Dog-friendly Hotels Aberdeenshire

In an area renowned for superb fishing and golf, this wonderful property could not be in a better location! Just 50 yards from the rushing waters of the lovely River Dee and very close to Banchory Golf Course, this spacious and very comfortable accommodation makes full use of its situation, with patio doors from the living room offering an uninterrupted view of the river itself - where fishing may be arranged with the owner (subject to availability). With all modern facilities, it ensures a very relaxing stay in total comfort.
Banchory is a superb base for a varied holiday with Crathes Castle and garden, and Castle Fraser both well worth a visit. Also boasting two golf courses in the town, there is a wider choice in the surrounding area with excellent hillwalking and skiing available in the Cairngorms just a short distance away. A short drive leads to Ballater, where Queen Victoria first arrived in Desside in 1848. Although the line has long since closed, visitors can still visit the elegant train station in the heart of the town centre. Ballater is also an excellent base for local walks and outdoor activities. A popular walk leads to Lochnagar, the much painted and written about mountain by the current Prince of Wales.
Balmoral is easily accessible for the day and the local distillery at Lochnagar is well worth a visit, with tours and tasting of the local malt available. For an alternative day out, Aberdeen - Scotland’s third largest city, is well worth a visit. Many of the parks have been transformed into ‘flower gardens’ and are some of the most beautiful in Britain. There is also an excellent choice of restaurants and pubs and the livley city harbour comes alive in the evening with a number of theatres. Shops ½ mile.

This is a birdwatcher’s paradise and is within an easy walk of the village shop, café and hotel. Furnished with care to maximise the light, inside this single-storey property there are full length picture windows in the bright living room and a well-equipped kitchen. The extensive garden with mature trees and expanse of lawn, is a wonderful sun trap to enjoy after a brisk walk along the beautiful sandy beach.

St Cyrus beach is nestled at the bottom of the cliff, which is accessed either by a steep walk from the local church just a few hundred yards away, or for the less adventurous, there is an easy drive down to the beach on the outskirts of the village at the nature reserve. A walk along the shoreline offers a good chance of spotting porpoises and other marine life in the clear waters. The spectacular cliffs and dunes are a National Nature Reserve and home to a variety of wildlife - peregrine falcons and fulmars are often spotted, as well as divers and other sea birds. Deer inhabit the wooded area at the top, and rare butterflies and plants can be found throughout the reserve. The owner has thoughtfully provided binoculars for your enjoyment. St Cyrus is between Montrose and Stonehaven, both bustling seaside towns with golf courses, shops and leisure centres, whilst inland the Angus Glens are easily reached for some excellent walks and spectacular scenery. Fishing is also available locally. Beach 300 yards. Shop, pub and restaurant ½ mile.

A stunning location and wonderful gardens make this a real stand-out property! This lovely fishing lodge, built on the site of the demolished Blackhall Castle, is a real home from home. Its tastefully furnished interior is beautifully complemented by sweeping lawns and mature trees which were once part of the old castle gardens, and being in a superb position just a couple of hundred yards from the River Dee, there are lovely walks along this delightful river. With plentiful wildlife, you may encounter ospreys, otters, red squirrels and pine martens during a relaxing stroll. The seldom used owner accommodation is attached to the house but the gardens and grounds are all available to be enjoyed by guests at any time. A well stocked trout pond nearby is available for fishing by arrangement with the estate overseer.
Banchory, a bustling market town, is just a couple of miles away and has plenty of interesting shops and eateries as well as being the gateway to Royal Deeside. The area, a favourite haunt, first of royalty and ever since of tourists, has many delights to offer and makes an ideal base from which to explore castles, mountains and coastlines, all within an hour’s drive. Watch the salmon leap at the nearby Falls of Feugh, or visit Crathes and Drum Castle, just two of the many on the Castle Trail which winds its way through the area. A spectacular drive over the high pass of Cairn o’Mount will take you to the village of Fettercairn where there is one of the oldest whisky distilleries in Scotland. Slightly further afield is the delightful village of Ballater, Balmoral Castle (open most of the year to visitors) and skiing at the Lecht, only an hour’s drive. Quad biking, cycling, archery, horse riding and golf (two courses in Banchory itself) are all easily available and walking in the beautiful scenery (try Lochnagar and the Lairig Ghru) adds to the many outdoor activities available in abundance in this magical area. Beach 20 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 2 miles.

This superb ground-floor property rests in the village of Finzean, near Aboyne, in Scotland. Open-plan. Woodburner. En-suite. Aboyne 7 miles; Aberdeen 26.6 miles.

A beautiful ground floor lodge resting on the 240-hectare estate of Crathes Castle, found in Crathes near Banchory, Aberdeenshire. Private garden. Character. Portlethen 14.2 miles; Aberdeen 17.3 miles; Alford 22.3 miles miles.

A cosy first-floor apartment nestled in the dramatic courtyard area of Drum Castle, in Drumoak near Peterculter, Aberdeenshire. Woodburning stove. Romantic retreat. Access to castle grounds. Westhill 8.7 miles; Aberdeen 11.7 miles; Inverurie 17.1 miles.

This charming detached cottage is set in an elevated position with panoramic views from the grounds towards the sea at St Cyrus. A steep meandering walk down the hill to the beautiful beach starts from the cottage, and there are fine views over the bay towards Montrose Basin as you go down. The cottage is in a secluded position yet next to two other properties and has its own private, enclosed rear garden. The cottage is bright, fresh and welcoming with a wonderful living room with vaulted ceiling and beams where you can relax in front of the wood burner after an energetic day out.

St Cyrus’ beach is a renowned conservation area and visitors will love the wide sandy spaces, rock pools at one end and the opportunity to spot whales, dolphins, seals and otters which frequent the clear waters. Ornithologists are also well catered for, with the nearby Montrose Basin home to thousands of pink footed geese in winter as well as many other wading birds and seasonal visitors throughout the year.

Montrose itself has plenty of facilities including two golf courses, tennis and bowls, as well as being the venue for Mofest, an annual music festival which attracts big names as well as lesser known acts. Dundee is within easy reach for the culturally minded and a visit to the V&A Museum is a must, as well as the RRS Discovery or a trip to the theatre. Beach ½ mile. Shop, pub and restaurant 1 mile.

These lovely detached holiday lodges are set in an elevated position with marvellous views towards Cairn O’Mount. Situated in 8 acres of natural woodland, all the properties are very stylishly furnished with good attention to detail. Mountshade (ref 30297) has been constructed to make the most of its surroundings with its concertina doors from the living room, relax and enjoy the views from the decking area after a busy day out exploring. Park Lodge (ref 17329) has an open-plan living room with a cathedral ceiling, opening on to a well-equipped kitchen. Cairn View (ref 30456), as its name suggests, boasts a wonderful view towards Cairn O’Mount and sleeps 6 in comfort, ideal for families or couples. All three lodges have plenty of space between them, ensuring good levels of privacy. The local and surrounding area provides the perfect holiday for families, friends and couples of all ages. Visit Balmoral Castle, (open in summer to visitors), or tour Royal Deeside, which begs to be explored, with fantastic walks on moor and mountain, river and loch fishing, cycle trails and pony trekking, or take in the scenic majesty of Lochnagar. The popular town of Banchory is just 5 miles away with interesting shops and restaurants, and the area is renowned for its Highland Games in summer. Aberdeen is approximately 30 minutes’ drive with its theatres, bars, gardens and shopping centre, and when the weather starts to cool down, the ski resorts of Lecht and Cairngorm are easy to reach. Shop and pub 5 miles.

The Annexe at Shieldaig Cottage is situated just over a mile from the picturesque village and golden sands of St Cyrus. It is attached to the owner’s house and completely self-contained with stunning views over open countryside. An entrance porch leads through to the open plan living area, and French doors open onto the pretty patio - an ideal spot for alfresco dining or relaxing with a glass of wine. Adjoining the living area is a modern well-equipped kitchen. There is a very attractively presented kingsize bedroom with colour co-ordinated soft furnishings and a shower room all on the ground floor. The first floor has a further attractive king size bedroom and a second living room with views of the countryside to one side and the sea to the other. A utility room with washing matching and clothes airer is at the side and is a great place to store outdoor clothing.
The village of St Cyrus is located on the east coast of Scotland and is famous for its Nature Reserve, a haven for nature lovers, bird watchers and dog walkers. The village offers local amenities including a village shop and post office, a coffee shop and a hotel, pub and restaurant. A perfect base to explore the coastline, hills and glens which surround The Mearns, home of Lewis Grassic Gibbon, write of A Scots Quair. The Grassic Gibbon Centre is located in nearby Arbuthnot. There is no shortage of good walks within easy reach in and around the Angus Glens, Forfar and Kirriemuir areas.
Other nearby attractions include the towns of Montrose and Stonehaven. Montrose sits on the edge of a tidal lagoon known as the Basin. Just south of the town on the A92 you will find the Basin Wildlife Centre where a resident ranger leads guided walks around the reserve. Montrose is also home to several links golf courses. Stonehaven has a beautiful harbour from where you can take boat trips to experience the rugged coastline and bird life. Beach 2¼ miles. Pub 5 miles.