Dog-Friendly Holidays Argyll and Bute

This warm, charming, detached bungalow with a homely atmosphere, thoughtfully presented by the owners, provides everything you’ll need on your coastal holiday. Ar Deireadh enjoys a sunny sheltered position only a few minutes’ walk from Tayvallich village centre. Enjoy the countryside views and stunning west coast sunsets through the large patio doors leading onto the garden frpm the open plan living space. Offering two good-sized bedrooms, and an enclosed garden with a lockable shed for bike storage, Ar Deireadh is perfectly suited for families looking for a holiday close to a beach.
Tayvallich is a charming harbour village situated on the Knapdale Peninsula, with an excellent seafood restaurant, inn, coffee shop, shop and post office. Enjoying an enviable sheltered position on the shores of Loch Sween in a horseshoe bay surrounded by woodland, it’s a popular village for boating and sea kayaking, with public slipway and pontoons. There’s so much to do, with an all-purpose sports court next to the village hall, where ceilidhs are regularly held. A 10-minute walk takes you to the opposite side of the peninsula, to Carsaig Bay where you can enjoy views across Jura Sound and spectacular sunsets over the Isle of Jura, with fast ferries travelling across the sound so you can easily explore the island.
There’s plenty to see and do on the Knapdale Peninsula, close to Ar Deireadh. Visit the medieval Chapel of Keills and admire its display of carved stones, as well as its beautiful view of the MacCormaig Islands. You can also explore the National Nature Reserve on the Taynish Peninsula, which is home to one of the oldest oak forests in Britain, or explore the Scottish beaver trail in Knapdale Forest. The 12th-century Castle Sween sits on the opposite side of the loch, and Kilmory beach is easy to reach and a lovely destination for an afternoon stroll and picnic. Crinan harbour is 8 miles away through an attractive winding single track road or a walk/cycle along the canal towpath. Boats can be chartered from Crinan harbour and there are trips around the islands where it is possible to see whales, porpoise, seals, many sea birds including golden and white-tailed eagles, and the spectacular Corryvreckan Whirlpools. The Crinan Canal is one of the most beautiful waterways in Britain, and enjoys uninterrupted views of some of Scotland’s breathtaking and rugged natural landscape.
Within a 12-miles drive 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 almost 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. Just a short 12-mile drive takes you to the local town of Lochgilphead, which has a variety of specialist shops, cafés, restaurants, a swimming pool, golf course and sports centre. Further afield but offering a great day out are the towns of Oban, the Gateway to the Isles to the north, Inveraray, the capital of Argyll, to the east, and Campbeltown, with its world-class golf courses and stunning beaches, to the far south on the Kintyre Peninsula.

Overlooking the Crinan Canal, described as the ’most beautiful shortcut in Britain’, Printmakers Cottage has been converted from an old barn, attached to Braeface House at the Bellanoch Basin section of the canal. A Grade II listed stone building, it is believed to have been built to house the engineers involved in the construction of the canal which began in 1794. The cottage boasts amazing views over the canal to the estuary of the River Add, which is a protected area, and further to Loch Crinan and Duntrune Castle and gardens.

This lovely property has all the modern facilities you need, and also provides great accommodation for those who may have limited mobility. There is a double bedroom with fantastic views and a wet room on the ground floor. The main living area is double height with a gallery to the study area and exposed beams. The upper floor contains a double bedroom and a bunk bedroom, plus a further bathroom as well as a chill out /study area. The cottage has been sympathetically furnished by the owner, who is an artist, and her daughter, who both have a history in interior design and furniture restoration. Shop 5 miles, pub and restaurant 1½ miles.

Midcraigs is in a wonderful location just off the A83, 3 miles from Campbeltown, a pretty harbour town at the very southern end of the Kintyre Peninsula. Recently renovated in 2019 to a very good standard with a galleried living room with wooden floor and wood burner, there are many thoughtful touches which would make this an ideal family holiday base. There’s a separate cinema area on the gallery with a 55" TV, Playstation, table football, games and sports equipment to borrow. Flexible sleeping arrangements include a double bedroom on the ground floor, a charming bedroom on the first floor with three single beds, and a sofa bed on the gallery.
There are stunning beaches to explore close by, and with loads of outdoor sports and three golf courses, you’ll always have plenty to do! This warm and charming cottage makes a fantastic base for couples, friends or families to relax and enjoy beautiful Kintyre and the Southern Hebrides. The town centre, with its variety of pubs, restaurants, shops and museums, is just a 5-minute drive away. The property is very quiet and private, and is in an elevated location with a south westerly facing aspect. It has a contemporary décor with a family focus and is pet friendly, with an enclosed garden, outdoor hose and pet welcome pack, along with private parking.
Midcraigs is located close to the peaceful, little coastal town of Campbeltown on the beautiful Kintyre Peninsula. Enjoying a better than average climate, due to the warming Gulf Stream, as the palm trees on the sea front demonstrate, it is an ideal base for exploring the many attractions of the southern Kintyre peninsula and the Southern Hebrides. Davaar Island in the bay can be visited to discover the world-famous cave painting. It also has several fine period buildings, including the oldest purpose-built retro cinema. Campbeltown is home to three whisky distilleries, Springbank, Glen Scotia and Kilkerran, which produce world renowned malt whiskies and offer distillery tours. Beach 2 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 3 miles.

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.

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.

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.

Situated only a short walk from the sea, West Burnside provides a tranquil retreat from which to explore the surrounding area. This detached cottage is located along Kintyre’s stunning west coast and boasts unrivalled views across to the Isle of Gigha with the Paps of Jura in the distance. The cottage is surrounded by an abundance of natural wildlife, the clean environment and clear waters are home to all sorts of interesting wildlife. Relax in the enclosed viewing/sitting area by the wildlife pond and watch the wildlife come and go. The Machrihanish Seabird/Wildlife Observatory is located nearby at Gauldrons Beach and is fantastic for watching migratory birds.
Campbeltown is one of a handful of areas in Scotland categorised as a whisky producing region, and is home to the Campbeltown Single Malt, at one point having 34 distilleries and proclaiming itself the whisky capital of the world. The town boasts two distilleries as well as a museum, heritage centre and a harbour, with an annual regatta and music festival. The town is well-served with supermarkets, independently owned shops, and excellent hotels and restaurants offering the finest local produce. The surrounding area is well-known for its fine beaches, unspoilt countryside and scenic walks, with the addition of the Kintyre Way, making this an ideal location from which to explore the Kintyre Peninsula.
Lying just off the west coast of Kintyre, the Isle of Gigha offers a pleasant day trip. Within a short distance, there are many quiet and sandy beaches to explore and there is easy access to the Isles of Islay, Arran and Jura. Jura is one of the wildest and most mountainous of the Inner Hebrides. Islay is great for wildlife enthusiasts as it boasts a large RSPB reserve, a wintering population of barnacle and white-fronted geese, and a wildlife information centre. For the outdoor enthusiast, there is walking, cycling, fishing and water sports. Beach 200 yards.

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.

Holly Tree Cottage is tucked away in charming, historic Tain in the Scottish Highlands. Granted its first royal charter in 1066, Tain is the oldest royal burgh in the Scotland and you will find many interesting buildings throughout that you’ll enjoy wandering around and inspecting, especially since many host nice bars, cafés and restaurants. Holly Tree Cottage is a 19th-century, detached cottage set on a quiet street with the centre an easy walk away. The cottage itself is spacious and the owners have tastefully finished it to a very good standard. The kitchen/dining room is a lovely space where you will spend a lot of time, with its enormous wood burner taking centre stage. This room spills out to the garden, which is perfect for children and dogs to let off some steam. The garage is accessible from the garden and contains the washing machine and tumble dryer, as well as enough space to store kayaks, surfboards, golf clubs, bicycles and motorbikes. Back in the cottage there’s a great living room with another wood burner, a family bathroom and also a small double bedroom. Up on the first floor are two bedrooms, a double and twin, and a reading snug on the landing.
Tain has much to offer, including the Glenmorangie Distillery and the fantastic Old Tom Morris Golf Links. There is no beach in Tain, but the coastline, dunes and some tidal stretches of sand are great to explore on foot and footpaths through the golf course afford amazing views across the Dornoch Firth. Nearby Dornoch, Portmahomack and Shandwick all have spectacular stretches of golden sandy beaches to enjoy, and each place is worth a visit, too. Popular Dornoch has some great places to eat and drink in as well stunning historical buildings and Royal Dornoch Golf Links.
Tain also has the NC500 touring route skirting round it, so you can explore some of the best places in the whole of the UK. Head north via Golspie, Brora and Helmsdale to reach John O’Groats, Duncansby, the ferry to Orkney, Dunnet Head and many amazing beaches along the far north coast. The interior roads are also spectacular and worth exploring via Bonar Bridge and Lairg as well as Altnaharra. You can get across to Assynt and the west coast for a day surprisingly easily. Fly fishing is available on nearby salmon and trout rivers, as well as lochs on estates. Rest assured that a week’s stay won’t be long enough; you’ll love the accommodation and the surrounding area, and will want more time here. Beach 9 miles.

Situated within the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park, Benmore Drimfern is a fantastic bungalow with an open plan living space as well as a second living room with panoramic views. It makes an ideal base from which to explore this stunningly beautiful area with Benmore Botanic Gardens on the doorstep as is the fantastic Pucks Glen with amazing walks and waterfalls. The surrounding area is known as Argyll’s 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. A number of public gardens are located 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.
The town of Dunoon is nearby and offers 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. For those a bit more adventurous, the ferry at Colintraive to Rhubodach takes only three minutes to cross the sea loch and arrive on the Isle of Bute, a famous tourist destination over the years with many attractions such as Mount Stuart House and Gardens as well as the Victorian seaside resort of Rothesay. From this luxurious home, guests can explore many small villages such as Tighnabruaich and Kames with a spectacular viewing point en-route which looks out over the Kyles of Bute. Loch Fyne with its famous restaurant and oyster bar is not far away as is Inveraray; both great for a day trip.
Benmore Drimfern (UK38742) and Benmore Formentor Cottage (UK38743) can be booked together to accommodate up to 12 guests.