Dog 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.

With beautiful views over the water, this detached, cottage is located within the owner’s grounds with access to the expansive gardens. Situated in the village of Innellan, it is within walking distance of a local shop and two pubs serving fine food. There is also a golf course and tennis courts within the village. Innellan serves as an excellent base to begin walking or cycling along the coast and around the peninsula to Loch Striven. Alternatively, you can trek up through the forest above, which provides wonderful views of the Isles of Arran, Bute and Cumbrae.

Close by is Dunoon, the main town on the Cowal Peninsula and also the south-western gateway to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Local attractions include Castle House Museum and Gardens, Bishops Glen, Dunoon Ceramics and Morag’s Fairy Glen. There is a swimming pool and leisure centre within the town, as well as a cinema, a range of restaurants and pubs, and an extensive scenic promenade.

Cowal, the area between Loch Long and Loch Fyne, boasts excellent opportunities for walking and cycling. The Kyles of Bute, Tighnabruaich and the beautiful sandy beach at nearby Kilbride Bay all make for fantastic days out. The Arrochar Alps in northern Cowal offer some of the finest hill walking in the southern Highlands, which include the Cowal Way known as ‘Scotland in 57 miles’, Kilmun Arboretum and Loch Eckside to name but a few. The highly popular walking festival of CowalFest is now firmly established as a highlight of the year in the Cowal calendar, with a variety of graded and numbered walks to suit all ages and abilities. There are also cultural and social events to accompany this event, which usually last about 10 days around the middle of October a must for keen walking enthusiasts.

Excursions on the famous Waverley paddle steamer are available direct from Dunoon’s pier, up to five days each week in season. The wonderful Benmore Botanic Gardens near Loch Eck provide an idyllic setting for a fascinating day out. The nearest train station is Gourock, just 6 miles away, which can be reached by taking the bus, which is just a short walk away. Dunoon is also well known for the Cowal Highland Gathering, the biggest and most spectacular Highland games in the world, which is held the last weekend of August. Beach 100 yards.

Situated on the most accessible of the west coast islands and straddling the Highland Line, this spacious apartment boasts stunning views over the open water and lies in a rural location, just a few yards from the shoreline. A popular destination for fishing, the inland lochs are popular with anglers for coarse and game fishing. Loch Fad offers the opportunity to fish for rainbow trout and is only 3 miles away. Relax as you explore the gently undulating hills, catch glimpses of the wildlife and marvel at the vistas.
Seaview Cottage (UK4769) is perfect for a couple’s getaway, offering a comfortable double bedroom with an additional sofa bed for flexible sleeping. The cottage also boasts a private garden with enclosed seaview patio and bubbling hot tub for cosy evenings under the stars.
For such a compact island, Bute offers varied landscapes from the lush, fertile and rolling hills of the island’s heart to the craggy, heather-covered moorlands of the north and the delightful sandy beaches around the coastline. A haven for walkers, cyclists and outdoor enthusiasts, Bute has a wealth of wildlife including wild goats, buzzards and roe deer. Scalpsie Bay, set against the magnificent backdrop of Arran, is home to a large colony of seals.
There are many historical sites to visit including the standing stones at Ettrick Bay, the ancient chapel of St Blane, and the vitrified Iron Age Fort at Dunagoil. Visit the Victorian Gothic mansion of Mount Stuart, open to the public along with its beautiful gardens, Bute Museum, Rothesay Castle and the fabulous gardens of Ascog Hall and Ardencraig. There are many events held throughout the year, including the famous annual Jazz Festival, the spectacular Highland Games, traditional agricultural shows, concerts and art festivals; whatever your interest it can be found on the Isle of Bute. Catch the ferry for the 5-minute trip to Colintraive on the Cowal Peninsula and explore Argyll’s Secret Coast where you have easy access to Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, or head north to Inverary and beyond. Take the ferry from Portavadie over to Jura and Islay, and Tarbert where you can explore Kintyre. Beach 50 yards.

Ivy Cottage is a charming one bedroom cottage located on a quiet residential road close to the town of Dunoon. Totally refurbished in 2020, this charming detached property is well appointed and decorated to a high standard and is fully insulated and double glazed.
The cottage is situated in the West Bay less than 400 yards to the beach and only 5-minutes’ walk in to the Kilbride Forest and Bishops Glen. The surrounding area offers a broad range of tourist attractions and activities throughout the year to suit all tastes. With the town centre within a 15-minute walk one can explore all that Dunoon has to offer on foot, from the Castle House Museum, a walk along the promenade with a visit to the Victorian Pier, or a stroll through the town to browse the many craft shops and galleries.
For the more active there are various cycling tracks, and walks through the Argyll Forest which includes Puck’s Glen and the Benmore Botanic Gardens, or enjoy sailing or charter boat trips on the Firth of Clyde. Nearby Fishing at Dunoon Reservoir is excellent, producing double figure Rainbow Trout.
At various times of the year there are popular events and music festivals that draw tourists from all over the world. One such event is the Cowal Gathering at the end of August which claims to be the largest and most spectacular Highland Games in the world. There is a leisure centre with pool and Golf at Cowal Golf Club and Innellan Golf Club. Dunoon is the Firth of Clyde’s most popular tourist resort and Ivy Cottage is well located to enjoy all that the town and surrounding area has to offer. Beach 400 yards. Shops 1 mile, pub and restaurant ¾ mile.

Seaview Cottage is a semi-detached property perched on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, on the outskirts of the village of Ellenabeich, on the Isle of Seil, 16 miles south of Oban. Not even the delightful drive from Oban, crossing onto the island via the world famous ’Bridge over the Atlantic’, prepares you for the stunning view from Seaview! The completely uninterrupted views over the Atlantic waters of the Firth of Lorne and the ever-changing seascapes are mesmerising and unforgettable. This delightful, cosy cottage with multi-fuel burner and enclosed rear garden makes the ideal rural island escape. The bridge which connects the Isle of Seil to the mainland enables easy access for exploring the Oban area and mid-Argyll as well as Glencoe and Fort William. Situated close to the conservation village of Ellenabeich and a short ferry trip to the unique Easdale Island, you are surrounded by magnificent scenery and interesting local history at every turn.
Situated right on the shore, it’s a short walk from the garden to the slate beach with an amazing panorama of the wild west coast waters of the Firth of Lorne, where you can see Easdale island, Garvellach islands, Isle of Mull, passing boats and plentiful wildlife such as dolphins, seals, otters, basking sharks, and sea eagles. The cottage is just a 5-minute walk from Ellanabeich, a quiet traditional village with pretty white-washed old slate workers’ cottages. It has a small convenience store with post office, a bar and restaurant, slate mining museum, local boat trips and a village hall with regular events. A short passenger ferry trip takes you over to Easdale Island, world famous for its historic slate quarries with an excellent slate mining museum and the bar and restaurant.
The Isle of Seil is one of the Slate Islands, known as the ’Islands Which Roofed The World’, and has been linked to the mainland by the Clachan Bridge (Bridge Over The Atlantic) since the late 18th century. The world-famous Tigh-an-Truish Hotel and bar (House of the Trousers) lies immediately over the bridge in the settlement of Clachan Seil. The central village of Balvicar, just 3 miles from Seaview has, a well-stocked village shop & post office and 9-hole golf course. There are several fantastic boat trip operators nearby offering a chance to see the amazing wildlife including a high speed Rib Boat trip through the Corryvreckan whirlpools. Beach 17½ miles. Shop 2 miles, pub and restaurant 1 mile.

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.

Midcraigs is in a wonderful location just off the A83, 3 miles from Campbeltown, a pretty harbour town at the very southern end of the Kintyre Peninsula. Recently renovated in 2019 to a very good standard with a galleried living room with wooden floor and wood burner, there are many thoughtful touches which would make this an ideal family holiday base. There’s a separate cinema area on the gallery with a 55" TV, Playstation, table football, games and sports equipment to borrow. Flexible sleeping arrangements include a double bedroom on the ground floor, a charming bedroom on the first floor with three single beds, and a sofa bed on the gallery.
There are stunning beaches to explore close by, and with loads of outdoor sports and three golf courses, you’ll always have plenty to do! This warm and charming cottage makes a fantastic base for couples, friends or families to relax and enjoy beautiful Kintyre and the Southern Hebrides. The town centre, with its variety of pubs, restaurants, shops and museums, is just a 5-minute drive away. The property is very quiet and private, and is in an elevated location with a south westerly facing aspect. It has a contemporary décor with a family focus and is pet friendly, with an enclosed garden, outdoor hose and pet welcome pack, along with private parking.
Midcraigs is located close to the peaceful, little coastal town of Campbeltown on the beautiful Kintyre Peninsula. Enjoying a better than average climate, due to the warming Gulf Stream, as the palm trees on the sea front demonstrate, it is an ideal base for exploring the many attractions of the southern Kintyre peninsula and the Southern Hebrides. Davaar Island in the bay can be visited to discover the world-famous cave painting. It also has several fine period buildings, including the oldest purpose-built retro cinema. Campbeltown is home to three whisky distilleries, Springbank, Glen Scotia and Kilkerran, which produce world renowned malt whiskies and offer distillery tours. Beach 2 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 3 miles.

Ardrhu Cottage is a cosy cottage situated within walking distance of the town of Dunoon, with its many facilities, and is a great base from which to explore The Cowal Peninsula. This stunningly beautiful area has a wide range of activities on offer, with Dunoon offering 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. Walkers should seek out the newly opened Cowal Way; a long distance walk running from Portavadie to Arrochar. Explore 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. At Colintraive there is a short ferry crossing over to the picturesque Isle of Bute and a visit to the fabulous Victorian Gothic Mount Stuart House is a must. Tighnabruaich has a RYA sailing school and a selection of small shops. Inveraray is also a great day out with the Castle, the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll and the 19th century Inveraray Jail, both well worth a visit. Beach 400 yards. Shop, pub and restaurant 400 yards.

A beautiful waterfront property in the idyllic village of Kentallen near Ballachulish, Highland. Woodburning stove. Views of Loch Linnie. WiFi. Kinlochleven 12.4 miles; Port Appin; Fort William 16.5 miles.

Fabulous, detached cottage with sea views situated in the town of Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. Pet-friendly. Spacious interior. Port Bannatyne 2.7 miles.