Dog-Friendly Scottish Highlands
With stunning landscapes, majestic mountains and historic wonders, The Scottish Highlands is a truly magnificent place to visit. Whether you're looking for a cosy cottage or luxury hotel, there's a brilliant choice of dog-friendly accommodation and outdoor space for you and your pup to enjoy.
- Melvich, ScotlandSituated 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.£74From price per night based on 7 night stay
- Melvich, ScotlandTor Aluinn is situated in the small hamlet of Coldbackie, 3 miles from Tongue, which has a local shop, restaurants and a bar along with craft shops and a post office. This detached property offers a superb level of comfort and space throughout. There is a storm porch to the front and a spacious reception hall, the living room is large with a tremendous feature fireplace all with chesterfield style furniture and a smart television with a full sky package for those rainy days. There is a ground floor wet room and a beautiful fitted kitchen that has a good level of appliances and is open plan to the dining area. To the rear of the property is a laundry room and boot store. Upstairs there is a master kingsize bedroom with an en-suite shower room, a further kingsize bedroom and a twin bedroom both served by a family bathroom. Externally there is a fully enclosed private garden where you can leave your bikes. There is parking to the front of the property for 2 cars. The views are breathtaking from all the windows to the front overlooking the Kyle of Tongue and the headland. The beach is 250 yards from the property down a steep footpath, which is ideal for a spot of paddling or sand castle building, or perhaps for taking your four legged friend for a stroll. Pub and restaurant 2.7 miles.£138From price per night based on 7 night stay
- Melvich, Scotland“Rhianchaitel” is Gaelic for Cattle Field. This part of Bettyhill where the the house is built was an old croft that obviously often had cattle roaming around. Built over a hundred years ago at the beginning of the twentieth century, Rhianchaitel House is a rather grand croft house. You can see the ruin of the older property in the grounds near to the house, and that single storey croft house would’ve been 17th or 18th century. Arriving in the rugged village of Bettyhill on the far north coast of Scotland, you’re greeted with a collection of cottages across the hilly coast, centred around a shop, a café and a hotel with bar and restaurant. Rhianchaitel is walking distance from the village centre, approximately halfway down the hill towards the beach. Walking down the hill you come across the track circling back towards the house where it stands proud with no neighbours. The accommodation is spacious for five people and the house welcomes up to two dogs. Now even though it isn’t an enclosed garden, it’s a great spot for dogs as the end of track where there’s the occasional slow moving vehicle is about 200 yards away from the house. Dogs can have a great time roaming around the house in the garden and grounds.
Entering through the back door, which you’ll mostly do, there’s a useful hallway for boots after days out exploring. There’s a single bedroom on the ground floor near to the back door. The kitchen/dining room wit adjoining utility area is next and is a fantastic space for the family to gather in to plan days out and reminisce of days well spent at or near Rhianchaitel House. There’s a magnificent floor to ceiling window in the kitchen that gives a spectacular view of the beach and surrounding hills. The kitchen/dining room has everything you’d want from the space plus a handy Flat-screen TV mounted on the wall. The living room is also on the ground floor and again has a large Flat-screen TV for everyone to gather round on comfy sofas. Up to the first floor there are two bedrooms, one with a kingsize double and another with a double bed. The double bedroom has an amazing view down to the sandy beach. Also on the first floor is a spectacular bathroom complete with shower cubicle and a free-standing bath. Rhianchaitel House is the holiday home you’ll want to return to during your stay up in the far north of Scotland after long days out exploring. It’s also likely to be a family favourite that you want to return to in future years. There’s so much to see and do on the far north coast, and the NC500 touring route, which passes through the village will be very helpful. There are more amazing sandy beaches beyond Farr Beach at Armadale, Strathy and Melvich. To the west you have Tongue and its unbelievably scenic backdrop of Ben Loyal and Ben Hope which you can explore en route to the arty outpost of Durness. There’s too much to mention here, but hiking, biking (road and mountain bike), surfing, golfing, fishing (fly fishing on some of Scotland’s best salmon rivers, as well as trout lochs and sea fishing, whisky and chocolate tasting, wildlife trips. The list goes on and on. You better book a few weeks to enjoy it all!£76From price per night based on 7 night stay
- Forss, Scotland
An imposing 19th-century country home, dog-friendly Forss House Hotel in Caithness is in wonderfully remote location. Set amid 20 acres of wonderful woodland.
- Spean Bridge, Scotland
Black Sheep Hotels Cabins are dog-friendly, self-catered cabins on the shores of Loch Lochy with a Highland-inspired, home from home feel. Just a short drive from Fort William the cabins have stunning views, dog-friendly loch-side restaurant and spa close by.
£250Price per night from
- Gairloch, Scotland
The dog-friendly Shieldaig Hotel is an original hunting lodge in the West Highlands in a stunning location on a 26,00 acre estate overlooking the shores of Gairlock - a magical place that you and your dog will love!
- Dornoch, ScotlandOsprey Lodge is situated in an elevated position, deep in the Sutherland hills, tucked away down a private track, and enjoying unbelievable views across the surrounding hills and open countryside. This superb, detached solid wood lodge enjoys total peace and privacy, set in 50 hectares of croft land. The accommodation is presented to a very good standard throughout. The delightful open plan living space features a welcoming wood burner in the living area, as well as patio doors that open onto the raised decking, with a private hot tub and sitting-out area. There are two beautifully presented kingsize bedrooms with colour coordinated soft furnishings allowing for a good nights’ sleep. 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.
Situated on a working farm where the friendly cattle and sheep roam freely, this is a haven for wildlife and you may also stumble upon osprey, deer, pine martin, red kites, golden eagles and curlews. Whilst completely private, it is just over 1 mile to the pretty stone village of Rogart which is home to 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, and 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 you can visit the sandy beach and the renowned championship golf course, as well as the 12th-century cathedral that dominates the central square. Beach 17¾ miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 1½ miles.£216From price per night based on 7 night stay
- Aviemore, ScotlandEnjoying a quiet setting with panoramic views across the extensive grounds and on towards the beautiful Cairngorm mountain range, Sunnyside House makes just the perfect base for exploring one of the most scenic and popular holiday destinations in Scotland. The house has been equipped and furnished to a high standard which will ensure you have as supremely comfortable and relaxing holiday as possible, with your every need taken care of. Robes are provided for after a soak in the hot tub and dog beds, cages and dishes are included for your four-legged friends.
Located just a mile or so from the centre of the village of Carrbridge and only 11 miles from the vibrant town of Aviemore, both situated in the heart of The Cairngorms National Park and at the head of the Speyside Way, Sunnyside House can be used as a base to explore or to relax and unwind. Carrbridge has the usual village facilities with a larger range available in Aviemore. The area boasts a super range of shops, restaurants and bars along with a wide range of outdoor activities – skiing and snowboarding, mountain and quad biking, climbing and hill walking and a variety of water sports on nearby Loch Insh, Loch Morlich and the River Spey, zip lining and zorbing are just a few of the myriad of activities available. Take a trip on the Cairngorm Mountain funicular railway, the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre or the Highland Wildlife Park at nearby Kingussie and the Landmark Forest Adventure Park which is just a short distance from the house – a superb day of fun for all ages. Visit the lovely Spey Valley golf course and the Dalfaber Leisure Resort in Aviemore with its wonderful array of leisure activities.
Further afield, take a trip to the beautiful west coast and 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 of the best coastline destinations in the world. This is an area with so much to offer, see and do for all ages. For the less energetic, you can sit back by the side of the wood burner or soak in the hot tub and let the stresses of everyday life slip away. So many happy and unforgettable memories will be made on your holiday in Sunnyside House. Beach 24½ miles. Shop 1½ miles, pub and restaurant ½ mile.£226From price per night based on 7 night stay
- Helmsdale, ScotlandSituated on its own, right on the shoreline, enjoying panoramic views of the seascape this unique detached house offers an exceptionally good standard of holiday accommodation throughout. The living room and large kitchen/dining room look out across the bay. A second living room upstairs is built in the form of an ’observatory’, complete with balcony from which to spot the wide variety of bird and sea-life. Miles of shoreline walks are accessed directly from the property. The unspoilt fishing village of Helmsdale has a harbour and restaurants and shops. The area is renowned for its unspoilt beaches, wild and rugged coastline and traditional villages. Fossils are regularly found along this particular stretch of coast. Travel north to visit the Castle of Mey, John O’ Groats and the Orkney Isles. Golf, fishing, cycling, hill-walking, surfing and pony trekking all available locally. Try panning for gold in the Helmsdale river and visit the fairytale castle of Dunrobin. Shops, pub and restaurant 500 yards.£131From price per night based on 7 night stay
- Inverness, ScotlandNestling amid the glorious Highland countryside, with a stunning backdrop of mountains, this traditionally built stone house stands detached on the site of an old croft, on a 350-acre estate. Ideal for year round family holidays, it features a most attractively furnished, designer interior, which opens out onto a large, south-facing enclosed garden laid mainly to lawn. The surrounding area is a nature lover’s paradise, with several lochs close by offering excellent fishing and bird-watching opportunities, and much indigenous flora and fauna. Inverness 17 miles. Shops 6 miles, pub 1 mile (open Apr-Oct).£84From price per night based on 7 night stay