Dog-Friendly Holidays Argyll and Bute

Degnish Farmhouse sits proudly alone within a 1100-acre working hill farm at the western end of Loch Melfort and has spectacular panoramic sea and adjacent island views. Surrounded by abundant wildlife, including otters, seals and birdlife and with easy access to golf, horse riding, sea kayaking, fishing and sailing, this comfortable south-facing detached holiday property offers a perfect retreat in a glorious setting.
The house has been lovingly re-built to a very good standard, with underfloor heating, double glazing and an emphasis on the wonderful views.
Ideally based for exploring the west coast, there are plenty of ferry trips nearby to Mull, Arran, Gigha, Islay, Colonsay or Tiree. The bustling harbour town of Oban, known as the ‘Gateway to the Isles’, is a scenic drive north and is home to an array of shops and restaurants. Inveraray Castle, historic Kilmartin Glen, and the Crinan Canal make for wonderful days out. Ardmaddy Castle and Gardens are 3½ miles over the hill, and can be accessed on foot, by 4-wheel drive or via the road to Seil Island. Guests enjoy free access to the gardens and are also welcome to use the estate’s tennis court. Small motor boats can be hired at Ardmaddy. Free fishing can also be arranged on the estate’s well-stocked hill loch.
There are plenty of hill and forest trails for mountain biking and leisurely walks, or visit one of the magnificent local gardens. Whilst there is the farm and miles of coastline to explore, there is also an enclosed garden and covered outdoor BBQ area ensuring the safety of younger children whilst allowing the grown-ups to enjoy an al-fresco lunch. Shop and pub 5 miles.

Completely renovated in 2021, this beautiful detached, single-storey holiday cottage enjoys an idyllic location, with Loch Etive to the front and the River Awe directly behind. Extremely well furnished and equipped the property has direct access onto the beach. It boasts stunning views across the sea loch to the mountains beyond from some of the rooms, and lovely views over the garden from the others. There is a well-equipped kitchen and a dining area seating eight guests. The house enjoys significant privacy with its only neighbours being seals, otters and yachts. Point Park is one of the very few properties to truly have a sea frontage, located just 5 metres from Loch Etive’s shore with direct beach access. In all rooms the bed can be made into double beds in all bedrooms if required.
The lovely little town of Taynuilt has a friendly community and offers a village grocery store, a post office, butchers, tea room, hairdressers, doctor’s surgery and a restaurant serving good food. There is also a train station, the line through Taynuilt runs from Glasgow to Oban so you can have a day in the city or head to the islands. Taynuilt’s golf course is just a few minutes’ walk from the cottage and offers 9 holes.
The bustling Victorian town of Oban known as the ‘Gateway to the Highlands’ is just 20 minutes away by carand offers shops, bars, seafood restaurants, a cinema and leisure centre. Whisky lovers can visit the Oban Distillery to learn how it’s all made. Regular boat trips leave the busy harbour bound for the Inner Hebridean Islands, including Mull, Iona and the Treshnish Isles with their comical puffins.
Enjoy leisurely forest walks, horseriding, fishing, sailing, diving and golf, or for the more adventurous, Glen Nevis, one of the Highland’s most famous glens and the location of scenes from Harry Potter and Braveheart, is only a short drive and offers stunning scenery and bracing walks. Explore famous castles, historical sites and mature gardens. Visit Bonawe Iron Works, Cruachan Hollow Mountain or the Inveraray Jail. The abundant wildlife includes porpoises, dolphins, basking sharks, otters, deer and a wealth of seabirds. Glencoe and Fort William are easily accessible by car and offer popular climbing, skiing and mountain biking. All in all this is an ideal base for enjoying the pleasures of the great outdoors or just savouring the spectacular scenery of the Western Highlands. Shop and pub 1 mile.

Tigh an Aighear is a well-appointed, detached cottage, situated all on one level and commanding stunning views across Loch Melfort towards the islands of Shuna, Scarba and Jura. Located in the small hamlet of Arduaine, just 20 miles south of Oban, there are plenty of local tourist attractions, boat trips and walking opportunities available nearby. Within a short walk is the National Trust for Scotland Arduaine Garden with a coastal view point looking out over the Sound of Jura. Beside Arduaine Garden is a popular hotel that accommodates both casual and fine dining.

Craobh Haven, a popular holiday and sailing village with berths for up to 250 vessels, is a 5-minute drive or a 30-minute walk to the south. It has a harbourmaster, marina office and village store, as well as stunning views over to the islands of Shuna, Seil and Luing. Running regularly from here are a number of excellent wildlife cruises which also take in the famous Gulf of Corryvreckan, with one of the largest whirlpools in the world. Oban itself is around a 30-minute drive north along the A816 coastal road and is a picturesque, bustling harbour town with an array of splendid shops and restaurants to experience. Known as the ‘seafood capital of Scotland’, it does not disappoint. With fishing boats in the bay, and regular ferries leaving for the Inner and Outer Hebrides, one visit will never be enough. Towards Lochgilphead you will pass Kilmartin Glen, with many ancient monuments as well as the famous Crinan Canal built in 1801 which runs from Crinan to Ardrishaig. Beach 22 miles. Shop 4 miles, pub and restaurant 300 yards.

Sithean (meaning ’fairy knoll’ in Gaelic) is built atop a wooded hillside overlooking lovely Glen Lonan on a working, regeneratively managed, hill farm. Self-contained and peaceful, the house design allows an intimate connection with the birch woods on the lower level, whilst the living space has a south and west facing dining area, commanding spectacular views of Loch Etive, ’The Shepherds of Glencoe’ to the north, and Ben Cruachan on the east.
Equally well-suited for couples, small groups and families, there’s a large front porch, ideally suited for drying wet outdoor gear, leading into the well-equipped kitchen and utility areas on the main floor. The living, kitchen and dining areas are open plan with vaulted ceilings, and attractively divided by a split-level floor and earth brick walls. Cosy and warm in all weathers, there is a wood burner in the living area, with underfloor heating throughout the house. Also on this floor is a double bedroom with a galleried balcony equipped with twin beds, served by an en-suite Category 2 shower room.
On the lower level, where you feel part of the surrounding woodland, there is a double bedroom, a twin room and a bathroom with sauna, which has direct access onto a decking area. Energy conservation was an important factor in the design of the house; the earth sheltered lower floor is protected from prevailing winds, and the living spaces upstairs allow for passive solar gains as well as natural lighting and ventilation.
The farm is home to a wealth of wildlife; hen harriers and other birds of prey, red and roe deer, red squirrels, black and red grouse, golden eagles and white-tailed eagles, foxes and pine martens, just some of the wildlife which enjoy the varied habitats.
Perfect as a base for exploring the hills, woodlands, and coastlines of Argyll, Sithean is conveniently close to the A85 for easy access to many Argyll attractions. Taynuilt village centre is just a 5-minute drive with a main line railway station, a general store, post office, butchers, hairdressers, café, craft shop and a 9-hole golf course. Ideal for walkers and cyclists, Sithean sits close to the rural lane network forming part of the National Cycle Route 78, which stretches from Oban to Fort William.

Close by is the beautiful inland Loch Awe and fantastic forestry walks through nearby Fearnoch and Glen Nant. Ben Cruachan offers more challenging walking but can be viewed from all around. You can also visit inside the mountain at the Hollow Mountain Visitor Centre. There are several inns and hotels serving food within a short drive. The busy west coast town of Oban, the Gateway to the Isles is within 12 miles’ drive either along the main road (A85) or through enchanting Glen Lonan. Oban has an interesting selection of shops, cafés, bars and restaurants, a whisky distillery, and various supermarkets. You can catch a short ferry trip from Oban to one of the Inner Hebrides, including Mull, Staffa, and Iona. There is plenty to do in the area and lots of attractions for days out, including trips to Glencoe, Ben Nevis, and the islands of Kerrera and Easdale to name but a few.

In a wonderful, secluded location, high above Carradale Harbour with stunning views to the Isle of Arran, Shorehills is a luxury modern holiday home, ideal for beach lovers and countryside enthusiasts, made cosy with oil-fired underfloor heating and a wood burner.
Enjoy your days watching the boats in the harbour, spotting wildlife in the bay below, and listening to the waves lap on the shore from the wrap-around decking. Relax in the living room with its wood burner, and watch the world go by through the large floor-to-ceiling windows with patio doors leading to the decking. The well-equipped kitchen and dining area is an ideal social space with patio doors opening onto the decking and views over the bay to Arran beyond. Perfect for socialising indoors, there’s a TV room with a 40” Smart TV and games room with a bar, pool table and darts. There’s a convenient twin bedroom downstairs with an adjacent walk-in shower room. Upstairs is a delightful, master en-suite double bedroom with uninterrupted views towards Arran. Two more spacious twin bedrooms are served by a luxurious family bathroom with a walk-in shower and free-standing bath.
Carradale is a small fishing village on the east of the Kintyre Peninsula, about 25 miles south of Tarbert. Offering peace and tranquillity, there is a well-stocked community shop and Post Office, tearoom and bar/restaurant, and a 9-hole golf course. Beautiful Carradale Bay is a long stretch of sandy beach, and there is plenty of walking in the woods and along the beaches. Locally, visit the old vitrified fort at Carradale Point, the nature reserve, or the gin distillery with a café. Salmon and trout can be fished on the Carradale River during the summer. Campbeltown is just 15 scenic miles distant, with shops, bars, cafés, a cinema, and three whisky distilleries.
There are ferries to Arran, Gigha, Islay, Jura and the Cowal Peninsula all within a short drive. There’s fantastic golfing at Machrihanish and another two local golf courses. Outdoor enthusiasts will be spoilt for choice with great opportunities for wind and kite surfing, sea angling, scuba diving, cycling, and horseriding, all available locally.

A beautiful detached cottage overlooking Loch Linnhe on the outskirts of the picturesque village of Port Appin, Ardtur Croft enjoys complete privacy set in its own enclosed garden accessed via a private driveway. There are magnificent views from the cottage over surrounding farmland and the sea, towards the Island of Lismore and beyond to the Morven Peninsula. A comfortable and spacious cottage, you will find yourselves gathering in the bright open-plan kitchen/diner, chatting round the kitchen table or on the comfy seating in front of the cosy wood burner, enjoying the views to the sea over the field. Port Appin is also home to two of Scotland’s most prestigious eating places, so you can walk along, sample local seafood and a drink without taking the car. There’s a licensed community run store and gift shop in the village too. Within a few miles of the cottage, there is an excellent choice of cafes and inns, all offering breath-taking views and delicious local food a renowned garden centre and a garage. A short ten minute walk down the road is Aird’s Bay, a horseshoe shape and peaceful shore being shallow some way out so ideal for safe swimming. There is much to attract the historian in the region as the mysterious events surrounding The Red Fox, immortalised by Robert Louis Stevenson took place in this locale so you can explore some of the locations in Kidnapped. The hillwalking and mountaineering opportunities in the area are spectacular with Glencoe within easy reach and numerous opportunities to climb a Munro for those who are ambitious. There are gentler walks round the coast or inland, including a walk out to stunning and historic Castle Stalker at low tide. You can hire bikes locally and explore the area via the cycle path which runs from Oban to Fort William passing through Appin. Despite its tranquillity, Port Appin is conveniently located. Beach 1 mile.

Dunmore Villa provides flexibility of space, suitable for extended families or large groups of friends, sleeping up to 13 guests, all in bedrooms with amazing sea views. The architecturally designed building compliments the stunning natural surroundings with internal furnishings and stone fireplace having been inspired by the beauty and colours of the Argyll countryside. The Villa has been extensively upgraded with eco features including solar panels, a wood burner, insulation and wood cladding. New bathrooms have been fitted throughout the house, and a glass-fronted dining room with terrace has been added giving magnificent views of the West Loch. There is a boat ramp and jetty for those who wish to bring their own boats, or for fishing and water activities.

Set in an area of Argyll known for its spectacular coastlines, Dunmore Villa is situated on the North side of West Loch Tarbert, seven miles from the village of Tarbert, Loch Fyne on the extensive Dunmore Estate which has 900 acres of land and over two miles of coastline; much of the land is protected by Scottish Natural Heritage.

With beautiful coastlines and grand scenery within walking distance, there is plenty to do during your stay at Dunmore Villa, from stunning nature walks to a more relaxed day at a local coastal spa boasting a heated outdoor infinity pool, just a 20-minute ferry away. Just a 7-mile scenic drive along the coast is the bustling fishing village of Tarbert. From craft shops and galleries, to souvenir shops, there are plenty of places to browse. Tarbert also has a several dog-friendly pubs, restaurants and cafés to enjoy a meal. or grab yourself some local fish and chips and enjoy eating on one of the many picnic benches surrounding the Tarbert Harbour.

The area around Kilberry has lots of forest and coastal walks and is close to many beautiful beaches with stunning views over the Atlantic. The relatively flat landscape and easy access affords many opportunities to enjoy coastal walking and exploring. The area is packed with history and some sights not to be missed include Tarbert Castle, Skipness Castle and Saddell Castle & Abbey. With ferries to Arran, Gigha, Islay, Jura and the Cowal peninsula all within a short drive, there is plenty to explore. Kintyre has miles of unspoilt coastline with fantastic white sandy beaches and rolling countryside.
Dunmore Villa can be booked together with Anchor Cottage (UK36497) to accommodate up to 16 guests.

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.