking and lots of wildlife to see. For those interested in fishing, the inland lochs are popular with anglers for coarse and game fishing, while those with a passion for sea angling are spoilt for choice.

A few miles away is the island’s main town of Rothesay, a traditional Victorian seaside resort which has managed to maintain its grand architecture. It still has its ancient castle, built to fend off the Vikings, and a museum. From Rothesay harbour, trips can be taken around the islands on the Waverley, the last sea-going paddle steamer ship in the world.

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. There are three golf courses 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.

The island attracts many annual festivals including the Jazz Festival in May, T in the Port in June, ButeFest in July, the Bute Highland Games in August and the Baird Festival of Flight in September to mark the first ’All Scottish, heavier than air, powered flight in 1910’, just a few years after the Wright brothers first flight in France. At the north end of the Isle of Bute is a wee car ferry that provides easy access to the Cowal Peninsula and another way onto the mainland for those wishing to explore the Highlands of Scotland.

Dunmore Villa provides flexibility of space, suitable for extended families or large groups of friends, sleeping up to 13 guests, all in bedrooms with amazing sea views. The architecturally designed building compliments the stunning natural surroundings with internal furnishings and stone fireplace having been inspired by the beauty and colours of the Argyll countryside. The Villa has been extensively upgraded with eco features including solar panels, a wood burner, insulation and wood cladding. New bathrooms have been fitted throughout the house, and a glass-fronted dining room with terrace has been added giving magnificent views of the West Loch. There is a boat ramp and jetty for those who wish to bring their own boats, or for fishing and water activities.

Set in an area of Argyll known for its spectacular coastlines, Dunmore Villa is situated on the North side of West Loch Tarbert, seven miles from the village of Tarbert, Loch Fyne on the extensive Dunmore Estate which has 900 acres of land and over two miles of coastline; much of the land is protected by Scottish Natural Heritage.

With beautiful coastlines and grand scenery within walking distance, there is plenty to do during your stay at Dunmore Villa, from stunning nature walks to a more relaxed day at a local coastal spa boasting a heated outdoor infinity pool, just a 20-minute ferry away. Just a 7-mile scenic drive along the coast is the bustling fishing village of Tarbert. From craft shops and galleries, to souvenir shops, there are plenty of places to browse. Tarbert also has a several dog-friendly pubs, restaurants and cafés to enjoy a meal. or grab yourself some local fish and chips and enjoy eating on one of the many picnic benches surrounding the Tarbert Harbour.

The area around Kilberry has lots of forest and coastal walks and is close to many beautiful beaches with stunning views over the Atlantic. The relatively flat landscape and easy access affords many opportunities to enjoy coastal walking and exploring. The area is packed with history and some sights not to be missed include Tarbert Castle, Skipness Castle and Saddell Castle & Abbey. With ferries to Arran, Gigha, Islay, Jura and the Cowal peninsula all within a short drive, there is plenty to explore. Kintyre has miles of unspoilt coastline with fantastic white sandy beaches and rolling countryside.
Dunmore Villa can be booked together with Anchor Cottage (UK36497) to accommodate up to 16 guests.

This spacious apartment is situated only yards from the sea front with fantastic views on the outstandingly beautiful and historic island of Bute on Scotland’s west coast. The town centre of Rothesay is within easy reach and has a lovely promenade, with its stunning ever-changing views across the bay, the gardens with award-winning floral displays, the Isle of Bute discovery centre with tourist information and cinema, castle, museum, ferry terminal, bus terminal, supermarkets, cafés and restaurants. 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. 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. 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.

This stunning, Victorian Manor House is located only 200 yards from the Firth of Clyde in the village of Cardross. There is plenty to explore in the area, and a good place to walk is 2 miles away at Ardmore Point with unique rock formations, sea cliffs, fishing and is a notable bird watching area. Also worth a visit is Dumbarton Castle and Rock, 5 miles away. Dumbarton Castle has a longer recorded history than any other castle in Britain!

Cardross is a conservation village and has its own golf course, established 120 years ago, as well as a bowling, tennis and football club, post office, newsagent and pharmacy, and a village pub who cater for meals etc. Cardross train station is a 5-minute walk along a shore tarmac path, with a frequent service to Glasgow, Edinburgh, and the Highlands.

Local attractions include Ardardan Estate Working Farm with a nursery and tearoom, and nearby Geilston Garden. Looked after by the National Trust for Scotland, Geilston is a delightful garden and is typical of the small country estates on the banks of the Clyde, purchased by merchants and industrialists in the 18th and 19th centuries. Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park is very close - it’s just 6 miles to Balloch on the south shore of the loch. This beautiful area has so much to offer with open spaces, sheltered bays and islands to explore. Its inland waters are famous as one of the finest water sports venues in Scotland. The area is ideal for walkers and cyclists of all abilities and boasts a magnificent diversity of scenery with dramatic peaks, waterfalls, hidden caves, and mysterious, forest-covered slopes. Ayrshire and Burns country lie to the south, and the Western Highlands are to the north. Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Stirling are all easily reached for a day out.

A beautiful detached cottage overlooking Loch Linnhe on the outskirts of the picturesque village of Port Appin, Ardtur Croft enjoys complete privacy set in its own enclosed garden accessed via a private driveway. There are magnificent views from the cottage over surrounding farmland and the sea, towards the Island of Lismore and beyond to the Morven Peninsula. A comfortable and spacious cottage, you will find yourselves gathering in the bright open-plan kitchen/diner, chatting round the kitchen table or on the comfy seating in front of the cosy wood burner, enjoying the views to the sea over the field. Port Appin is also home to two of Scotland’s most prestigious eating places, so you can walk along, sample local seafood and a drink without taking the car. There’s a licensed community run store and gift shop in the village too. Within a few miles of the cottage, there is an excellent choice of cafes and inns, all offering breath-taking views and delicious local food a renowned garden centre and a garage. A short ten minute walk down the road is Aird’s Bay, a horseshoe shape and peaceful shore being shallow some way out so ideal for safe swimming. There is much to attract the historian in the region as the mysterious events surrounding The Red Fox, immortalised by Robert Louis Stevenson took place in this locale so you can explore some of the locations in Kidnapped. The hillwalking and mountaineering opportunities in the area are spectacular with Glencoe within easy reach and numerous opportunities to climb a Munro for those who are ambitious. There are gentler walks round the coast or inland, including a walk out to stunning and historic Castle Stalker at low tide. You can hire bikes locally and explore the area via the cycle path which runs from Oban to Fort William passing through Appin. Despite its tranquillity, Port Appin is conveniently located. Beach 1 mile.

In a wonderful, secluded location, high above Carradale Harbour with stunning views to the Isle of Arran, Shorehills is a luxury modern holiday home, ideal for beach lovers and countryside enthusiasts, made cosy with oil-fired underfloor heating and a wood burner.
Enjoy your days watching the boats in the harbour, spotting wildlife in the bay below, and listening to the waves lap on the shore from the wrap-around decking. Relax in the living room with its wood burner, and watch the world go by through the large floor-to-ceiling windows with patio doors leading to the decking. The well-equipped kitchen and dining area is an ideal social space with patio doors opening onto the decking and views over the bay to Arran beyond. Perfect for socialising indoors, there’s a TV room with a 40” Smart TV and games room with a bar, pool table and darts. There’s a convenient twin bedroom downstairs with an adjacent walk-in shower room. Upstairs is a delightful, master en-suite double bedroom with uninterrupted views towards Arran. Two more spacious twin bedrooms are served by a luxurious family bathroom with a walk-in shower and free-standing bath.
Carradale is a small fishing village on the east of the Kintyre Peninsula, about 25 miles south of Tarbert. Offering peace and tranquillity, there is a well-stocked community shop and Post Office, tearoom and bar/restaurant, and a 9-hole golf course. Beautiful Carradale Bay is a long stretch of sandy beach, and there is plenty of walking in the woods and along the beaches. Locally, visit the old vitrified fort at Carradale Point, the nature reserve, or the gin distillery with a café. Salmon and trout can be fished on the Carradale River during the summer. Campbeltown is just 15 scenic miles distant, with shops, bars, cafés, a cinema, and three whisky distilleries.
There are ferries to Arran, Gigha, Islay, Jura and the Cowal Peninsula all within a short drive. There’s fantastic golfing at Machrihanish and another two local golf courses. Outdoor enthusiasts will be spoilt for choice with great opportunities for wind and kite surfing, sea angling, scuba diving, cycling, and horseriding, all available locally.

This stunning natural stone and turf roofed, single-storey, detached holiday cottage is built into the hillside, reflecting an ancient neolithic design with views westwards over the Atlantic Ocean and Inner Hebrides and eastwards to Arran. This unique property is less than a mile from the world-famous Machrihanish Golf Course. Glasgow is only 30 minutes flying time from Machrihanish Airport, which in turn is 10 minutes driving time from the property. The Machrihanish Bird and Wildlife Observatory is located at Gauldrons Beach and fantastic for watching migratory birds, otters and other wildlife. Campbeltown is one of a handful of areas in Scotland categorised as a whisky producing region, and is home to the Campbeltown Single Malt, once proclaiming itself the whisky capital of the world with. The area now boasts three whisky distilleries and a gin distillery as well as a cinema, museum, heritage centre and a working harbour, with an acclaimed music festival in August. The town is well-served, with supermarkets, independently owned shops, and excellent hotels and restaurants offering the finest local produce. The surrounding area is well-known for its fine beaches, unspoilt countryside and scenic walks, with the addition of the Kintyre Way, making this an ideal location from which to explore the Kintyre Peninsula. Lying just off the west coast of Kintyre, the Isle of Gigha offers a pleasant day trip. Within a short distance, there are many quiet and sandy beaches to explore and there is easy access to the Isles of Islay, Jura and Arran. For the outdoor enthusiast, there is walking, cycling, horse riding, fishing, water sports and 3 other golf courses. Beach ¾ mile. Shop 5 miles, pub and restaurant ¾ mile.

"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.
Reached via an unmetalled road and gloriously situated at the water’s edge, Craiguillean (SRW) is a traditional property which has its own mooring and jetty overlooking Seil Island. This stone built, single storey cottage was originally a ferryman’s cottage but has been modernised and extended to provide spacious and comfortable accommodation to Visit Scotland 4 star standard. The large sitting room/dining room is spacious and overlooks the sea.
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 a 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.