Dog-Friendly Scottish Highlands

The Glebe is an 18th century, stone-built, detached property that has been an important part of the historical parish of Duthil, near to the village of Carrbridge. Not only was it an ecclesiastical building, but before it became part of the church, it was a girls’ school. It is a very attractive building that when first spotted from the road on your approach, you really hope it’s where you’re stopping. Situated only 2 miles from Carrbridge, and set just off a quiet road, The Glebe has a lovely position with a large enclosed garden and private pine forest with resident red squirrels, deer and an amazing array of birdlife throughout the year.

It truly is an excellent place to relax and spend your day in tranquillity. On entering the property from the driveway, where there’s space for up to 4 cars, the hallway leads off in multiple directions, but straight across is a spacious boot and coat room, ideal for after a long day exploring on foot. The dining area is a large double-aspect room with views out onto your own woodland. The large farmhouse-style kitchen is conveniently linked with an open doorway. Also on the ground floor there are 2 bedrooms and a separate toilet. The master bedroom is huge with an historic stone fireplace across an entire wall. The second bedroom is also a great size and has twin beds and an en-suite shower room.

Up to the first floor and you will find a large, impressive living room, again with a huge fireplace spread across an entire wall. This fabulous room is great for everyone to gather and enjoy spending time together. There are 3 further bedrooms, one a twin with large en-suite bathroom, double bedroom with en-suite bathroom (can also be accessed from hallway), and a comfortable single bedroom.

There is much to see and do in the surrounding area. Carrbridge, with the oldest stone bridge in the Highlands, has a pub, two excellent cafés, a restaurant and an ancient pine forest that hosts an adventure park and a series of walking trails, offering a good chance of spotting the elusive capercallie. Beyond Carrbridge, Aviemore offers the gateway to the ski slopes in the winter and is an all-year destination for adventure travel with mountain biking and watersports readily available. Boat of Garten with the Abernethy Forest, where Springwatch and Winterwatch have been known to film, and Loch Garten are a birdwatcher’s paradise, with a good chance to see Osprey in the summer. Grantown-on-Spey is also nearby and the gateway to some of the best whisky distilleries in the world.

Aviemore, Boat of Garten and Grantown-on-Spey are all linked by the River Spey, offering some of the best salmon and trout fishing in Europe. However, if you want to simply enjoy the river, the Speyside Way hiking trail is a good option linking the towns. If walking isn’t your thing, there is the Strathspey Steam Railway giving an alternative, more historical view. The Glebe has been lovingly restored and finished to ensure visitors have a memorable Scottish Highlands holiday. A week isn’t enough time to enjoy The Glebe and its surroundings. Shop, pub and restaurant 2 miles.

Lairg is known as the crossroads of the north, making it a perfect place to base yourself to explore this wild part of the Scottish Highlands. Fair View is about a mile out of Lairg up on more open ground which is spectacular at any time of the year. The bungalow is very spacious and upon entering you’re led to the large farmhouse-style kitchen/dining room, with a useful island counter. The large dining table looks out over the expansive landscapes surrounding the property. A double door leads from the kitchen/dining room through to the enormous double-aspect living room which has an open fire and large TV. All four bedrooms are an excellent size and have great views of this wonderful area.
The sky seems enormous and is recognised as a European Dark Sky because of a distinct lack of light pollution. Stargazing with the added bonus of the Aurora Borealis makes it an even more attractive base. There’s wildlife all around with a huge array of birds throughout the year, as well as red deer, pine martens and the elusive wild cat. The area is a perfect place to base yourself to explore this wild part of the Scottish Highlands.
You can cover a huge amount of the North Coast 500 touring road from here by travelling out to different parts of the coastline using the great roads that lead off to the east, north, north west and west coast sections. It’s great to be able to see the route, being able to base yourself in just one place.
The town itself is beautifully situated at the eastern end of Loch Shin, plus it offers the amenities you will need during your stay. Lairg and Fair View are an excellent choice for a base to explore this otherworldly part of the Scottish Highlands. Beach 15 miles. Shop, pub and restaurant 1 mile.

This truly magnificent, split-level property, with its own hot tub, enjoys wonderful views of the Cairngorm mountain range and is situated just a few minutes’ walk from the lively centre of Aviemore. Providing guests with an unforgettable holiday experience, Lochnagar Lodge offers spacious detached accommodation. There are two living rooms, one with a cosy wood-burning stove and the house has been equipped and furnished to a very good standard throughout to ensure an extremely comfortable and relaxing holiday. 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. There is also a very wide range of outdoor activities to partake in including ski-ing, snowboarding, mountain and quad biking, climbing, hill walking and a variety of water sports 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 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 and pub ½ mile.