Dog-friendly Scotland

Set in a secluded, woodland location with views of rolling farmland, these two holiday properties offer a perfect hideaway for peace and tranquillity. With light spacious interiors, stylish furnishings and woodland walks from the door, these holiday homes provide every comfort. The 17th-century village of Culross, with quaint crow stepped gables and pantiled roofs, is only 3 miles. Dunfermline, 5 miles, Scotland’s ancient capital, is now a thriving city with hotels, restaurants and leisure facilities. Shops 1 mile, pubs 1½ miles.

This spacious ground floor apartment is located only yards from the sea and is situated in a quiet, leafy, tree-lined street, just a short walk to the town centre and all its amenities. Largs is a lovely coastal town with plenty of pubs, restaurants, cafés and shops and has an excellent train line to Glasgow for a day out. The islands of Cumbrae, Arran and Bute are all easily reached and well worth a visit or take the ferry over to Dunoon from Gourock and explore the magic of the Cowal Peninsula and Argyll’s ‘Secret Coast’, filled with hidden lochs and mystical glens. The Argyll Forest, part of the simply gorgeous Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, can be accessed here and has numerous forest tracks, marked walks, cycle ways and wonderful waterfalls to explore.
Largs is situated on the Ayrshire Coastal path with a stunning backdrop of the ever-changing profile of the mountains of Arran, this coastline is steeped in history and teeming with wildlife, including red squirrels, deer, otters, and seals and is a haven for bird watchers. Ayrshire is steeped in history with many ruined castles and seaside villages to explore, is also known as ’Burns’ Country’, and is steeped in tradition and history. Visit Burns Cottage, The Burns Memorial Museum, and the Brig o’ Doon, the bridge from the famous poem, ‘Tam o’ Shanter’. Kelburn Castle is on the doorstep and has lots of activities and forest walks, while further up the coast is Culzean Castle, designed by Robert Adams and truly one of his masterpieces, one not to be missed with its dramatic clifftop location. Also worth a visit is the 18th-century Dumfries House, part of the Prince’s Foundation which is home to an unrivalled collection of Chippendale furniture. The 2000-acre estate has been beautifully designed with stunning walks throughout the grounds. The Vanduara hotel which is situated on Largs promenade to the north was used by Lord Mountbatten with a lot of high ranking military personnel to plan the Invasion of Normandy in June 1944. please look up Largs Heritage Trail for inspiration.

Escape into the outdoors and nature at Garrique Cottage. Set in an elevated position on the edge of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park with breathtaking views over the Stirlingshire countryside to the mountains beyond, this is the ideal location for friends and family to spend time together in this spacious detached cottage. Accessed by a track and situated on a working farm, the cottage is all on one level and is well presented throughout. Extending to over 400 acres, the Garrique property offers a choice ofwoodland walks and the chance to see a variety of birds and animals including deer, hare and red squirrels.
The bright open plan kitchen, dining and family room is the hub of the cottage with its beamed ceiling and French doors opening onto a south west facing terrace and sheltered garden leading down towards a small burn. The kitchen is well equipped and the dining table is large enough for everyone to sit around. Afterwards retire to the cosy sitting room with panoramic views of Ben Vorlich, Ben Ledi, and the Braes of Doune, curl up by the wood burner and play board games or plan the next day’s activities.
Offering peace, quiet and comfort, in a rural location with many outdoor activities nearby including fishing, mountain biking, horse riding, road cycling, golf, water sports, woodland and river walks. From your door step you can explore ancient paths to the pretty village of Kippen which can be reached on foot within 45 minutes, and which boasts two gastro pubs, a delicatessen/café and a well stocked village shop
An ideal location from which to spend time in Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park known for its spectacular scenery of lochs, mountains and picturesque villages. For days out there is the historic city of Stirling, with its fabulous castle, museum and wide variety of shops, supermarkets and places to eat. Other local attractions include Blair Drummond Safari Park, Doune Castle, and the Bannockburn Experience.
For guests wanting a to escape the hustle and bustle of daily life, Garrique Cottage is the perfect location at any time of year, while its central location makes it a great base for exploring much of Scotland. Shops, pubs, restaurants and cafés 4 miles.

Trelaw is a spacious detached cottage with large enclosed gardens and its very own private hot tub to relax in after a day of exploring. The owner even provides robes and slippers for your comfort and convenience. There is a private fishing loch on the owner’s land which guests are free to use, and the loch is also great for paddle boarding (bring your own boards), and quiet country walks around the farm. There is also an outside bath for your small pet, perfect for their muddy paws, and a hot/cold tap. Horse riders are well catered for as there are riding stables 2 miles away. Outdoor games are available that can be used in good weather conditions such as outdoor table tennis, swing ball, putting mat, kids slide, trike, netball hoop/stand, kids fishing net, croquet set, Quoits set, and cricket set, and there are many walking and cycling routes in the immediate area. For the little guests there are robes, a kids’ welcome pack, a child’s table & chairs, a child’s bathroom step, a cot, a high chair, and board games.
Ayrshire, also known as ’Burns’ Country’ is steeped in tradition and history. Visit Burns Cottage, the Burns Memorial Museum, and the Brig o Doon, the bridge from the famous poem Tam o’ Shanter. The area offers many ruined castles to explore, such as Dunure, Turnberry, and Greenan. A visit and tour to Culzean Castle, designed by Robert Adams and truly one of his masterpieces, is one not to be missed with its dramatic clifftop location. Also worth a visit is the 18th-century Dumfries House, part of the Prince’s Foundation which is home to an unrivalled collection of Chippendale furniture. The 2000-acre estate has been beautifully designed with stunning walks throughout the grounds along with several children’s play areas. Auchinleck House, the former home of the renowned biographer James Boswell, where he indulged his penchant for "old laird and family ideas". The house is an 18th-century mansion and is currently managed by the Landmark Trust which has open days. Boswell Coach House is within the grounds and visitors are welcome to walk around the estate. The estate has been inhabited since the 13th century, and the remains of Auchinleck Castle and Auchinleck Old House stand on the estate. The Barony A Frame is a preserved headgear located 2 kilometres west of Auchinleck. 180 feet high, it was built in 1954 as part of the modernisation of the Barony Colliery, which opened in 1907.
The Galloway Forest Park is only a 30-minute drive away and is Britain’s largest forest park with 300 square miles of wild beauty waiting to be explored. The park boasts tranquil valleys, rugged rock faces, forest, moorland, loch, and ancient woodland, and a huge diversity of wildlife including red and roe deer, wild goats, and many birds of prey. The park has also been awarded the status of one of only four Dark Sky Parks in the Western world and when the sun sets, enthusiasts come to wonder at the universe revealed above.
There is also the Glasgow School of Art designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh, Willow Tea Rooms, and House for Art Lovers. The pretty seaside towns of Prestwick and Troon are also close by and there are very good rail links for a trip to the cosmopolitan city of Glasgow and also historic Edinburgh.
The islands of Cumbrae, Arran, and Bute are all easily reached for a day out while day trips to Ireland can be taken from Cairnryan. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park is just over an hour’s drive and is well worth a visit.
The property is also close to Ayr Racecourse, Loch Doon Ospreys, TreeTop Trials on Craufordland Estate, and close to award-winning Ayrshire golf courses and garden centres with good road links. Other activities and attractions include Blackstone Clydesdale Experience, 10 miles, Hannahston Alpacas, 3 miles, Ayr’s Award Winning Farm Park, 15 miles, ten-pin bowling, and a cinema are 12 miles away in Ayr and there is an open-air pool at New Cumnock which is part of Dumfries House. The property is also a short drive to the west coast beaches of Ayr, Prestwick, Troon, Croy, Dunure, Maidens, Turnberry, and Girvan, where you can hire a boat over to the Ailsa Craig, or walk to the Turnberry Lighthouse.
Trelaw can be booked together with Muirston farmhouse (Uk44977) to accommodate up to 14 people.

Located between the towns of Peebles and Biggar, just south of Edinburgh, is this gorgeous cottage on Drumelzier Place Farm. Set back from the River Tweed and within its own enclosed garden, Tweedford Cottage, as the name suggests, overlooks the original Ford Crossing on the river.

Completely upgraded and updated in 2022, this two-bedroom cottage is the ideal escape from the busyness of day-to-day life. Kick back, relax and enjoy either the stunning beauty of the surrounding area with the views from the cottage or venture outside and explore. The cottage is ideal for small families, couples, or a small group of friends. The living space is fabulous, with a stunning view and wood burner, the open-plan kitchen with breakfast area is exceptionally well equipped to luxury standard. The dining room, which takes full advantage of the view, is also open plan to the living space and is an ideal place to sit and enjoy a cuppa or maybe even read a book. There’s a utility with washing machine, separate to the kitchen, just off the hall. Outside the garden provides the space for your kids and dogs to run free, sit and relax or have a barbecue enjoying the picture postcard views.

Perhaps you’re looking for a base to explore that little bit further. With Edinburgh around 40 minutes by car and Glasgow just over an hour away, this is the ideal location for that feeling of peace and quiet yet still being so close to everything. Tweedford Cottage (UK41063) can be booked with Nettlebush Cottage (UK5629) also on the farm to accommodate up to 6 people.

Set outside the charming Village of Darve, these two lovely properties The Hayloft (ref UK7384) and Chaff House (ref UK7385) are located in rural Ayrshire, providing a superb location for outdoor enthusiasts. The accommodation sits adjacent to and has direct off-road access to Whitelee Forest and Windfarm, the UKs largest Windfarm with more than 130 kms of trails to explore on foot, by cycle or by horse. Horse riding and interactive animal sessions with the resident goats, alpacas, donkey, tiny ponies, and other animals can be booked separately with the on-site owners.
Dumfries House, Dean Castle Country Park, and Ayrshire’s Number 1 tourist attraction Culzean Castle are popular days out. The Galloway Forest Park is only a 30-minute drive away and is Britain’s largest forest park with three hundred square miles of wild beauty waiting to be explored.
The park boasts tranquil valleys, rugged rock faces, forest, moorland, lochs and ancient woodland and a huge diversity of wildlife including red and roe Deer, wild goats, and many birds of prey.
The park has also been awarded the status of one of only four Dark Sky Parks in the western world and when the sun sets, enthusiasts come to wonder at the universe revealed above.
Dalmellington is home to the Scottish Dark Sky Observatory and is only a short drive from the properties.
The seaside towns of Ayr, Prestwick and Troon are all close by with beautiful sandy beaches and stunning views towards the Isle of Arran. Day trips can be taken to Arran and Cumbrae and are well worth the effort.
Ayrshire is home to the Ayrshire Coastal Path, a 100-mile-long coastal walk with one of the finest panoramic coastlines in the British Isles. Crowned with a superb backdrop of the ever-changing profile of the mountains of Arran across the Firth of Clyde, this coastline is steeped in history and teeming with wildlife, including red squirrels, deer, otters, and seals and is a haven for bird watchers.
Inland there are gardens and castles to visit, riding, racing and a choice of golf course.
The Hayloft can be booked together with Chaff House (UK7385) to accommodate up to 6 guests.

The Stables is a two bedroomed steading conversion sleeping up to 4 people. It is all on one level with no steps inside or out. Located just outside the village of Lumsden which still retains a small shop and garage, it also has a large children’s playpark and is home to a Sculpture trail. The two bedrooms both have en-suite shower rooms. One bedroom has a kingsize zip and link bed that can be split to make two 2ft 6in singles; the second bedroom has a double bed. Through the hallway, enter the open plan kitchen, living/dining room with sofas and a dining table to seat 4 where you can relax and look out onto the views of the stunning countryside. The property is double glazed with a wood burner and underfloor heating with thermostats in each room to give you your optimum temperature. Outside is a patio area with a small lawn where you can relax and enjoy the fields of animals and wildlife on the farm.

Nearby is the small town of Alford with a supermarket as well as a number of independent shops and local amenities. It is also home to The Grampian Transport Museum and The Alford Heritage Museum. There are many leisure activities nearby including walking, fishing, go-karting, and golf. The Cairngorm National Park is a 20-minute drive away and if you enjoy skiing, the Lecht and Aviemore ski resorts are open in the winter months. Situated just off the castle trail, the nearest castle being 5 miles away, and the whisky trail, with the nearest distillery 13 miles away and another five within 20 miles. Visit beautiful coastal towns including Portsoy, Cullen and Newburgh and enjoy the stunning beaches and scenic fishing villages of north east Scotland.

The Stables can be booked together with The Byre (UK40441) to accommodate up to 10 guests.

This beautiful Victorian sandstone building is tucked away from the hustle and bustle yet in the very heart of Crieff. The ornate cornicing, ceiling roses and large bay windows have been loving restored while still retaining the elegance of the original building.
Just a 60-second walk from Crieff town centre where you will find an abundance of high quality restaurants and local shops. The Crieff Hydro Hotel is less than a 10-minute walk where over 60 activities including archery, air rifles, quad bikes and aerial adventure courses are held.
All the rooms are spacious and airy with stunning views over to the Ochil Hills to the west. You will enjoy preparing your evening meals in the lovely country-style kitchen, ready to dine in style in Lochinver’s elegant dining room. The living room includes television with Chromecast, and a selection of books to sit back and relax with. Enjoy the views in the garden whilst resting in the beautiful and light sun room with a cup of tea and a slice of cake after a day of sightseeing. Wake up to fresh air and the sound of the birds in the garden (or sometimes bagpipes during the summer) and enjoy breakfast on your private patio while enjoying the views.
The kingsize bedroom on the ground floor has a Jack and Jill en-suite which is wheelchair accessible, and has a walk-in shower. There are two private parking spaces, and additional free parking a 5-minute walk away. Shop, pub and restaurant ½ mile.

Stag’s Hide is the perfect year-round base to explore the beautiful Highlands surroundings and reconnect with nature. Surrounded by woodland and grazing pasture, your neighbours are likely to be the pheasants, squirrels or deer. And after the initial astonishment and wonder of your first sighting, by the end of your stay you’ll be so used to seeing the majestic deer frolicking nearby.
Dating back to 1909 when it was built for the gamekeeper of the Kinrara Estate, Stag’s Hide now combines the very best of old and new. The interior reflects a simple Scandi style, with plenty of wood and natural textiles, creating a calming environment in keeping with a slower pace of life. Indoors you can put your feet up and relax in the warm glow of the Squirrel log burner that’s at the heart of the open plan living, dining and kitchen area. The traditional log burner gives the room a cosy, timeless feel. It’s also great for drying out your boots. The ‘old’ is perfectly complemented by the ‘new’, with state of the art Sonos speakers, a Smart TV and a stylish, modern fitted kitchen. Although compact, the cottage offers everything a family or small group could need.
There are two luxury double bedrooms, both with king-size beds. Actually one of the beds is a super-king which can be separated into twin beds, depending on the needs of your group. Both bedrooms have double aspect windows and Smart TVs, a contemporary wet room with rainfall shower and a heated storage cupboard for any outdoor clothing. You may choose to digitally detox during your stay. But if you do need to stay connected, the cottage comes fully equipped with Smart TVs and free Wi-Fi. A more traditional detox may prove trickier!
The Kinrara distillery is only a short walk away and there’s a choice of local breweries and distilleries, all within a few minutes drive. It doesn’t matter when you visit, Stag’s Hide will be the perfect base for your trip. In winter you can see the Cairngorm ski runs from the door, with the Mountain Centre lifts only a short drive away. In spring and summer, there’s plenty to explore, with the centre of Aviemore a brisk 20-minute walk away. Keen cyclists will do it in 8…
There are plenty of walks for all ages and all abilities. General Wade’s Old Military Trail runs past the cottage and there’s a pleasant 20-minute walk to the shores of picturesque Loch Alvie. The more daring in your group may choose to hurtle through the pine forest on a zipwire at the nearby Zip Trek Adventure Park!! Whatever you choose to do, Stag’s Hide is the ideal base to explore this stunning part of Scotland. Whether you visit in the spring, summer, autumn or winter, the cottage has everything you need to create memories.

Druid’s Knowe sits in a superb position on the outskirts of the little hamlet of Tarfside, in the heart of Glen Esk.
Surrounded by gorgeous scenery this wonderful house has been totally and sympathetically refurbished and modernised right down to the last detail, but still retaining its original character. This is a perfect property if you love the great outdoors, appreciate the splendour of the Scottish countryside and are looking for rest and relaxation in an unspoilt and peaceful location.
The interior features a living room with wood burner on open plan to a well fitted kitchen, three double bedrooms (one on the ground floor) and two bathrooms, while outside there are gardens front and back, where you can sit and soak up the peace and quiet. Tarfside and Glenesk are good starting points for some excellent walks amongst stunning scenery and diverse wildlife. A few miles west of Tarfside is Mount Keen, Scotland’s most easterly Munro. Just along from the house is Glenesk Retreat and Folk Museum, gift shop and an art gallery. The museum is dedicated to the heritage, history and culture of Glenesk and focuses on the life of the rural community. At the bottom of the glen you can travel the length of the Victorian Heritage Trail, passing through Fettercairn with its Gothic Arch and local Distillery (where tours can be taken) up through Cairn o’ Mount and into Royal Deeside, ending at Balmoral Castle.
There is ample fishing and golf in the area as well as some good eating places or why not visit the beautiful beaches on the east coast at Montrose, Lunan Bay and St Cyrus.