Dog-Friendly Scottish Highlands

Wallace House is an imposing, historic, detached stone house, situated in the heart of the renowned village of Dornoch. Built in 1800, on land owned by the Duke of Sutherland, this bright and spacious home was completely renovated in 2018 and is ideally located for a family beach holiday. The main living room has been thoughtfully furnished with superb sofas and a warm, welcoming wood burner. The high ceilings and stunning exposed stone fireplace add to the character and charm. There is a large kitchen/dining room, which is well-equipped with built-in units and a wine fridge. The original staircase, with ornate polished wood banisters, leads up to the three generously proportioned bedrooms. All rooms are superbly presented, with good quality furniture and colour coordinated soft furnishings. Wallace House is ideal for families and groups looking for a very good standard of self-catering accommodation with all amenities just a short walk away.

This wonderful property is situated along a quiet lane, just off the main square in the centre of the historic village of Dornoch, a Royal Burgh since 1628. This attractive village, built of mellow sandstone, is one of the prettiest in the Highlands. The centrepiece is the 13th-century cathedral, with original stained glass windows. Dornoch also has an excellent selection of unusual and attractive shops, as well as a number of good restaurants and bars, all just a few steps away. The renowned Championship golf course of Royal Dornoch is just 200 yards along the lane. The nearby sandy beach is ideal for families and dog walkers alike. Situated just off the renowned North Coast 500 route, which encompasses some of the most outstanding landscapes to be found anywhere in the British Isles, there are numerous places of interest within easy reach. Loch Fleet Nature Reserve is close by and attracts a wide variety of wading birds and has been designated as an Site of Special Scientific Interest.

Just a short drive away is Dunrobin Castle, seat of the Dukes of Sutherland for over 600 years. Visitors are welcome to explore the castle and grounds, which were modelled on the Palace of Versailles. Golfers are spoilt for choice, with not only Royal Dornoch on the doorstep, but a number of other championship courses within a short drive, and the property has a stone built store, perfect for golf clubs, and with power for charging trolleys. Fishing, sailing, kayaking, hill walking, climbing and mountain biking are all local pastimes. Beach 300 yards. Shop 200 yards, pub and restaurant 50 yards.

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.

Situated at the entrance to 400 acres of beautiful parkland on the Balbirnie Estate, The Gate House is a beautifully furnished and extremely cosy and comfortable cottage. Dating back to the 1800s, the cottage provides a contemporary home while still maintaining many of its original features. There is a quirky spiral staircase to the first floor double bedroom with its own relaxing seating area. On the ground floor, guests will find the living/dining room has an open fire, which is just the spot for spending a lazy afternoon on cooler days. There is also a good size kitchen with breakfast bar, family shower room and double bedroom with a king size bed.
From the front door you can take a stroll into the delightful conservation village of Markinch, rich in history and once the medieval capital of Fife. The village has a good selection of supermarkets, local independent quality shops, cafés, a deli, restaurants and pubs and the local butcher, whose award winning steak pies are well worth sampling. This semi-detached cottage is part of Balbirnie South Lodge which was built in 1861 and designed by the architect David Bryce. The gates were usually locked and visitors were required to ring the bell, still on one of the pillars today, to gain entrance to the estate. In 1837 John Balfour became master of the estate and in 1840 married Lady Georgine Campbell, (daughter of the Earl of Cawdor) and the inter-twining initials in the date stone is thought to represent this. The Balfour family continued to own Balbirnie House and the estate until 1969.
During the 18th and 19th century, the estate landscape was designed by Robert Robinson and Thomas White, who created one of the most significant collections of rhododendrons in the east of Scotland. There are around 200 varieties from India, China and the Himalayan provinces and when the plants are in bloom it is well worth seeing. The Gate House is ideal for guests attending a wedding or event at Balbirnie House as you are only a short walk to the hotel. The location is ideal for walkers and cyclists as the Balbirnie Estate has parkland to explore and the Lomond Hills Regional Park is only a short drive away. This is a brilliant choice for golfers with an 18-hole golf course on your doorstep and many local courses nearby, and St Andrews, the home of golf, with its championship courses is just 30 minutes’ drive away. The British Golf Museum is close to The Old Course and there is the only hickory golf course in the UK at Kingarrock. For days at the seaside, the sandy beaches of the East Neuk of Fife are within a short drive and the Fife Coastal Path takes you to secluded coves, little fishing villages and award winning sandy beaches with plenty of places to visit and find refreshments. Beach 6½ miles. Shop 500 yards, pub and restaurant 300 yards.

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.

Situated on a promontory and enjoying spectacular sea views, Ethel’s House is a detached stone cottage set in its own garden, adjacent to a working croft. Much loved by its original family, this traditional stone cottage was painstakingly moved stone by stone to a higher vantage point in the village of Armadale on the far north-west coast of Scotland. The current owners have completely renovated this charming cottage and it now provides a good standard of accommodation in a truly superb setting.
Entering through the pretty patio gardens that look out across the sea, a hallway leads through to the main accommodation. There is a delightful living room with leather sofa suite and a cosy wood burner. The kitchen/dining room is extremely well-equipped with contemporary built-in units and a good sized solid wood dining table. All the windows look out across the bay. There is a large shower room on this floor. Upstairs there are three very attractively decorated and furnished bedrooms. Skylight windows ensure that visitors can encounter the dramatic sunrises and sunsets afforded by the clear unpolluted skies in this part of the Highlands (and for those who prefer, black out blinds are built-in too!). The cottage has oak flooring on the ground floor, high quality wool carpeting in the bedrooms and underfloor heating throughout.
Situated just off the renowned North Coast 500 route, in the quiet hamlet of Armadale, this cottage is ideal for visitors wishing to explore this totally unspoilt area. Sea otters are regularly spotted on the shoreline below the cottage and whales, basking sharks, porpoises and seals all frequent the local waters. There are superb walks direct from the cottage and numerous outdoor activities close by, including kayaking, sailing, hill walking, fishing, surfing, golf and plenty of archaeological sites and historic places of interest. In winter months it is often possible to see the Northern Lights from the cottage garden. The nearby villages of Melvich and Bettyhill, both within 10 minutes’ drive, have a good selection of amenities, including pub, restaurant, café and a small local shop. The beaches along this coastline are renowned for their wide sandy bays with high sand dunes, and spectacular mountain backdrops. Beach ½ mile. Shop 7 miles, pub and restaurant 3 miles.

Keeper’s House is situated in beautiful Glen Cassley. This charming, traditional, detached stone cottage overlooks the renowned River Cassley and enjoys stunning views from all windows. Situated on the Highland estate of Glenrossal, it provides peace and tranquillity. There is a large farmhouse-style kitchen/dining room, complete with cooker, microwave and a Belfast sink. The separate living room has a welcoming open fireplace and attractive soft furnishings. There are three good-sized bedrooms accommodating up to six visitors. With a bathroom and a separate shower room it is ideal for larger groups or a two family holiday. The estate has its own 2½ mile stretch of salmon fishing on the River Cassley. Six rods are available from Monday to Saturday with the fishing split into two beats with rods rotating at lunchtime. Behind the cottages lies a small loch, which can provide a useful testing ground for your casting technique or an enjoyable introduction to the sport for less experienced members of your party. When it is time for a break, the estate also provides a comfortable fishermen’s hut. The Glenrossal Estate is an excellent centre for salmon, trout and sea fishing. The local area has many breathtaking hill lochs inhabited with wild brown trout and with the east coast 15 miles away and the west coast only 30 miles, the keen fisherman should never be short of sport. Licences must be obtained beforehand so please contact the estate directly to check availability. Keeper’s House is ideally located for exploring the best of the Highlands. The short drive to Ullapool, around 45 minutes, goes through breathtaking scenery to the west coast. A trip east offers the pretty sandstone villages of Dornoch, Golspie and Brora, all boasting superb sandy beaches and well known golf courses. Beach 20 miles. Shop 11 miles, pub and restaurant ¾ mile. Keeper’s House can be booked together with Birch Cottage (UK5417) and Rowan Cottage (UK5418) to accommodate up to 15 guests.

Duim-Nan-Deur is a bright and spacious two-storey cottage that is situated in an elevated position, just ½ mile from the attractive village of Lochcarron, in the heart of Wester Ross. This delightful cottage provides a good standard of accommodation in a superb setting. The large picture windows and garden look out across the sea loch to the hills beyond. The renowned Attadale Gardens, which are open to the public in season, are clearly visible on the far shore. The living room is warm and welcoming with a large wood burner and a 42” wide screen TV. There are three double bedrooms, one on the ground floor, and a contemporary family-sized shower room. The kitchen/dining room is very well-equipped with all appliances guests might need for their self-catering break away. The pretty patio area provides an ideal spot to sit and drink in the unspoilt views.
The surrounding area is renowned for its magnificent landscapes, which incorporates mountains, rivers and sea lochs. A paradise for lovers of the great outdoors, it offers unlimited sporting opportunities, including climbing, hill-walking, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, sailing and mountain-biking. The nearby village of Lochcarron is delightful and is set on the shores of the loch, surrounded by the spectacular hills and mountains of Wester Ross. Lochcarron is bounded by the loch on one side and attractive cottages and houses that straddle the main street, on the other. There are a number of pubs, cafés and shops here, as well as a golf course, which is open to visitors.
The area is also a haven for wildlife. Otters and seals can be seen along the shoreline and dolphins have been spotted in the bay. There are plenty of interesting and unusual places to visit, all within easy reach. The fairy tale castle of Eilean Donan, enchantingly situated on a promontory in the loch and accessed by a small causeway, is well worth a visit. A spectacular route takes you past this famous castle and through the amazing mountain range known as the Five Sisters of Kintail and beautiful Glen Shiel, before reaching the shores of Loch Ness. The charming sea port of Kyle of Lochalsh, gateway to the Isle of Skye, is just a short drive away. The picture postcard village of Plockton is also close by, with its picturesque flower-filled gardens, little winding streets and pretty cottages lining the foreshore. Shop, pub and restaurant ½ mile.

Set amongst stunning scenery in the heart of the Highlands, The Wee Hoose is a delightful, detached cottage with its own garden. This traditional stone cottage has been in the same family for over 100 years. Having undergone much renovation and rebuilding, it now provides bright and homely holiday accommodation, whilst retaining many of its original features. The cosy living room oozes old world charm, with deep windowsills and a welcoming wood burner. The kitchen is fully fitted with contemporary appliances and plenty of room for dining. Upstairs are two pretty cottage bedrooms, both very attractively presented with colour-coordinated, soft furnishings.


The Wee Hoose is situated in the quiet crofting hamlet of Linside, and enjoys superb views over the river below and across to the hills. The patio outside the cottage provides an ideal spot to look out for local wildlife, or to simply sit and enjoy the tranquillity of the surroundings.


The Wee Hoose is ideally located for exploring the whole of the Highland region. Head west along a spectacular route of mountains, lochs and rivers. Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, is just over an hour’s drive. A trip to the far north also provides more breathtaking scenery. There are plenty of places of interest and outdoor activities in the vicinity - watch salmon leaping at the Falls of Shin, visit Royal Dornoch with its beautiful sandstone cathedral, award-winning sandy beach and championship golf course. The local area is also well known for its wildlife; ospreys, golden eagles, buzzards, pine martin, deer and even otters can be seen in the region. There are numerous mountain biking trails close by. Fishing, golf, hill walking, climbing and a variety of water sports are all local pastimes. Shop and restaurant 9 miles, pub 6 miles.

Nestling at the foot of the spectacular Glencoe Mountain range and just on the edge of the lovely village of Glencoe, Bidean Lodge has been tastefully furnished to provide spacious and comfortable accommodation. Only 1 mile from the sea, this detached single-storey property offers a peaceful place in which to relax and enjoy the magnificent surroundings. Perfectly placed for touring the West Highlands, climbing, hill walking, mountain biking, water sports, fishing, golf and skiing can be enjoyed. Boat and ferry trips to nearby islands. Good local restaurants and pubs. Shop ¾ mile.

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.