Dog-friendly Scotland
Explore Scotland's dog-friendly destinations for an ideal holiday with your four-legged friend. Whether it's a quaint hotel, cosy cottage, B&B, or a charming country house, find the perfect spot for a short break with your pooch. Discover stunning Scottish landscapes and create lasting memories on your next adventure.
Ballindalloch, ScotlandA warm and friendly welcome awaits you at this gorgeous Highland home, where you will be greeted with beautiful decoration and stylish Scottish touches. Situated in stunning Tomintoul, Hawthorn House is a perfect spot to enjoy this wonderful part of Scotland.
Set in the heart of the village, Hawthorn House can sleep up to eight people in four bedrooms, one of which is downstairs. Benefiting from a lovely wood burner, this home is very spacious, yet still has a welcoming and cosy feeling throughout. A modern and spacious kitchen with large windows overlooking the garden also adds to the attractiveness of the property. A lovely, large garden is the perfect place to enjoy some outdoor family time, and being fully enclosed means the adults can relax while the kids and dogs play.
Hawthorn House is within easy strolling distance of the village square where you can enjoy a coffee or browse through the local gift shops. Stock up on essentials at the village store and newsagent. Treat yourselves to a fabulous meal in the lovely restaurant and there are also a few village pubs in which to sample the locally produced beverages... all wait to welcome you in this picturesque setting.
Tomintoul, sitting in the Cairngorm mountain range, is believed to be the highest village in the Highlands, the perfect location from which to explore the area’s many attractions. You will be well placed for winter sports at the Lecht Ski Centre, or enjoy the activities on offer at the surrounding Glenlivet Estate. Here you can walk or cycle the many paths, all whilst appreciating the stunning Scottish scenery and local wildlife.
From Hawthorn House you can easily access the famous Scottish Whisky Trail, with the Glenlivet distillery only 5 miles away and many other distilleries located in and around Dufftown, approximately 18 miles away. The diverse town of Aviemore, situated in the Cairngorms National Park, is 25 miles away and provides a fun filled family day out. Whether you want to visit the mountains, lochs, the Highland Wildlife Park or the Landmark Forest Adventure Park, you will find something for everyone under an hour’s drive away. The Queens Scottish residence, Braemar in Royal Deeside, is approximately 30 miles away. Explore this historical region and see how the Royal Family live. We cannot forget the dramatic North Coast with the beaches of Nairn and Lossiemouth within driving distance. Shops, pubs and restaurant 175 yards.£155From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & book
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Brechin, ScotlandThis gorgeous detached cottage is situated in the peaceful hamlet of Guthrie, in the heart of the beautiful Angus countryside. A brilliant choice for memorial holidays with family and friends and nestling in between Guthrie Castle and the ancient medieval church, it is in an ideal location for many activities available in the area.
Lovingly renovated, this listed building was once the old post office and smithy, and now combines a high level of comfort with modern amenities, without sacrificing its charming character. New for 2021 is a wonderful games room with retro pinball machine, pool table and table football ( pinball and table football are coin operated) . The open plan living area is supplemented by a second sitting room with kingsize sofa bed, offering additional sleeping in real comfort. Outside, there is a lovely sitting area at the front, and a spacious fully enclosed garden at the rear with patio and barbecue, ideal for outdoor dining.
An area of stunning contrasts, in the quiet rural surroundings of the Angus countryside, it makes a perfect location for walking, golf, cycling, fishing and even tracing your ancestry. There are numerous activities on the doorstep, the Angus Glens offer easy and more challenging walking, and there are great golf courses at Carnoustie, Edzell and Brechin. Superb beaches can be found at Montrose and Lunan Bay, just a short drive away, and the Pictish Stones are nearby for which the area is renowned. Glamis Castle is well worth a visit and offers a selection of events throughout the year, whilst Arbroath is of course home to the Arbroath Smokie, so you can sample the real thing during your visit. Travel a little further afield to St Andrews, Dundee or Perth, and enjoy their numerous facilities. Beach 8 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 2 miles.£343From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Ayr, ScotlandThese two spacious, detached cottages, The Groom’s Cottage (ref UK31337) and The Brewers Cottage (ref UK12527) which is next to the owner’s home, are situated on a quiet country lane and both have their own private hot tub with shared use of tennis court and croquet lawn to enjoy after a day’s exploring. Nestled in the heart of Burns Country, the area is steeped in tradition and history. Fans of Burns will be able to visit many attractions including Burns Cottage, the Burns Memorial Museum and the Brig o’ Doon, the bridge from the famous poem Tam o’ Shanter.
Popular with walkers, the Ayrshire Coastal Path is close by with 100 miles of superb coastal walking to enjoy, with a superb backdrop of the ever-changing profile of the mountains of Arran across the Firth of Clyde. The River Ayr Way, a 40 miles source to sea walk, is also easily accessed. There are many gardens and castles to visit, and activities such as horse riding, racing and golf are available nearby. The world famous Turnberry golf course, with fantastic spa facilities and outdoor centre, and Royal Troon Golf Club are close by.
Culzean Castle National Trust and Dumfries House are spectacular and are among Ayrshire’s most popular tourist attractions. The Galloway Forest Park is easily accessed 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, lochs, 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. Day trips to Ireland can be taken from Cairnryan, and a short drive leads to Ayr, a traditional seaside town. Glasgow, Stirling and Edinburgh are perfect for a day out, as is Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, with ferry links to the islands of Arran, Bute and Cumbrae all within easy reach. Beach 12 miles. Shop 2 miles, pub and restaurant 1½ miles.
The properties can be booked together to accommodate up to 10 guests.£174From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Newton Stewart, ScotlandAn original gardener’s cottage, Orchard Cottage is a traditional, stone-built holiday home overlooking the orchard of the Galloway House Gardens and only yards from the secluded, tree lined, sandy Rigg Bay beach. You can hear the waves from your bedroom and you could even take your breakfast to the beach. Beachcombers will love this location as will writers and painters, nature and garden enthusiasts, activity seekers or honeymooners.
Walks for all ages and abilities start from the doorstep. Head south on the coastal path and through the woods to Cruggleton Castle and the surrounding cliffs. The village of Garlieston is northwards, via the Galloway House Gardens, famous for its spring display of azaleas and rhododendrons.
Golf and fishing are within easy reach, as are the Galloway Hills and the 7stanes mountain bike trails. Wigtown, Scotland’s National Book Town, Whithorn, home to the first recorded Christian church in Scotland and the harbour villages of Isle of Whithorn and Port William are a short drive or cycle ride away, reachable by quiet, country roads. Beach 50 yards. Shop, pub and restaurant 1 mile.£135From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Brechin, ScotlandDruid’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.£101From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Kirkcudbright, ScotlandThis stunning, detached bungalow, equipped with some disabled facilities, is the perfect retreat to explore the best of one of Scotland’s most secret places. The property also features a full-sized pool table which can also be used for table tennis. Offering fantastic holiday accommodation, Bengali is situated in the small hamlet of Ringford yet the local designated food town of Castle Douglas and the pretty artist’s town of Kirkcudbright are very accessible. Beach 4 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 4 miles.£115From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
- Strathcarron, ScotlandYou will receive a warm welcome on entering the Achnashellach Bothy. The comfortable sitting room has an open log fire, there is Satellite TV and DVD player. It has a dining table to seat four. The kitchen is just off the sitting room with an electric cooker, microwave, fridge/freezer, dishwasher and washing machine. The stairs are opposite the front door and leads you to an upper landing with the double bedroom with a kingsize bed, a small desk and cupboard on your left and a twin room with desk and cupboard on your right. The bathroom is behind the stairwell at the top of the landing, it is a small bathroom with a shower over the bath. The garden is at the front of the house and guests are asked to keep dogs on a lead at all times due to the wildlife that sometimes pops by!
Achnashellach Bothy (ref UK39592) can be booked together with Garden Cottage (ref UK39828) to accommodate up to 8 guests.£101From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Uplawmoor, ScotlandThis traditional farm cottage in a courtyard setting is situated on a working farm of over 200 acres with woodland walks direct from the door. Situated only a short drive from Paisley and Glasgow with museums, gardens, art galleries, superb shopping, restaurants, entertainment and nightlife and only 35 miles from Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. This is one of Scotland’s most picturesque areas with excellent outdoor activities to be enjoyed including walking, cycling, golf, fishing, pony trekking and watersports. Ayrshire with its stunning coastline, sandy beaches and historic sites is nearby and the islands of Arran, Bute and Cumbrae make for a great day out. The historic cities of Edinburgh and Stirling can be reached in an hour. Beach 17½ miles. Shop 7 miles, pub and restaurant ½ mile.
Old Barn Farm Cottage can be booked together with Old Barn Farmhouse (ref CC539038), The Cowboy’s Hoose (ref UK5715) and The Birdie Hoose (ref UK5795) to accommodate up to 10 guests.£54From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Aberfoyle, ScotlandSet in a unique location in the middle of Queen Elizabeth Forest Park, Craigmuick Cottage is perfect for guests wanting a holiday in a superb, secluded location. Your journey to the cottage will take you through the beautiful scenery of Loch Lomond into The Trossachs National Park, where the cottage, accessed via a forestry metal gate and a forestry track with pot holes, is set in one and a half acres of landscaped and natural woodland. Due to the location you can enjoy a peaceful holiday without any mobile phone coverage, although you can still keep in touch with loved ones and make calls via the Wi-Fi. The bubbling River Duchray passes by at the side of the grounds, and the area is a haven for birds and other wildlife including osprey, red kites, red squirrels and red deer. The cottage is located just 2 miles from Aberfoyle where you can pick up supplies from the local supermarket and a delicatessen with an award-winning butcher. You can also enjoy the good selection of eating places.
Dating back to the 1800s, the property was once the home of Scottish poet William Glen (1783-1826). The cottage has been lovingly renovated and furnished to a very good standard, keeping some of the original features alongside contemporary and excellent quality fittings. The spacious property can comfortably accommodate 10 guests. On the ground floor, the spacious and airy open plan living area boasts a traditional stone fireplace with an Aga wood burner in the living room, and is just the place to relax on a chilly evening. The dining area with a large table is the perfect spot for the whole group to sit together at breakfast and plan the day’s activities. The contemporary kitchen offers excellent quality appliances including a range cooker, and is thoughtfully equipped with everything you will need to prepare a family meal or a celebration dinner. Just off the kitchen is a spacious utility room with laundry facilities, handy for hanging wet coats and storing muddy boots. There is also a cloakroom and double bedroom with en-suite facilities. A great bonus for families with children of all ages is the TV/playroom, complete with a cosy seating area and a selection of board games, DVDs and books. On the first floor, guests will find four spacious bedrooms, two of which offer en-suite facilities, a large family bathroom with twin wash hand basins and a walk-in shower.
Stepping out into the garden, the patio is perfect for al fresco dining and playing games, and in the evening, star gazing in the forest. If you can tear yourself away from the cottage, you are in the perfect setting for a variety of outdoor pursuits. From your front door there are miles of forest tracks to explore on foot or bike. The area is great for hill walking, mountain biking, golf, pony trekking and fishing on the lochs. For days out, Stirling with its historic monuments, ancient castle and shopping centre is a mere 25 minutes’ drive. Loch Lomond, the single biggest expanse of inland water in the British Isles, has charming villages and bays to explore, and is just half an hour from the cottage. Gleneagles is 40 minutes away, the cosmopolitan city of Glasgow is less than an hour’s drive, and Perth and Edinburgh are just over an hour away. Shop, pub and restaurant 2 miles.£368From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Campbeltown, ScotlandIn 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.£171From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
