Dog-Friendly Scottish Highlands

Osprey Lodge is situated in an elevated position, deep in the Sutherland hills, tucked away down a private track, and enjoying unbelievable views across the surrounding hills and open countryside. This superb, detached solid wood lodge enjoys total peace and privacy, set in 50 hectares of croft land. The accommodation is presented to a very good standard throughout. The delightful open plan living space features a welcoming wood burner in the living area, as well as patio doors that open onto the raised decking, with a private hot tub and sitting-out area. There are two beautifully presented kingsize bedrooms with colour coordinated soft furnishings allowing for a good nights’ sleep. This property is very accessible for wheelchair users, with a level entrance and modern bathroom with a claw-footed bath and accessible wet room walk-in shower.

Situated on a working farm where the friendly cattle and sheep roam freely, this is a haven for wildlife and you may also stumble upon osprey, deer, pine martin, red kites, golden eagles and curlews. Whilst completely private, it is just over 1 mile to the pretty stone village of Rogart which is home to a thriving village pub that serves meals, as well as a shop, post office and railway station. It is ideally located for exploring the whole of the Highlands, with many places of interest within a short drive. Dunrobin Castle, seat of the Duke of Sutherland, with its gardens modelled on Versailles is well worth a visit. Or experience salmon leaping up the famous Falls of Shin, and mountain biking, hill walking, fishing, and various water sports are all available locally. The historic seaside town of Dornoch is just 15 minutes’ drive away, where you can visit the sandy beach and the renowned championship golf course, as well as the 12th-century cathedral that dominates the central square. Beach 17¾ miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 1½ miles.

This traditionally styled holiday cottage has been awarded the ’Bronze in Green Tourism Award’, and is adjacent to property 14110, in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. With the dramatic backdrop of the often snowcapped Cairngorm mountains and hundreds of acres of Abernethy Forest (RSPB owned) Nethy Bridge spans the lower reaches of the River Nethy a mile before it reaches the River Spey, one of Scotland’s foremost salmon rivers. Outdoor activities include, fishing, tennis, bowling, golf, walking and skiing in winter. Shops and pub 1/2 mile.

Situated on the shores of the beautiful river Ewe, The Narrows is a bright, detached holiday cottage. Set in its own private and secluded gardens, it offers peace and tranquillity in a stunning setting. The Narrows is situated just off the picturesque North Coast 500 route, on one of the most scenic parts of this renowned and stunning coastal route. There are superb walks direct from the cottage along the riverbank and through the surrounding hills. The immediate area is a wildlife enthusiast’s paradise. Whales, dolphins, sea eagles and otters are all seen close by, and Pine Martin visit the picnic table just outside the window. Warmed by the Gulf Stream, this unique part of west coast Highlands enjoys a mild climate and is scenic and totally unspoilt. The sub-tropical gardens of Inverewe, just 5 minutes’ drive away, bear testament to this. Golf, fishing, cycling, hill walking, sailing and canoeing are all local pastimes. With wonderful sandy beaches, bays and islands this is an ideal location for visitors and a real get-away-from- it-all holiday. Beach 5 miles. Shop and pub 1 mile.

Phil’s House (ref SUUR), an architect designed, eco-friendly, single-storey house and Reid’s Cottage (ref UYT), a bright and cosy Highland croft house, enjoy an elevated position with panoramic views over the village of Lairg, waters of the Loch Shin and towards the hills beyond. Furnished and equipped to very high standards, they ensure a comfortable and pleasant holiday in this lovely part of the Highlands. Activities include mountain biking in the forest trails, fishing and stalking (by prior arrangement), hill walking or kayaking on the lochs and rivers. Golf courses nearby. For the less energetic, just relax in the comfort of the house and watch the ever changing scenery. Shops and pubs 1/4 mile.

Near Kyle of Lochalsh, the stunning village of Arnisdale nestles below Beinn Sgritheall (Munro), on the shores of Loch Hourn. It overlooks Knoydart peninsula and Sound of Sleat with the Isle of Skye Cuillin in the distance. Neighbouring Glenelg, 9 miles, has a shop, pub, restaurant, craft shop and Skye ferry (Apr - Oct). Amid idyllic mountainous scenery, ideal for a holiday escaping with wildlife (deer, porpoises, eagles, seals and otters), walking (including the Five Sisters of Kintail, South Cluanie ridge, Ladhar Bheinn), cycling, fishing, touring (Eilean Donan Castle, Pictish Brochs, 18th century Bernera Barracks, Plockton and Skye) or just savouring highland peace and tranquillity.

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.

Red Kite Lodge is a real delight, situated in the heart of the Sutherland hills on a working farm, approached via a well-maintained private track leading out to open countryside and the owner’s 50 hectares of croft land. This detached, solid wood lodge enjoying complete peace and seclusion, is presented to a very good standard throughout. The main living area is open plan with a welcoming wood burner and floor to ceiling patio doors to maximise the stunning views. The patio doors open onto raised decking, with a private hot tub and outdoor dining table and chairs. The bright, modern kitchen area is exceptionally well equipped, with plenty of space for dining. The bespoke, solid wood, raised dining table adds an interesting and attractive feature to the room. There are two beautifully presented kingsize bedrooms each with colour coordinated soft furnishings. This property is very accessible for wheelchair users, with a level entrance and modern bathroom with a claw-footed bath and accessible wet room walk-in shower.

This property is ideal for the ultimate ’get away from it all’ holiday, with pampering included. Sitting in the hot tub or relaxing with a glass of wine on the decking after a day’s sightseeing or hill walking must be the ultimate holiday experience.

The owners farm hundreds of acres of surrounding farmland and open hills where friendly cattle and sheep roam freely, and osprey, deer, pine martens, red kites, golden eagles and curlews can all be spotted in the vicinity. Whilst providing an element of privacy, the lodge is just over 1 mile to the pretty village of Rogart. It has a thriving village pub that serves meals, as well as a shop, post office and railway station.

It is ideally located for exploring the whole of the Highlands, with many places of interest within a short drive. Dunrobin Castle, seat of the Duke of Sutherland, with its gardens modelled on Versailles, is well worth a visit. Or experience salmon leaping up the famous Falls of Shin. Mountain biking, hill walking, fishing, and various water sports are all available locally. The historic seaside town of Dornoch is just 15 minutes’ drive away where there is a superb, award-winning, sandy beach, a renowned championship golf course as well as the 12th-century cathedral that dominates the central square. Beach 15 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 1½ miles.

Balloan Farm Cottage is a stunning, two bedroom detached holiday home situated in a rural location, yet only 1¾ miles from the popular town of Lairg. The cottage was renovated in 2020 to a very good standard.
On entering the cottage, you will find a reception hall, master en-suite bedroom, formal lounge with comfortable seating and a wood burner, dining room, kitchen with a superb level of appliances, and a conservatory with a second wood burner.
On the first floor there is a snug with beanbags, a second bedroom with twin beds, and a separate bathroom. Outside there is a private enclosed garden, ideal for your four legged friends, and a private driveway with parking.
The immediate area is heaven for outdoor enthusiasts and lovers of the great outdoors generally. Hill-walking, climbing, canoeing, kayaking and sailing can all be found locally. There is a thriving pony trekking centre locally, where you can hire ponies, and ride 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. For the golfers in the party, why not go to Dornoch which is only 18½ miles drive away and has many nearby golf courses including Royal Dornoch.
The beaches in this area are renowned, with Sandwood bay particularly noted, as it has a wonderful walk across the machair, to its secluded sweeping sands. The nearby town of Lairg offers a host of shops, restaurants and you will find historical buildings scattered throughout the area. The cottage is an ideal base for exploring the North Coast 500. Beach 19 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 3¼ miles.

This beautifully finished, detached, Highland lodge is situated almost exactly in the central point of Scotland; a monument marking the point is just a short walk down the lane. The Den is perfectly located to explore the Cairngorms National Park, but because it is so central in the Highlands and the country, there are also amazing sights to see within a short drive. Ben Nevis lies to the west, whilst Inverness and the Black Isle are to the east.
The Den is set in a lovely, quiet site with space all around and views of the Cairngorms. It is less than ¾ mile from the A9, and is very conveniently located for a short break to explore this amazing part of Scotland, maybe as part of a larger tour. Arriving at The Den, you will be immediately pleased with its location and how it has been finished. Its spacious, open plan layout has been decorated beautifully, and has an enormous amount of light flooding in. A patio door leads out onto the large decking area, which has an excellent aspect of the mountains. It is the perfect spot to sit in with a glass of wine in the evening. The site has a lot of shared space to explore with children, including a large play area. It is also a great site for dogs because there are many walks to explore right from the doorstep. If you have your own horse, stabling is available by direct arrangement with the owner, who lives on the adjacent farm. The village of Newtonmore is only a few miles away with pubs and restaurants, as well as a supermarket. Shop 4 miles, pub and restaurant 3 miles.
The Den can be booked together with Cruachan (UK13683) to accommodate up to 10 guests.

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.