Dog-Friendly Scottish Highlands

This charming former fisherman’s cottage, with enclosed garden, is set in the heart of Fishertown which forms part of the lively town of Nairn. Located on the Moray Coast, Nairn boasts a sandy beach which is just a few minutes’ walk from the holiday cottage. A toy cupboard provides amusement at the cottage. Seashell Cottage is ideally situated to enjoy the variety of facilities the town has to offer including a links golf course, fishing and boat trips to see the bottlenose dolphins. Cawdor and Brodie Castle are nearby along with numerous distilleries - take the Whisky Trail on Speyside. Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield and Inverness, the Highland capital are all within a short drive. Shop, pub and restaurant 500 yards.

Balmore Farmhouse is located just a few miles south of Inverness and is only 2 miles away from the infamous Loch Ness. The property has been fully renovated to a good standard and offers guests a superb level of comfort and space.
Enter into the spacious reception hall, leading to a living room with comfortable leather sofas that wrap around the cosy wood burner. The kitchen/dining room is well-equipped with all you could need during your stay, and provides great views over the countryside. The utility room with washing machine and tumble dryer offers a useful space for cleaning mucky clothes after a busy day of adventuring. On the ground floor there is a kingsize bedroom with a private dressing room and an en-suite shower room that is also accessed from the hallway.
On the first floor there are three large bedrooms, two with kingsize beds, and one with a single bed, all served by a family bathroom. Outside there is ample parking and a large enclosed garden. Balmore Farmhouse makes an ideal holiday base for exploring the many delights of the Northern Highlands. Located on the outskirts of the Highland capital of Inverness and close to Loch Ness and the Moray Coast, the area is renowned for its natural beauty along with the many activities available, including golf, kayaking, water sports, mountain biking, climbing and hill walking to name just a few. Discover some of the many historic castles, such as Culloden Battlefield and Fort George, or stroll along some of the many unspoilt beaches. Beach and bar and restaurant 3 miles. Shop 2 miles.

Originally the village school that served a small rural community in north west Sutherland, The Old School House has been transformed into a delightful stone cottage surrounded by its own enclosed landscaped cottage gardens. The lounge runs the length of the cottage. With the original high ceilings, large windows and Victorian fireplace, this superb room has a warm, welcoming ambience and provides plenty of space for guests to sit and admire the view whilst enjoying a wee dram or two in front of the open fire. There is a large double bedroom with a super king sized bed, a twin room and a small third bedroom with bunk beds for two children. They are all attractively presented with colour co-ordinated soft furnishings. The gardens are a real delight, with a stone slab path leading up through the flower beds to a garden seat from which there are spectacular views across the bay to Handa Island and the Outer Isles. The mountains of Foinavon, Ben Stack and Arkle are also visible.

The immediate area is haven for outdoor enthusiasts and lovers of the great outdoors generally. Hill walking, climbing, canoeing, kayaking and sailing are all local activities. There is a thriving pony trekking centre in the nearby village of Sheigra, with rides amidst spectacular scenery. Fishing in the surrounding lochs and rivers as well as sea fishing is a popular pastime. The area is also a haven for wildlife, with seals and otters in the bay and numerous varieties of birds attracted to the region.

The beaches in this area are renowned. Sandwood Bay is particularly noted, with a wonderful walk across the machair to its secluded sweeping sands. The nearby beaches of Oldshoremore and Polin are also renowned for their unspoilt beauty. Kinlochbervie is the nearest main village. The most northerly port on the west coast of Scotland, this pretty village has an active working harbour and offers good local facilities, including a shop and post office, as well as a hotel with restaurant open all year to non-residents for meals.

Aonach Cottage offers complete tranquillity in a truly peaceful setting. Only 3 miles from sea lochs and the amenities of Glencoe village, the cottage has all the comforts and flexibility of home, among the spectacular and dramatic mountain scenery of Glencoe. It sits below some of Scotland’s highest mountains, and enjoys panoramic mountain views, including a stunning view of the Aonach Eagach Ridge and towards Bidean Nam Bian. There are numerous walks from the door, including to the Corbett Meall Lighiche and the lesser-known Munro, Sgor na h-Ulaidh. The views from the windows are just stunning. With no light pollution, you can enjoy star gazing across the dark night sky. From the front door you can wander further up the peaceful glen alongside a mountain burn and enjoy beautiful scenery and a feeling of being in the hills, even if you are not a hill walker.
Sharing a completely enclosed deer-fenced area of the mountain with its sister cottage Bidean Cottage (UK41933) and the owners’ farmhouse, Aonach Cottage is accessed by a 1-mile hard surfaced farm road off the main route through Glencoe. Glencoe is a lovely highland village with many amenities including a mini-market, café, hotel, pub, filling station, church and dentists and there are some fabulous restaurants, cafés, and pubs nearby, all serving good, local food. The nearby village of Ballachulish has a small supermarket, doctor’s surgery, tourist information with coffee shop and a bar/restaurant. Steeped in history, Glencoe is surrounded by the most breath-taking scenery of mountains and lochs and the area offers a large range of sports and outdoor activities, including winter sports, hill walking, climbing, mountaineering, fishing and water sports, mountain biking and golfing. The town of Fort William is 18 miles or 30 minutes’ drive, from the cottages and offers shopping and a wealth of activities. Oban, known as the ’Gateway to the Isles’, is only 36 miles away. Glencoe Mountain Resort, with skiing, mountain biking and other activities is a 20-minute drive through the glen.
The cottages can be booked together to accommodate up to 12 guests.

Borlum House Farm in Reay on the far north coast of Scotland is a brilliant location to be based for a memorable short break or longer holiday. The restored early 18th century farmhouse and buildings are surrounded by highland cows, lambs and chickens. The Annex is a converted barn attached to the farmhouse that was originally maid quarters.
The farm was originally part of the Sandside Estate which was owned at one time by Mr Pilkington of Pilkington Glass. Records date back to 1729 and it is known that the farm was a sheep farm with dairy for cheese-making. Situated in an enviable spot up the hill from Reay and overlooking the magnificent north coast of Scotland right out to sea, arriving at The Annex you’ll be delighted with the location you’ve picked for your holiday.
Just off the NC500 that goes through Reay, Borlum House Farm is perfectly placed as a base to explore the far north coast. As well as Sandside Bay Beach with Fresgoe Harbour, just down from Reay, and Reay’s fantastic links golf course, there’s so much to see and do that the NC500 touring route will help you reach.
Other amazing beaches nearby include Melvich and Strathy, which are loved by surfers. Historic Thurso is nearby and so too is the ferry port for trips over to Orkney, a great day-trip from Borlum House Farm. Beyond Thurso you must visit Dunnet Head, the Castle of Mey, John O’Groats and Duncansby Stacks. To be honest, the list of amazing places to see goes on and on, and alas we can’t feature all here. But be certain that there’s so much to do during your stay at Borlum House Farm.
The accommodations are finished to a high standard. Both cottages include a kingsize double bedroom with en-suite double shower cubicle. Highland Soap products and lovely bathrobes are provided. The open-plan living/dining/kitchen space is great, complete with Smart TV and woodburning stove. Outside each property there is a private and enclosed garden as well the freedom to explore the grounds of the farm and meet the animals. There’s also a firepit and BBQ Grill shared with each cottage at the farm. Beach 1½ miles. Pub and restaurant 6 miles.
These properties can be booked together to accommodate up to 4 guests.

The cottage location is the epitome of the Highlands. Just out of the hamlet of Culrain where there’s a castle, Lower Hilton Cottage is surrounded by woodland and has clear views to rugged hills and the Kyle of Sutherland, a river estuary that feeds into the Dornoch Firth. It’s an incredibly quiet location, with wildlife all around, and has that elusive undiscovered feel that everybody wants in the Highlands. If you want an outstanding Scottish Highlands retreat surrounded by nature, then Lower Hilton Cottage is the place for you.

Entering the cottage at the back door, which is most convenient, you’re met with a great dining space with rooms off in all directions. There’s a stunning double bedroom, spacious yet cosy living room with roaring wood burner and views out to hills and the estuary, the family bathroom and lovely, characterful kitchen. The stairs up from the dining space lead to two great bedrooms. Views out of the double-aspect bedrooms are outstanding. Outside there’s an unfenced mature garden that is mostly laid to lawn. There’s space to sit out and soak up whatever the Scottish weather has to offer.

From the cottage there are many fantastic hiking, mountain biking and road cycling routes to enjoy, and you’ll have the places all to yourself, unlike many other parts of Scotland. The area around Lower Hilton Cottage is authentic Highlands. There’s world-class salmon fishing on local rivers (permits available for very reasonable rates) and the links golf courses nearby are also world famous, most notably Royal Dornoch but the James Braid courses of Golspie and Brora are gems that any golfer will enjoy. Beyond the hamlet of Culrain and Carbisdale Castle, which is the most recent castle built in Scotland in 1905, the village of Ardgay is only ten minutes down the road. Here you’ll find a small, useful shop. Across the Kyle of Sutherland only fifteen minutes from the cottage you will find more services, including a butcher and bar/restaurant.

Lovely Dornoch is only a twenty five-minute drive, and Tain where you’ll find the Glenmorangie Distillery is about the same. Both places are well worth exploring during your stay, with Dornoch likely to be a highlight of your holiday. You have the NC500 easily accessible to the east near Dornoch and Tain, but you can also drive the interior roads via Lairg (crossroads of the Highlands) to reach the north and west coasts -again joining up with the NC500- very easily. The cottage is an excellent base for those adventurers amongst you. Lower Hilton Cottage offers one of the best interiors you’ll find in a holiday home. The minimalist, white, Scandi design is simply perfect. It’s so good in fact, you may shy away from heading out to explore the surroundings at all!

Shielside lies on the outskirts of the ancient crofting village of Acharacle, at the western end of Loch Shiel, on the Ardnamurchan peninsula. It offers four double bedrooms, all with en-suite facilities and bedrooms 2 and 4 are particularly spacious. It also has its own large, enclosed garden for guests to enjoy.
Ardnamurchan is a wild and beautiful place, designated as a National Scenic Area for its outstanding scenery and landscape, a popular holiday destination, rich in wildlife with some fabulous walks and great scenery. Acharacle has a village store and post office, Hotel and bar, local garage, café, medical practice and gift shop. Other villages within a short drive have similar facilities and there are plenty of opportunities for cycling, kayaking and wild swimming. Acharacle is 45 miles from Fort William via a single-track, well-surfaced road through the wild depths of Moidart.
Fort William, known as the “Outdoor Capital of the UK” has a wide variety of attractions which make ideal walking opportunities on the West Highland Way, the Great Glen Way, Ben Nevis and Glen Nevis. There are a variety of shops, hotels, restaurants, distilleries, a bus station and railway station with links to Mallaig, Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as an overnight sleeper to London. At the foot of Ben Nevis, you can enjoy a world-class mountain bike trail in summer, or skiing in winter. The steam train made famous by the ’Harry Potter’ films, can take you on a spectacular journey from Fort William through Glenfinnan and its famous monument to Bonnie Price Charlie and on to Mallaig. You will also find plenty of walking and cycling opportunities.

An idyllic wilderness retreat, offering sustainable yet comfortable living, with wood burners and solar power to minimise impact on the environment, Glenhurich Cottage, within the National Scenic Area of Loch Shiel, feels cut off from the world, but is only six scenic miles from the village of Strontian. Offering off-grid living with all creature comforts, electricity is provided by solar panels and generators, and the cold sparkling water comes from deep under the glen floor. A combination of gas central heating, welcoming woodburning cooking range and lovely wood burner keeps the place warm and cosy. With no light or noise pollution, the modern world feels a long way away, and days can be spent walking through the glen, along the riverside, or snuggled upon a comfy leather sofa in front of the roaring woodburner enjoying a good book from the hand-picked library.
On entering Glenhurich Cottage, through an oak-framed porch, you will find a traditional highland cottage, with original oak beams and lime-washed walls, beautifully restored and enhanced by modern comforts. Glenhurich Cottage is the perfect nature-lovers’ retreat, surrounded by stunning mountain scenery and over 100 species of wildlife including pine marten, majestic red deer, golden and white-tailed sea eagles all regularly seen. With a huge variety of native plants close by, it’s also a haven for rare butterflies and insects. Tucked away in the remote, thickly wooded Glenhurich, it’s close to the River Hurich, an excellent salmon fishing river which flows into scenic Loch Doilet and has clear, deep pools, ideal for a summer dip!
From the shores of Loch Doilet, you can discover the fascinating ruined lead mines at Corrantee or walk along the banks of the River Polloch to the much larger, historic Loch Shiel, where you can look for eagles, otters and divers (including the rare black throated diver), stop for a picnic overlooking Loch Shiel or cycle along the shore-side forest road all the way to Glenfinnan and beyond. Strontian is 24 miles from Fort William via the Corran Ferry via a single-track, well-surfaced road through the wild depths of Sunart and Moidart. Fort William is the main town of Lochaber, known as the "Outdoor Capital of the UK” and has a wide variety of attractions including the Neptune’s Staircase on the Caledonian Canal which make ideal walking opportunities on the West Highland Way, the Great Glen Way, Ben Nevis and Glen Nevis. There are a variety of shops, hotels, restaurants, distilleries, a bus station and railway station with links to Mallaig, Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as an overnight sleeper to London.

Seaview Cottage is situated in rural Drimnin on the picturesque Morvern Peninsula and has outstanding panoramic views sweeping over the Sound of Mull. The landscaped gardens, with seating areas, take advantage of the surrounding sea views. A short stroll from the house will bring you to a lovely pebble beach.
The area is famed for its natural rugged beauty and wildlife including red deer, pine marten, wild cats and otters. Bird life including the magnificent golden eagle and sea eagle, and marine life are also in evidence and porpoises are regularly spotted chasing the ferry and other boats. Wildlife tours both sea and land are available in the area.
Lochaline is a small coastal village just over 10 miles away with a shop and restaurant, further facilities and amenities are available in Isle of Mull, Strontian, Fort William and Oban. Its location in this most attractive area of the Highlands means that it is well-placed to take advantage of the many leisure and pleasure activities which the area has to offer. There are regular ferry services from Lochaline over to Fishnish on the Isle of Mull. Beach 50 yards. Shop and pub 10 miles, restaurant ¼ mile.

The Roundel is set in a most fantastic rural location with uninterrupted views over the open rolling countryside of Fife. It is the perfect location for weekend celebrations or getaways for your whole family who can revel in the space, ambience and warmth of this remarkable holiday home. On the ground floor, the focal point of this semi-detached house is the living/dining room, which has three sets of patio doors leading to the garden. Its floor-to-ceiling windows take full advantage of the views. For younger members of the group, there is a special toy corner. Outside, there is ample space for everyone to enjoy, and the patio with garden furniture is great for al fresco dining.
There is much to do in the area, and guests are in an ideal location for exploring coastal Fife. In a small quiet hamlet, The Roundel provides a rural location with miles of sandy beach and dunes less than 6 miles away, and the bustling city of Dundee and historic St Andrews are both only 15 minutes away (6 miles) with activities for all ages and tastes. Just 10 minutes away lies the picturesque market town of Cupar, which is ideal for picking up supplies. For families there is the Scottish Deer Centre, St Andrews Aquarium, sandy beaches at Tentsmuir Forest and beach, as well as riding stables.
The historic city of St Andrews can be reached within a 15-minute drive, making The Roundel ideal for guests visiting friends and family who are based at St Andrews University or attending one of the graduation ceremonies. As a popular tourist location, St Andrews offers a great selection of quality cafés, bars and restaurants, excellent shopping as well as a sandy beach, harbour and many historic buildings. Renowned worldwide as the ‘Home of Golf’ and regularly playing host to the Open Championship, this is a golfers’ paradise with eight courses to suit all abilities, as well as the British Golf Museum.
Dundee has lots to offer for a day out, the Olympia Sports Centre has a swimming pool, great for keeping your childen entertained on wet days. A visit to RRS Discovery at the multi award-winning Discovery Point makes for a good day to see how Captain Scott and Ernest Shackleton made their epic journeys. Falkland Palace and its garden are well worth a visit - this is one of Scotland’s finest Renaissance palaces and is steeped in history. Fans of the TV series ‘Outlander’ will recognise the location which was used as 1940s Inverness, and there are many more locations in the area that were used in the series. Beach 6 miles. Shop and restaurant 2 miles, pub ½ mile.