Dog Friendly Holidays Argyll and Bute

Close to Loch Lomond, this light and airy cottage style accommodation has French windows, woodburning stove and small secluded walled garden. Excellent walking and cycling. Gareloch is just down the lane with a launching slip, ideal for canoeing, windsurfing, dinghies and fishing. Loch Lomond National Park and golf course, 15 minutes. Monro’s, Cobbler 20 minutes, Ben Lomond 40 minutes. Helensburgh 10 minutes, Glasgow 45 minutes. Shop 2 miles.

Situated within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, Willow Lodge is the perfect location from which to explore this magnificent region. There are some beautiful walks direct from the door such as Pucks Glen and Benmore Botanical Gardens is within walking distance too. This stunningly beautiful area has a wide range of activities on offer, with Dunoon, close by, 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 Argylls 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. Several public gardens are 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.

Situated on a working sheep hill farm, high above the Kintyre Coastline, Ballygroggan Farmhouse is at the end of a long and winding road up into the back of beyond countryside, next to Machrihanish beaches and golf course. The farmhouse also overlooks Gauldrons Bay, a stony beach with volcanic sill outcrops that also play host to a resident seal colony. This lovely Victorian property offers uninterrupted views out across the Sound of Kintyre. As well as seeing the islands of Islay, Jura and Gigha, on exceptionally clear days the coastline of Northern Ireland is also visible, 14 miles away. The longest and hardest part of the Kintyre Way walk goes through the back of the farmyard onto the higher hill with Cnoc Moy dominating the skyline. As well as birdwatching, the dynamic changing views of the sea and skies provide a peace and tranquillity from a place where you can sit and ponder on the slower pace of life.
The farmhouse is warm, dry and big enough to snuggle up on wet days reading, watching a movie, or enjoying hobbies. With satellite broadband throughout the property, which can be weather dependent, streaming from your own Sky go account should mean you can keep up with your downloads and pre-records. Recent additions include a tall freezer in the boot room and a tall overflow fridge in the utility room. In Machrihanish village, the beaches have soft white sand decorated with an abundance of shells, there is a children’s play park and a pub in Machrihanish which is open for food and drink all day, plus has it’s world-renowned golf course. Within a 20 mile radius of this area are five top quality golf courses, open come rain or shine. Close by is the town of Campbeltown, famous for its whiskey shops, but also served by two supermarkets, many lovely independently owned shops, and some excellent restaurants. There are ferry services and Campbeltown also has an airport with multiple flights daily in and out. Pub 2 miles down the hill in Machrihanish village.

This spacious house is ideally set on the waterfront in Kames, Tighnabruaich on Argyll’s Secret Coast. Boasting stunning views over the Kyles of Bute, this property is only 20 yards from the waterfront. Ideal for a family or group of friends looking to relax and enjoy this special place. The location, and the views over the Kyles of Bute are simply magnificent. Nearby is the main street of Tighnabruaich where you will find local arts and crafts, cafés and welcoming pubs
Argyll’s Secret Coast boasts isolated beaches, pretty villages, delightful fishing ports and some great local dining in pubs or the celebrated Botanica or Inver restaurants. Popular tourist attractions include the spectacular Portavadie Marina, Mount Stuart, Inverary Castle, the towering trees of Ardkinglass, Benmore Botanical Gardens and seasonal visits to Rothesay and Tighnabruaich from the world’s only ocean-going paddle steamer, ‘The Waverley’. The Isles of Bute, Arran, Jura and Islay are all easily reached by ferry. Beautiful sandy beach 1 mile. Pub 1 mile.

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.

Ideal for a romantic couple’s getaway, or an active sea-based adventure, Eider Cottage is a recently refurbished cottage, beautifully decorated to a high standard, set close to the shores of Loch Craignish in the village of Ardfern and only 25 minutes from Oban with all its shops, bars and ferry terminal linking to the Outer and Inner Hebrides and the mystical Island of Iona. Close to the shore, surrounded by nature, yet close to the village amenities, Eider Cottage is an ideal location for a nature lover’s relaxing break or an active land/water-based holiday.
Completed in 2021, the open plan living space with well equipped kitchen provides the perfect setting for a great holiday complemented by a spacious bedroom with cosy kingsize bed and a contemporary bathroom with large walk-in shower. Dining outside will be a delight on the south-facing decking overlooking Loch Craignish. The shores of Loch Craignish are a stone’s throw from the cottage, where you will enjoy exploring the peaceful sheltered waters of the Lagoon. A very popular area for kayakers and canoeists, Loch Craignish is the ideal base for touring Argyll and the surrounding Islands. Perfect for hillwalkers and nature lovers and a short distance from the famous Kintyre Way Walk. As Loch Craignish is a sea loch, there is an abundance of wildlife in the surrounding area including an array of sea birds and seals.
Close by, in Ardfern village, there is a friendly village pub and restaurant, café and takeaway, gift shop, marina with chandlery, well-stocked village shop and post office. Locally within a few minutes’ drive or walk, many activities are offered including riding, sailing, canoeing, fresh water, and sea fishing as well as walks and boat excursions. Right on your doorstep and within 7 miles of Ardfern is the renowned Kilmartin Glen and its impressive offering of pre-historic sites, including castles, standing stones, burial cairns, hill forts and Kilmartin Museum. Also, right next door is the Moine Mhor, a lowland raised bog of international importance, a rugged and beautiful landscape that is the wild heartland of Kilmartin Glen with the ancient hill fort of Dunadd is just short distance further towards Lochgilphead.
Wildlife includes many woodland birds and birds of prey, beavers, red squirrels, red and roe deer, seals, otters, and pine martins. Fresh Seafood abounds in the many delightful eating places scattered around the area, where local produce proudly served and deliciously presented. A 16-mile drive takes you to the local country town of Lochgilphead, which has a variety of specialist shops, cafés and restaurants, a swimming pool, golf course and sports centre. Offering a great day out after a scenic 25-mile drive north is the bustling port town of Oban, the Gateway to the Isles, with plenty to do also in Inveraray, the capital of Argyll further to the East and Campbeltown to the far South on the Kintyre Peninsula.

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.

Bay Apartment is located on the second floor of an impressive red sandstone building, with the most fabulous elevated views over Rothesay Bay. A beautiful building, it has retained a host of original features, including a beautiful painted glass door and high ceilings. There are amazing views from all the main rooms where you can spend hours watching the ferries come in and out as well as different sized sail boats, yachts and fishing boats arriving and departing from the harbour.
Bay Apartment is centrally located in Rothesay, yet far away enough from the town for guests to savour the peacefulness that Bute has to offer. The spacious comfortable living room is tastefully furnished with a spectacular bay window boasting stunning views over Rothesay Bay and up Loch Striven. The front facing master bedroom is spacious with sea views and a king sized bed. The apartment is a great base for couples who are keen to explore everything the island has to offer. There’s easy access to Rothesay town centre and all its shops, bar, bistros and cafes, and to the Bute shoreline, directly below the apartment.
Rothesay is a charming little coastal town on the Isle of Bute and boasts many interesting shops and attractions. Rothesay is Bute’s main town, and there is an excellent tourist office in the Discovery Centre, which also houses an exhibition about the Isle of Bute. Rothesay is the perfect base for exploring the Isle of Bute and it is also the main ferry port and transport hub.
The best way to explore the island at your own pace is by car, however there is a reliable bus service which travels from Kilchattan Bay at the south of the island up to Rhubodach in the north. There are also buses which will take you to Ettrick Bay where you can enjoy lunch or coffee at the café. During the summer season the bus service also runs to Mount Stuart house. The summer season also brings a city sightseeing bus, which is a hop on - hop off service that tours around the island frequently.
Bute is only 33 miles from Glasgow and is one of the most accessible of the westerly islands from the Scottish Central Belt. Fifteen miles long and five miles across at its widest point, the island is home to many historical sites including Rothesay Castle and Mount Stuart House, with beautiful gardens and walks for all abilities. Beach 4 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 50 yards.