Dog-Friendly Scottish Highlands

Sunrise is a beautifully presented, detached cottage, situated in a stunning location and sitting right on the road of the NC500 route which is one of the top 10 scenic routes in the world. This bright cottage, set in 1½ acre grounds, enjoys commanding views across the sea with the Highland hills beyond. Situated off a small no-through lane, on a hillside, the property offers peace and seclusion, yet is within close proximity to all amenities.
This single-storey property offers a large, well-equipped kitchen/dining room with a large fridge/freezer and a spacious living room with a Swedish wood burner and high picture windows, looking out across the bay to the hills. The large hall boasts a table tennis table, perfect for spending some quality time with family. The double bedroom has its own en-suite, an electric blanket, a pure wool duvet or traditional goose down duvet, and mini toiletries on arrival. For dogs, a welcome tray and dog towels are provided. The garden extends over an acre, and there are some steep banks within the grounds, but it provides the perfect place for letting man’s best friend burn off energy.
Sunrise is situated in the small hamlet of Navidale, with the charming coastal fishing village of Helmsdale just over a mile away. Fishermen can be seen fishing for lobster, crabs and clams along the coast, and visitors can often purchase fresh local shellfish direct from the boats. There are miles of shoreline walks close by, and fossils are regularly found along this particular stretch of coast. Helmsdale has a good selection of restaurants and small shops, as well as a fascinating museum detailing the unusual history of the area, including the 19th century gold rush. There is also a 9-hole golf course in the village and the renowned course of Brora is just 10 minutes’ drive away. Travel north to visit the Castle of Mey, John O’Groats and even the Orkney Isles. Try panning for gold in the Helmsdale river and visit the fairytale castle of Dunrobin. Beach ¼ mile. Shop and restaurant 1½ miles, pub 1 mile.

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.

Enjoying a peaceful yet central setting within the pretty village of Auldearn, this semi-detached, traditional holiday property has been furnished and equipped to a good standard to ensure as comfortable and relaxing holiday as possible. Just three miles from the seaside village of Nairn with its long sweeping sandy beaches and local amenities, Tigh Na Bruiach (Gaelic for ‘House on the Hill’) makes a super holiday base for exploring this wonderful part of the Northern Highlands. Visit Culloden Battlefield, Fort George, Inverness, and Loch Ness, all within a very easy drive. Brodie and Cawdor Castles are just a short distance and well worth a visit. You can meander along the Moray Coast and visit some of the beautiful, unspoilt beaches and hopefully catch sight of the dolphins, seals and large variety of birdlife this area is renowned for. Take a trip along the Malt Whisky Trail – the only one of its kind in the world! Further afield, go to the scenic West Coast, Fort William or the enigmatic Orkney Islands. Golf, mountain biking, kayaking, hill walking and photography are some of the many activities available.

Set in a quiet rural location, this cosy holiday cottage enjoys lovely views across open countryside towards Nigg Bay and the Cromarty Firth. An RSPB Reserve, sea trips, fishing, golf, castles and south, west and east facing beaches all within easy reach. Great for touring the scenic Highlands. Historic Cromarty is a short ferry trip (only available in summer, also accessible by road) with Inverness, the Highland Capital approx 45 minutes’ drive. Shops 4½ miles, pubs 3 miles. Can be booked with property 19987 (which has adjoining garden) to sleep up to 12 guests.

This attractive ground floor holiday apartment forms part of a stone cottage situated in the village of Castletown which is on the North Coast 500. Its high ceilings, original wooden shutters and cottage garden (grassed area outside the main garden provides space for dogs’ exercise) all add to its charm. Four miles of sandy beach adjoins the fishing harbour 800 yards from the property. Sea angling and loch fishing are available. Known for its unspoilt beaches and wide variety of wildlife and, at certain times of year, the Northern Lights are visible. Central to many surfing locations, golf courses, fishing and the Castle of Mey (8 miles). Take a day-trip to the Orkney Isles. An all weather short mat bowling green is available for guests to use. Shop, pub and restaurant 200 yards.

This wonderful detached property, with its own hot tub in a private garden, enjoys a quiet setting, yet it is only 1½ miles from the lively centre of Aviemore. Providing guests with an unforgettable holiday experience, Birch Corner offers spacious and beautifully presented holiday accommodation with your every need having been thought of.
Aviemore nestles in the heart of The Cairngorms National Park at the head of the Speyside Way and boasts a wonderful range of shops, restaurants and bars. The area also offers a very wide range of outdoor activities including skiing, snowboarding, mountain and quad biking, zip lining, climbing, hill walking plus a variety of watersports on nearby Loch Insh, Loch Morlich and the River Spey, to name just a few of the myriad of activities available. Take a trip on the Cairngorm Mountain Railway, visit the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, Landmark Centre in nearby Carrbridge or take a trip to the Highland Wildlife Park at nearby Kingussie, all of which are within easy reach. About 12 miles from Kingussie, lies the Ardverikie Estate, which has been the setting for films including the BBC TV’s drama series ’Monarch of the Glen’, as well as the location for movies such as ’The Missionary’ and ’Mrs Brown’.
Another visitor attraction for all the family to enjoy, not far from Kingussie, is the Highland Folk Museum, which offers an insight into Highland life in a living history setting. All in all, this is a fantastic base for exploring the many delights that this area has to offer, and there is so much to see and do for all ages. Shop, pub and restaurant 1 mile.

Darris Farmhouse is a spectacular, luxurious holiday home near to the shores of Loch Ness. Situated on an amazing plot of land the farmhouse enjoys a wrap-around garden with panoramic views across pasture to woodland and mountains. The farmhouse has been extended beyond its original nineteenth century dimensions to include an attached, self-contained annexe which sleeps up to three. Darris Farmhouse sleeps nine people in total and is therefore perfect for an extended family, two families or group of friends.

On entering the farmhouse through the front door, there’s a cute vestibule before the hallway. Off to the right is the main living room with wood burner and large Smart TV, and enjoys fantastic views of the dramatic landscape. To the left of the hallway is a large kingsize double bedroom with en-suite shower room. The en-suite is in fact a Jack-and-Jill bathroom, so it serves as a downstairs toilet as well for the living accommodation. Through the Jack-and-Jill bathroom you reach a back hallway which has a door out to the courtyard area of the garden, a useful utility room and then to the right the brilliant open plan kitchen/dining room unveils itself with additional living room and another large Smart TV. This open plan space is accessible from the front hallway too. The kitchen has everything you’ll need to cook up a storm for family and friends and then gather round the large dining table. There’s access from the open-plan space to the patio and large garden. Back to the hallway and upstairs you reach the first-floor accommodation consisting of three large bedrooms and a spacious bathroom. There’s a kingsize double bedroom and a twin room, which are both double-aspect.

The annexe is self-contained, so has a separate entrance to the farmhouse. A few steps from the front door of the farmhouse you find the entrance to the annexe. Inside on the first floor there is a surprisingly large open-plan kitchen/dining/living space. The kitchen in well-equipped, but if yuou are part of a large family it’s more than likely you won’t use it but instead stroll over to the main kitchen in the farmhouse. The living space has a wood burner and large Smart TV, as well as access out to the courtyard garden. Stairs lead up from the living space to a kingsize double bedroom and a single room, as well as possibly the best bathroom in the whole farmhouse. There’s a fabulous freestanding bath with fabulous views of the surrounding countryside.

The garden is large, laid mostly to lawn and enjoys views in all directions. It’s very child and dog friendly, as it’s fully enclosed, and even has a small grassy paddock at the back where dogs can roam about easily from the back door. Darris 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, with fly fishing nearby costing £30 per permit. Other activies include golf, kayaking, water sports, mountain biking, climbing and hill walking to name just a few. Discover some of the many historic sites, such as Culloden Battlefield and Fort George, or stroll along some of the many unspoilt beaches. Beach 23 miles.

This cosy holiday home is a no-smoking detached bungalow with a hot tub at the end of a quiet and peaceful cul-de-sac in the well known and highly sought after Silverglades area of Aviemore. Situated alongside the Strathspey Steam Railway, it’s only a short 8-minute walk along a quiet country lane to the beating heart of Aviemore and all it’s amenities. Holly Lodge is ideally located for those wanting adventure, romance or peace and quiet, Holly Lodge is the perfect place to start and end your day for families, couples and friends alike. For those arriving by car, there’s plenty of space for two vehicles or more with on-road parking if required.

If during your stay you’ve had enough of mountains, lochs and walks for the day, Holly Lodge ensures you’re kept entertained with unlimited Wi-Fi, a NowTV subscription with entertainment and movie packages, as well as a DVD player with a selection of DVDs. There’s also a large selection of board games for all ages if you decide you really want to fall out with each other (play Monopoly at your own risk)!

You can also indulge in the flicker of flames with the wood burner in the living room, which has a complimentary pack of locally sourced wood from a renewable and responsibly managed family business in Kincraig.

Both bedrooms provide professionally cleaned linen, towels, robes and slippers so you can be comfortable and relaxed during your stay. For little ones, there is a travel cot and highchair, as well as plastic dishes, cups and cutlery. The kitchen is also very well appointed in terms of utensils and equipment, including a dishwasher.

If the weather is in your favour, then you can enjoy and relax in the spacious, enclosed garden which provides a place for the kids to play, as well as a brick barbecue which has a starter pack of charcoal and all utensils are provided, so all you need to think about is what is on the menu. The gem in the garden however is definitely the private NS7 Serenity hot tub. The tub is always on, fully maintained and certified for hygiene and cleanliness, and seats six. This provides the perfect way to relax and soothe the aching bones and muscles after a hard days exploring. Don’t worry if you get back late in the day, as the hot tub has built-in lighting so you can enjoy the bubbles even after the sun has gone down, and its a firm favourite with all guests.

Growing from strength to strength every year, Aviemore is the perfect hub for reaching other areas of the Cairngorms as well as for enjoying the local facilities and activities. You’re a pleasant 10-minute stroll from the nearest country pub/restaurant, and the fantastic and varied local shops. If you hop in the car you’re 15 minutes from Loch Morlich or Loch Insh and the fantastic water sports provisions there, as well as Rothiemurchus en route and the amazing outdoor centre for a whole raft of activities. Shop, pub and restaurant 1 mile.

Uaine Cottage is a warm and welcoming home from home which has recently been fully refurbished in 2020 to a high standard. Through the front door you’ll find a hallway with plenty of coat hooks for your layers, along with a separate toilet. The living/dining room is a great space with ample seating at the dining table. The kitchen is spacious and you will find all the modern amenities you will need to rustle up hearty meals after long days out exploring in the Cairngorms. There is a door out into the enclosed back garden which has garden furniture and a patio. There are mature trees surrounding most of the garden making it feel very private and to top it off there is a charcoal BBQ to enjoy al fresco dining on the warm summer days. Back into the house there are two spacious bedrooms, one a double and one twin. There is also a modern bathroom with rain shower over bath.
Uaine Cottage is situated in the ever-popular Aviemore. Tucked away in a quiet part of town, close to a bend in the River Spey. However, it is only a ten minute walk from all of the pubs, restaurants and cafés in Aviemore thanks to a lovely little footpath. As well as many fabulous independent places to eat and drink, Aviemore has much more to offer. Being a hub for the Cairngorms National Park, you are ideally located for setting off to the mountains and have plenty of adventure. Whether you visit in the summer or winter, there’s a whole host of activities to enjoy. Hiking, mountain biking and fishing are popular in the summer, and come winter you can pursue the best skiing, snowshoeing and winter walking in the UK.
Being in Aviemore gives you a great opportunity to explore other places in the area, as the the property is situated just off the A9. You can journey down the Spey and visit the charming neighbouring villages of Carrbridge, Boat of Garten and Nethy Bridge, and continue to see the Speyside distilleries. You could also explore this area on foot by walking the Speyside Way, or hopping on and off the steam railway. Inverness is only 30 minutes away by car, and if you want to go further afield and explore some other mountains, you can be in Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis in just over two hours. Closer to home, Loch Morlich is just 7 miles away, with a wonderful sandy beach known as the highest beach in the UK! Uaine Cottage is a delight, it makes for a perfect holiday home with so much on your doorstep, but its secluded location means you have a peaceful base to rest, relax and recharge. Beach 7 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant ½ mile.

Willow Lodge is located just 3 miles from the village of Muir of Ord, in a rural position on the edge of a croft. The property has been designed to make the most of the location and maximise the stunning views from all the main rooms. An enclosed private deck wraps around the lodge with comfortable seating for a family of six. The main living area is open plan and contemporary with industrial light fittings, a 50 inch wall mounted Smart TV and a very well equipped kitchen with a breakfast bar. The seating is arranged to take in the views with French doors to the decking. The master bedroom also has French doors and a luxury en-suite shower room. There is another double bedroom and a twin bedroom, both having French doors. These are served by a stunning wet room which is also suitable for wheelchair users. Willow Lodge is dog friendly and will provide an ideal base for walking and exploring the stunning Black Isles.
Inverness, the highland capital, Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield and the beautiful coastal villages of the Moray Coast are all within a short drive. Local activities include mountain biking, golf, fishing, horse riding, walking and hill climbing to name just a few. Take a day trip to the lovely Isle of Skye and the scenic west coast or travel further north and explore the many unspoilt beaches and coastal inlets of Caithness and Sutherland. Beach 26½ miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 3 miles.