Dog-friendly Cottages Highlands

Balmore Farmhouse is located just a few miles south of Inverness and is only 2 miles away from the infamous Loch Ness. The property has been fully renovated to a good standard and offers guests a superb level of comfort and space.
Enter into the spacious reception hall, leading to a living room with comfortable leather sofas that wrap around the cosy wood burner. The kitchen/dining room is well-equipped with all you could need during your stay, and provides great views over the countryside. The utility room with washing machine and tumble dryer offers a useful space for cleaning mucky clothes after a busy day of adventuring. On the ground floor there is a kingsize bedroom with a private dressing room and an en-suite shower room that is also accessed from the hallway.
On the first floor there are three large bedrooms, two with kingsize beds, and one with a single bed, all served by a family bathroom. Outside there is ample parking and a large enclosed garden. Balmore Farmhouse makes an ideal holiday base for exploring the many delights of the Northern Highlands. Located on the outskirts of the Highland capital of Inverness and close to Loch Ness and the Moray Coast, the area is renowned for its natural beauty along with the many activities available, including golf, kayaking, water sports, mountain biking, climbing and hill walking to name just a few. Discover some of the many historic castles, such as Culloden Battlefield and Fort George, or stroll along some of the many unspoilt beaches. Beach and bar and restaurant 3 miles. Shop 2 miles.

"River views and a wealth of glorious countryside combine to make this a wonderful setting for lovers of the great outdoors..."


Perfect for a relaxing break, Ness Castle Estate lies in the heart of magnificent game fishing and golfing country, and with lovely walking on the doorstep, it is an ideal location for nature lovers and sporting enthusiasts alike. River Lodge (ref SYYA) is a magnificent, detached, ‘Colorado’-style lodge providing complete relaxation and seclusion for larger parties. For smaller parties, Weir Cottage (ref SXXS) and Red Squirrel Lodge (ref SYYB) are single storey and adjoin one another, whilst spacious Ghillie’s Lodge (ref SYYC) and Benula Lodge (ref SYYM) stand detached. All have river views and are just minutes away from the city of Inverness.
Your Ness Castle Lodges experience can be augmented with personalised beauty treatments with their specially appointed therapist. Take time out to enjoy a full day of pampering, or book a morning session to set you up for the day. From facials and Swedish massage to relaxation techniques, eyelash tinting and more treatments like Hopi Ear Candles, a spa session - or two! More information on what’s on offer is available on arrival.
Culloden Battlefield, Cawdor Castle, Loch Ness cruises and dolphin spotting on the Moray Firth are among the myriad of delights within easy reach. For those wishing to explore a little further afield the magical Isle of Skye, visiting the beautiful, romantic Eilean Donan Castle on the way, or a leisurely boat trip to the Orkney Isles which offer beautiful, rugged scenery with an abundance of wildlife and many archaeological sites make great days out. Whisky lovers can visit one of the many distilleries on the famous Strathspey Whisky Trail, sampling some of the finest whiskies in Scotland. At nearby Inverness, visitors will find a wealth of historic and cultural attractions as well as good shopping, bars and restaurants. Salmon fishing, by arrangement is 1 mile. For those wishing to explore a little further, day trips to the Orkney Isles, Isle of Skye and Glencoe are possible. Beach 16 miles. Shop 1 mile, pub 2½ miles.

A warm welcome awaits you at the Herons which is set on the edge of a 3-mile stretch of sandy beach and enjoys panoramic views across Sinclair’s Bay towards Noss Head Lighthouse. This spacious house is furnished to a good standard and well-equipped to make your holiday as enjoyable as possible. Whales, porpoises and dolphins are regularly seen from the shore, with the occasional pod of orcas. The house makes a perfect base for exploring this beautiful part of the Highlands. Visit the county town of Wick with its variety of town facilities, the Castle of Mey or visit the Orkney Islands, which are within easy reach. Bird watching, fishing, links golf and sea cruises are just some of the many activities available. Pub 0.5 miles, restaurant 6 miles.

A warm Highland welcome awaits you at Glen View of Enrick House. Enjoying a tranquil wooded setting, Glen View has been equipped and furnished to a very good standard to meet all your requirements. Nestling against the side of the hill and with an on-site herb garden, the house is only 4 miles from the lovely village of Drumnadrochit and Loch Ness, and makes the perfect base for exploring the many attractions and amenities along with the stunning beauty of this part of the Northern Highlands. You will also find Lock Miekle only a 5-minute walk from the cottage.
Drumnadrochit has a good selection of restaurants and bars, with Inverness, the Highland Capital, just 18 miles away, where you will find an extensive range of shops, restaurants, theatre, galleries and swimming pools, to name just a few of the amenities. On the edge of Drumnadrochit you will find Urquhart Castle, a very popular visitor attraction, or go to Jacobite Cruises where you can enjoy a boat trip on Loch Ness – a good monster spotting area! Slightly further afield, you can visit Culloden Battlefield, Cawdor and Brodie Castles, and Fort George, or meander along some of the beautiful Moray coastline beaches which have been named in the top twelve of the world’s most beautiful and unspoilt coastlines.
Take a trip along the Malt Whisky Trail – the only one of its kind in the world! To the west and within a short drive you will find the beautiful Glen Affric and Glen Strathfarrar, both Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty where you can walk and hill climb, or also enjoy some of the area’s finest mountain bike trails. Visit the beautiful Isle of Skye, and stop on the way to visit the much photographed Eilean Donan Castle. Travel south and visit Fort William where you can hike up Ben Nevis (the UK’s highest mountain), or take the ski lift up Aonach Mor for some skiing. From both locations you will have spectacular views across the area.
Amongst the many activities available in the locality, there are many golf courses within easy reach, mountain biking on numerous trails, hill climbing, walking with many forest trails on the doorstep, a variety of water sports on Loch Ness or the Moray coastline, and skiing and snowboarding in the Cairngorms or the Nevis range. For the less energetic, sit back, relax and enjoy the ever changing scenery. A trip to this area will always evoke happy memories.

Lairg is known as the crossroads of the north, making it a perfect place to base yourself to explore this wild part of the Scottish Highlands. Fair View is about a mile out of Lairg up on more open ground which is spectacular at any time of the year. The bungalow is very spacious and upon entering you’re led to the large farmhouse-style kitchen/dining room, with a useful island counter. The large dining table looks out over the expansive landscapes surrounding the property. A double door leads from the kitchen/dining room through to the enormous double-aspect living room which has an open fire and large TV. All four bedrooms are an excellent size and have great views of this wonderful area.
The sky seems enormous and is recognised as a European Dark Sky because of a distinct lack of light pollution. Stargazing with the added bonus of the Aurora Borealis makes it an even more attractive base. There’s wildlife all around with a huge array of birds throughout the year, as well as red deer, pine martens and the elusive wild cat. The area is a perfect place to base yourself to explore this wild part of the Scottish Highlands.
You can cover a huge amount of the North Coast 500 touring road from here by travelling out to different parts of the coastline using the great roads that lead off to the east, north, north west and west coast sections. It’s great to be able to see the route, being able to base yourself in just one place.
The town itself is beautifully situated at the eastern end of Loch Shin, plus it offers the amenities you will need during your stay. Lairg and Fair View are an excellent choice for a base to explore this otherworldly part of the Scottish Highlands. Beach 15 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 1 mile.

Set 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.

West wing of traditional 18th century farmhouse in fabulous Cairngorms National Park. Wonderful scenery. Large surrounding gardens. Charming, spacious and welcoming. Wonderful activities and wildlife. WiFi. Pet-friendly.

This wonderful four-storey cottage is based in the ancient fishing port of Nairn, in the Scottish Highlands. Off-road parking. Nearby beach. Inverness 16 miles.

Valhalla Brae is a well-presented spacious property, with the owners taking full advantage with the layout to maximise the wonderful views. Plush, comfortable furnishings of a very good standard await your stay, with comfort very much at the forefront of your holiday. The layout suits all, with a large family sized bedroom on the ground floor, and two further doubles to the first floor each with en-suite facilities. The living room is on the first floor too, with a large feature window to give maximum views across the bay and castle. On the ground floor is a large dining kitchen with everything you need to make a hearty meal or sit round and enjoy a drink and good company of an evening. Outside is a garden to the side of the property laid mainly to lawn, with a decked seating area, watch the summer evenings draw to a close or start the day with a coffee whilst taking in the fresh sea air from this perfect spot.

Close to Dunnet Head, an excellent viewpoint and puffin breeding area. Much wildlife spotted around the area, birds, seals, otters even orcas. Just a short walk from the property lies Keiss harbour, the old castle and a 3-mile-long beach. This charming backwater seems untouched by time and there are lovely walks around the headland and along the coastline direct from the property. Valhalla Brae makes a perfect base for exploring this beautiful part of the Highlands. Visit the county town of Wick with its variety of town facilities, the Castle of Mey or visit the Orkney Islands, which are within easy reach. Bird watching, fishing, links golf and sea cruises are just some of the many activities available. Shop 8 miles, pub and restaurant within ½ mile.

Set on the Farr Estate in beautiful Strathnairn, Carn Cottage is a recently refurbished heritage property that offers a high standard of holiday accommodation. The cottage itself has a very large wrap-around garden, perfect for the children and dogs to run and roam around. There’s also a great decking area at the rear of the property with a BBQ. Entering the cottage there’s a fantastic open plan living space with a wood burner taking centre stage. A utility room is very welcome considering all the outdoor adventuring you’ll be doing. There’s a double bedroom with en-suite also on the ground floor, perfect for the less mobile. On the first floor there are three further bedrooms and three more bathrooms to complete the accommodation. One of the first floor bedrooms is a single though, so the cottage sleeps a maximum of seven people.
Even though only 20 minutes from the centre of Inverness, being at the cottage and on the Estate feels like you’re a million miles away from civilisation. Staying at Carn Cottage offers the best of both worlds, you can escape into the countryside whilst at the same time be connected to the Highland capital and its touring routes. You don’t have to stray far from Carn Cottage to have an authentic and amazing Highland holiday. Here you can bike, hike, boat and fish all from the cottage on the Estate. In fact, only a short walk from the cottage, there’s a private loch waiting to be fished (permits are included in the rental of Carn Cottage). Rowing boats are available for fishing. There are hiking routes through woodland and up onto the Farr Estate moors, and these double up in many instances as bike trails too. Also worth mentioning, is that the River Findhorn is only a short drive away up the road directly opposite the cottage, and to fish for salmon on the river pre-booking permits is necessary (contact Farr Estate for information).
If you do wish to explore further afield beyond the Farr Estate, and we encourage you to do so because there’s so much to see in the Highlands and at Carn Cottage you’re brilliantly positioned to head off in different directions and get a lot out of the area. The minor road that passes Carn Cottage leads down the strath to the A9 which will transport you quickly to Inverness and the NC500 beyond or south into the Cairngorm National Park. You can actually link up hikes and biking routes from the Farr Estate with roads, tracks and paths that lead to Loch Ness via the amazing scenery that makes up the southern side of Loch Ness. In short, there’s so much to see and do on the doorstep and further afield. One thing we can say though is that a week at Carn Cottage on the Farr Estate won’t be enough, and if you can manage longer you’ll be so grateful for the extra time to explore. It’s a fantastic place to stay. Beach 24 miles.