Dog Friendly Holidays Argyll and Bute

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.

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.

A characterful, detached home sitting in Kilmartin, Argyll and Bute. Games room. Original features. Pet-friendly. Crinan 6.3 miles; Lochgilphead 8 miles; Oban 31 miles.

A stunning detached family holiday home boasting stunning loch views near to Oban on the west coast of Scotland. Family and pet-friendly. Secure gardens. Spacious. Connel 6.2 miles; Oban 10.5 miles; Inveraray 38.2 miles.

A traditional Scottish cottage positioned in Oban, Scotland. Pet-friendly. Woodburning stove. Lochside. Connel 3.8 miles; Oban 8.7 miles; Glencoe 33 miles; Inveraray 29.8 miles.

Situated in the heart of the conservation area of Mount Pleasant, on the Isle of Bute, is this three bedroom apartment. This beautiful second floor apartment is a 5 minute walk to Rothesay town centre and the islands main ferry port and also boasts partial sea views of the Firth of Clyde; we will provide the binoculars! We are also dog friendly, from Dachshund to Great Dane, we don’t discriminate! The outstandingly beautiful and historic Island of Bute is situated at the heart of the Firth of Clyde, off Scotland’s west coast.
Rothesay 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 ninety-seven 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. Beach 1 mile.

Crosskeys Cottage is a traditional Scottish detached cottage situated on the west side of Loch Lomond, only 2 miles from the Loch itself. This renovated cottage has wonderful thick stone walls which are testament to its long history. Tasteful fixtures and decoration give the cottage a fresh and modern ambience. The Cottage has its own grassy garden area, with outdoor seating, BBQ and a view south towards the Kilpatrick Hills. The property is ideal for a couple and with its fantastic central position; Crosskeys Cottage makes a great location to explore the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. There is a cycle way running past the cottage which can take you to Loch Lomond or Helensburgh, both only 2 miles away.
Crosskeys Cottage (propery ref CC523028) can be booked independently or together with Glenfruin Lodge close by (property ref: CC523117) providing accommodation up to 6 people

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.

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.

Delightful ground floor cottage in the village of Taynuilt in beautiful Argyll. Close to superb walking and fishing. Open plan accommodation. Oban 11 miles.