Dog-Friendly Scottish Highlands

Escape to this delightful detached holiday cottage, part of the Old Inzievar House estate which is situated in beautiful and natural parkland, on a working farm with varied livestock, about 6 miles west of Dunfermline and 1 mile from the historic Culross village and abbey on the Forth Estuary. Fernwoodlea has been thoughtfully restored to retain many original features and provides spacious, comfortable accommodation. Ideal for relaxing and enjoying the area and all it has to offer with friends and family. You can curl up with a book in the cosy living room in front of the wood burner on cooler days or sit in the garden with a glass of wine.

If you are feeling more energetic, try the owner’s tennis court, or with permission from the owners, a tour of the restored walled garden can be arranged. This rural haven has excellent access to dog friendly walks, cycle paths, and outdoor amenities, but within easy access of Edinburgh 24 miles, Perth 33 miles and Stirling 18 miles. Shop 1½ miles, pub and restaurant 2 miles.

Enjoying a quiet setting in lovely garden grounds, The Lookout makes an ideal base for exploring one of the most scenic and popular holiday destinations in Scotland. The bright and spacious house is equipped and furnished to a very high standard to ensure as comfortable and relaxing a holiday as possible, including large living areas with a separate kids play room. There is also a private media system with access to a large collection of movies and music. Located in an elevated area on the edge of Aviemore, adjacent to a children’s play-park, the mountain bike trails of High Burnside and the Aviemore Orbital cycle-way. Within easy walking distance of the town centre, The Lookout enjoys stunning views of the Cairngorm mountain range and the surrounding countryside and within easy distance of some of the most popular attractions and activities of the Cairngorms National Park.
Aviemore which is situated in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park and at the head of the Speyside Way boasts a super range of shops, restaurants and bars along with a very wide range of outdoor activities including ski-ing and snowboarding, mountain and quad biking, climbing and hill walking and a variety of watersports on nearby Loch Insh, Loch Morlich and the River Spey. Take a trip on the Cairngorm Mountain Railway and the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, the Highland Wildlife Park at nearby Kingussie, and the nearby Landmark Forest Adventure Park, all within easy reach. Visit the lovely Spey Valley Golf Course and the Dalfaber Village Club with its wonderful array of leisure activities.
Further afield, take a trip to the beautiful west coast or visit the Isle of Skye, or a day trip to the Orkney Islands is well worth the effort. Visit the Moray coastline peppered with little fishing villages and beautiful beaches, voted in the top 20 best coastline destinations in the world. A super base for exploring the many delights this area has to offer and there’s so much to see and do for all ages. This area is an exceptionally popular destination for the outdoor enthusiast and for the less energetic, sit back in peaceful garden grounds, relax and unwind. The Lookout is a place where wonderful memories will be made. Shop, pub and restaurant ¼ mile.

Carron House is a superb, contemporary, detached house set in its own generous gardens and enjoying stunning loch and mountain views. Situated in the quiet hamlet of Slumbay, just over a mile from the pretty West Highland village of Lochcarron, Carron House provides a high standard of accommodation in a beautiful and unspoilt setting.
The main entrance opens onto a spacious hall/dining area with solid wood flooring, high ceilings and glass panels that drink in the light. French doors open onto the patio area with the garden beyond. The living room on the ground floor has a welcoming wood burner and one of the sofas can be used as a sofa bed for two extra visitors, if required and there is a spacious shower room on the ground floor. A wide staircase leads up to the first floor with the landing area doubling as a second living room with comfortable seating and a large picture window that maximises the wonderful views across Loch Carron to the hills beyond. There are three attractively presented bedrooms, one with an en-suite bathroom and double basins, and a further separate family shower room.
The nearby village of Lochcarron is situated right on the shores of the loch, surrounded by the spectacular hills and mountains of Wester Ross. The village has good facilities, with a number of pubs, cafés and shops, as well as a golf course which is open to visitors. The area is also a haven for wildlife where otters and seals can be seen along the shore-line and dolphins have been spotted in the bay. The surrounding area provides some of most scenic locations to be found anywhere in the Highlands. A trip to Applecross via the highest pass road in Britain is a must. Known as the ’Pass of the Cattle’ and rising to over 2,000 feet, it affords amazing views across The Minch to the isles of Raasay and Skye. A paradise for lovers of the great outdoors, there are unlimited sporting opportunities such as climbing, hill-walking, fishing, canoeing, diving, sailing and cycling, all available locally. Beach 100 yards. Shop, pub and restaurant 1½ miles.

Wallace House is an imposing, historic, detached stone house, situated in the heart of the renowned village of Dornoch. Built in 1800, on land owned by the Duke of Sutherland, this bright and spacious home was completely renovated in 2018 and is ideally located for a family beach holiday. The main living room has been thoughtfully furnished with superb sofas and a warm, welcoming wood burner. The high ceilings and stunning exposed stone fireplace add to the character and charm. There is a large kitchen/dining room, which is well-equipped with built-in units and a wine fridge. The original staircase, with ornate polished wood banisters, leads up to the three generously proportioned bedrooms. All rooms are superbly presented, with good quality furniture and colour coordinated soft furnishings. Wallace House is ideal for families and groups looking for a very good standard of self-catering accommodation with all amenities just a short walk away.

This wonderful property is situated along a quiet lane, just off the main square in the centre of the historic village of Dornoch, a Royal Burgh since 1628. This attractive village, built of mellow sandstone, is one of the prettiest in the Highlands. The centrepiece is the 13th-century cathedral, with original stained glass windows. Dornoch also has an excellent selection of unusual and attractive shops, as well as a number of good restaurants and bars, all just a few steps away. The renowned Championship golf course of Royal Dornoch is just 200 yards along the lane. The nearby sandy beach is ideal for families and dog walkers alike. Situated just off the renowned North Coast 500 route, which encompasses some of the most outstanding landscapes to be found anywhere in the British Isles, there are numerous places of interest within easy reach. Loch Fleet Nature Reserve is close by and attracts a wide variety of wading birds and has been designated as an Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Just a short drive away is Dunrobin Castle, seat of the Dukes of Sutherland for over 600 years. Visitors are welcome to explore the castle and grounds, which were modelled on the Palace of Versailles. Golfers are spoilt for choice, with not only Royal Dornoch on the doorstep, but a number of other championship courses within a short drive, and the property has a stone built store, perfect for golf clubs, and with power for charging trolleys. Fishing, sailing, kayaking, hill walking, climbing and mountain biking are all local pastimes. Beach 300 yards. Shop 200 yards, pub and restaurant 50 yards.

Sea Thistle Cottage is a charming, traditional, semi-detached, 19th-century fisherman’s cottage for two. Situated in the heart of the historic fisher town area of Nairn, it is just a few yards from the stunning sweeping sands and delightful Victorian sea front. The cottage is located in one of the tiny winding streets that fisher town is noted for, yet it has its own parking and even a little courtyard area at the side. The cottage provides the best of modern living whilst retaining its original charm and ambience, such as thick stone walls. The main living area is open plan, with a large living room, with feature electric fire and wall-mounted smart TV, this L-shaped room has a dining area in the corner. There is a separate kitchen, which is compact yet bright and modern, with built-in units and is very well equipped, and a split stable door gives access to the adjoining courtyard area. There is also a handy ground floor wet room. Winding cottage stairs lead up to the fisherman’s landing. The double bedroom on the first floor has a kingsize bed and a TV, it is attractively presented, with colour coordinated soft furnishings and an adjoining room acts as a dressing room, with extra space for hanging clothes and general storage.
Sea Thistle Cottage is ideally located for enjoying all the facilities of Nairn, an award winning seaside town. It is also easily accessible by public transport, for those who may like to arrive by train or bus, or to forget the car whilst there and explore by local transport; a bus stop is just 50 yards from the cottage. Tucked away in a quiet and very quaint lane, it is within easy walking distance of restaurants, shops, bars, golf course and of course the renowned beaches that this seaside town is famous for. The pretty harbour area is well worth a visit, with numerous small craft using its facilities. A boat trip is likely to produce a close encounter with the famous resident bottle nosed dolphins that are frequently spotted close to shore. There are numerous places of interest in the area, including Cawdor Castle, Culloden battlefield and a large nature reserve that runs along this superb coastline. Dog walkers are particularly fond of this part of the Highland coastline, with sea and forest walks in abundance. Inverness, the capital city of the Highlands is just 20 minutes’ drive away. Fishing is also nearby. Beach 200 yards. Shop 200 yards, pub and restaurant 100 yards.

Red Kite Lodge is a real delight, situated in the heart of the Sutherland hills on a working farm, approached via a well-maintained private track leading out to open countryside and the owner’s 50 hectares of croft land. This detached, solid wood lodge enjoying complete peace and seclusion, is presented to a very good standard throughout. The main living area is open plan with a welcoming wood burner and floor to ceiling patio doors to maximise the stunning views. The patio doors open onto raised decking, with a private hot tub and outdoor dining table and chairs. The bright, modern kitchen area is exceptionally well equipped, with plenty of space for dining. The bespoke, solid wood, raised dining table adds an interesting and attractive feature to the room. There are two beautifully presented kingsize bedrooms each with colour coordinated soft furnishings. This property is very accessible for wheelchair users, with a level entrance and modern bathroom with a claw-footed bath and accessible wet room walk-in shower.

This property is ideal for the ultimate ’get away from it all’ holiday, with pampering included. Sitting in the hot tub or relaxing with a glass of wine on the decking after a day’s sightseeing or hill walking must be the ultimate holiday experience.

The owners farm hundreds of acres of surrounding farmland and open hills where friendly cattle and sheep roam freely, and osprey, deer, pine martens, red kites, golden eagles and curlews can all be spotted in the vicinity. Whilst providing an element of privacy, the lodge is just over 1 mile to the pretty village of Rogart. It has a thriving village pub that serves meals, as well as a shop, post office and railway station.

It is ideally located for exploring the whole of the Highlands, with many places of interest within a short drive. Dunrobin Castle, seat of the Duke of Sutherland, with its gardens modelled on Versailles, is well worth a visit. Or experience salmon leaping up the famous Falls of Shin. Mountain biking, hill walking, fishing, and various water sports are all available locally. The historic seaside town of Dornoch is just 15 minutes’ drive away where there is a superb, award-winning, sandy beach, a renowned championship golf course as well as the 12th-century cathedral that dominates the central square. Beach 15 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 1½ miles.

Situated at the entrance to 400 acres of beautiful parkland on the Balbirnie Estate, The Gate House is a beautifully furnished and extremely cosy and comfortable cottage. Dating back to the 1800s, the cottage provides a contemporary home while still maintaining many of its original features. There is a quirky spiral staircase to the first floor double bedroom with its own relaxing seating area. On the ground floor, guests will find the living/dining room has an open fire, which is just the spot for spending a lazy afternoon on cooler days. There is also a good size kitchen with breakfast bar, family shower room and double bedroom with a king size bed.
From the front door you can take a stroll into the delightful conservation village of Markinch, rich in history and once the medieval capital of Fife. The village has a good selection of supermarkets, local independent quality shops, cafés, a deli, restaurants and pubs and the local butcher, whose award winning steak pies are well worth sampling. This semi-detached cottage is part of Balbirnie South Lodge which was built in 1861 and designed by the architect David Bryce. The gates were usually locked and visitors were required to ring the bell, still on one of the pillars today, to gain entrance to the estate. In 1837 John Balfour became master of the estate and in 1840 married Lady Georgine Campbell, (daughter of the Earl of Cawdor) and the inter-twining initials in the date stone is thought to represent this. The Balfour family continued to own Balbirnie House and the estate until 1969.
During the 18th and 19th century, the estate landscape was designed by Robert Robinson and Thomas White, who created one of the most significant collections of rhododendrons in the east of Scotland. There are around 200 varieties from India, China and the Himalayan provinces and when the plants are in bloom it is well worth seeing. The Gate House is ideal for guests attending a wedding or event at Balbirnie House as you are only a short walk to the hotel. The location is ideal for walkers and cyclists as the Balbirnie Estate has parkland to explore and the Lomond Hills Regional Park is only a short drive away. This is a brilliant choice for golfers with an 18-hole golf course on your doorstep and many local courses nearby, and St Andrews, the home of golf, with its championship courses is just 30 minutes’ drive away. The British Golf Museum is close to The Old Course and there is the only hickory golf course in the UK at Kingarrock. For days at the seaside, the sandy beaches of the East Neuk of Fife are within a short drive and the Fife Coastal Path takes you to secluded coves, little fishing villages and award winning sandy beaches with plenty of places to visit and find refreshments. Beach 6½ miles. Shop 500 yards, pub and restaurant 300 yards.

Set in open countryside, above the charming seaside village of Portmahomack, Sheaf Dale is a beautifully presented cottage with a private hot tub in the gardens and a rear gated parking area, ideal for trailers with canoes, bicycles or other equipment. This single-storey, terraced, whitewashed stone cottage is tucked away along a quiet lane on the owner’s working arable and sheep farm. It has been painstakingly restored and renovated throughout and provides a good standard of accommodation in a peaceful yet accessible location. The large, airy living room looks out across the fields, and there is a spacious, well-equipped kitchen/dining room, with plenty of room for up to six guests. The master bedroom features a super kingsize bed and a wall-mounted TV, and both the double bedroom and the bunk bedroom are superbly presented with colour-coordinated soft furnishings. Exposed stone walls and large canvases of the local area add to the property’s charm. There is a secluded lawned garden with a sandstone patio area that leads down to the feature hot tub, making this an ideal property for couples, honeymooners and families wishing to have a relaxing, pampering holiday.

The picturesque seaside village of Portmahomack is just 1 mile away, with its sweeping sandy beach and stunning mountain backdrop, it is a superb spot to walk, picnic, swim or kayak. There is a small harbour with a pier, ideal for a spot of crabbing or fishing. The village has a good selection of amenities, including a shop, pub and café, as well as a renowned seafood restaurant. A traditional links golf course, Tarbat Golf Club which is open to visitors, is just a short walk away and there are numerous other renowned golf courses in the area including Royal Dornoch and Tain Golf Course which looks across the Dornoch Firth to Dornoch. The region is renowned for its archaeological sites and at the nearby Tarbat Discovery Centre there is a fascinating display of Pict, Norse and Medieval artefacts. Within a 10-minute drive lies the Royal Burgh of Tain, established as a Royal Burgh in 1066, and the Tain Museum houses the famous original Tain Silver Collection. Predominantly built out of local sandstone, Tain is a charming historic town which offers an excellent selection of small shops, restaurants, cafés and pubs, as well as a wide variety of sporting and recreational facilities. Nearby places of interest include the whisky distillery centre, home of the famous Glenmorangie Distillery where you can take a tour and sample the single malt, the famous Falls of Shin, one of the few places to see salmon leaping close to hand, and the enchanting town of Dornoch, with its magnificent cathedral, sandy beach and championship golf course.

This lovely cottage is ideally located for exploring the whole of the Highland region. When you return at the end of the day, relax in the hot tub whilst you drink in the uninterrupted views across the countryside to the sea beyond. Beach 1 mile. Shop, pub and restaurant 1 mile.
Sheaf Dale can be booked together with The Paddock (UK5049) and Grieve’s Cottage (UK12250) to accommodate up to 15 guests.

The Roundel is set in a most fantastic rural location with uninterrupted views over the open rolling countryside of Fife. It is the perfect location for weekend celebrations or getaways for your whole family who can revel in the space, ambience and warmth of this remarkable holiday home. On the ground floor, the focal point of this semi-detached house is the living/dining room, which has three sets of patio doors leading to the garden. Its floor-to-ceiling windows take full advantage of the views. For younger members of the group, there is a special toy corner. Outside, there is ample space for everyone to enjoy, and the patio with garden furniture is great for al fresco dining.
There is much to do in the area, and guests are in an ideal location for exploring coastal Fife. In a small quiet hamlet, The Roundel provides a rural location with miles of sandy beach and dunes less than 6 miles away, and the bustling city of Dundee and historic St Andrews are both only 15 minutes away (6 miles) with activities for all ages and tastes. Just 10 minutes away lies the picturesque market town of Cupar, which is ideal for picking up supplies. For families there is the Scottish Deer Centre, St Andrews Aquarium, sandy beaches at Tentsmuir Forest and beach, as well as riding stables.
The historic city of St Andrews can be reached within a 15-minute drive, making The Roundel ideal for guests visiting friends and family who are based at St Andrews University or attending one of the graduation ceremonies. As a popular tourist location, St Andrews offers a great selection of quality cafés, bars and restaurants, excellent shopping as well as a sandy beach, harbour and many historic buildings. Renowned worldwide as the ‘Home of Golf’ and regularly playing host to the Open Championship, this is a golfers’ paradise with eight courses to suit all abilities, as well as the British Golf Museum.
Dundee has lots to offer for a day out, the Olympia Sports Centre has a swimming pool, great for keeping your childen entertained on wet days. A visit to RRS Discovery at the multi award-winning Discovery Point makes for a good day to see how Captain Scott and Ernest Shackleton made their epic journeys. Falkland Palace and its garden are well worth a visit - this is one of Scotland’s finest Renaissance palaces and is steeped in history. Fans of the TV series ‘Outlander’ will recognise the location which was used as 1940s Inverness, and there are many more locations in the area that were used in the series. Beach 6 miles. Shop and restaurant 2 miles, pub ½ mile.

Situated on a promontory and enjoying spectacular sea views, Ethel’s House is a detached stone cottage set in its own garden, adjacent to a working croft. Much loved by its original family, this traditional stone cottage was painstakingly moved stone by stone to a higher vantage point in the village of Armadale on the far north-west coast of Scotland. The current owners have completely renovated this charming cottage and it now provides a good standard of accommodation in a truly superb setting.
Entering through the pretty patio gardens that look out across the sea, a hallway leads through to the main accommodation. There is a delightful living room with leather sofa suite and a cosy wood burner. The kitchen/dining room is extremely well-equipped with contemporary built-in units and a good sized solid wood dining table. All the windows look out across the bay. There is a large shower room on this floor. Upstairs there are three very attractively decorated and furnished bedrooms. Skylight windows ensure that visitors can encounter the dramatic sunrises and sunsets afforded by the clear unpolluted skies in this part of the Highlands (and for those who prefer, black out blinds are built-in too!). The cottage has oak flooring on the ground floor, high quality wool carpeting in the bedrooms and underfloor heating throughout.
Situated just off the renowned North Coast 500 route, in the quiet hamlet of Armadale, this cottage is ideal for visitors wishing to explore this totally unspoilt area. Sea otters are regularly spotted on the shoreline below the cottage and whales, basking sharks, porpoises and seals all frequent the local waters. There are superb walks direct from the cottage and numerous outdoor activities close by, including kayaking, sailing, hill walking, fishing, surfing, golf and plenty of archaeological sites and historic places of interest. In winter months it is often possible to see the Northern Lights from the cottage garden. The nearby villages of Melvich and Bettyhill, both within 10 minutes’ drive, have a good selection of amenities, including pub, restaurant, café and a small local shop. The beaches along this coastline are renowned for their wide sandy bays with high sand dunes, and spectacular mountain backdrops. Beach ½ mile. Shop 7 miles, pub and restaurant 3 miles.