Dog-Friendly Scottish Highlands

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.

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.

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 stunning detached barn has a large space for parking (4 cars). Upon entering the property through the main door, you have a useful heated vestibule area for boots, coats and drying kit. This leads you through to the large open plan living space, which is a fantastic area with its triple aspect windows and views over the surrounding Highland countryside. The comfy sofas, beautiful views, wide-screen TV and wood burner all combine to create a truly wonderful living area. From here the hallway leads to the two bedrooms and bathroom. The master bedroom is very generously sized and both bedrooms enjoy flexible zip and link beds (superking/twin), fitted wardrobes and far-reaching views over the countryside. Outside there’s a large, private decking area that is accessible from the open plan living space. It’s a lovely spot to relax and have a drink at the end of a long day out exploring the Northern Highlands (remember your binoculars - the bird life is fantastic!). There is an enclosed garden beyond the decking which is a great space for your dogs.
Being on the outskirts of Lairg (1¾ miles away) means you are close to the local amenities- restaurants, shops, petrol station, visitor centre- and yet you can still enjoy that rare commodity in the Highlands of being able to walk home afterwards - in this case, through the beautiful countryside.
Reaching Lairg is an adventure; you’ve made it to the far north, and the ’Crossroads of the Highlands’. In the immediate area you can enjoy the history and Neolithic archaeology of Lairg, tours of Balblair Distillery, salmon leaping at the Falls of Shin, otter watching at Bonar Bridge, bird watching from the decking, and the award-winning sandy beaches at Golspie and Dornoch. For those feeling more active, within 45 minutes’ drive there are red, blue and black mountain biking runs; amazing road cycling; angling in river, loch and estuary (including the famous salmon on Carron, Oykel and Cassley); sailing, hill walking and six golf courses including the world class Royal Dornoch. Taking a step further out, you can access the stunning mountains of Assynt and the North West Highlands Geopark to the West; the vast expanse of wilderness and Orkney to the North; the Pictish trail and more amazing beaches to the East and you can easily link up with different sections of the famous North Coast 500 touring road from your base in beautiful Lairg.
Amazingly, the property is only 1¼ hours drive from Inverness Airport - really convenient.

Milton Cottage is a characterful heritage property in the small village of Rosehall near Lairg in the Northern Highlands of Scotland. It will serve you as a truly excellent base from which to enjoy the far north of Scotland because not only is it a comfortable place to stay, it’s location in Rosehall is pretty much slap bang in the middle of the Northern Highlands, meaning you can explore north, east, south and west very easily. You can be in Dornoch in thirty minutes and Ullapool in forty-five. The cottage will appeal to families wanting a base from which to explore this amazing part of the world. But also, keen anglers will be attracted to Milton Cottage. It has a rich history of catering for anglers who enjoy the nearby Cassley and Oyklel rivers as well as other Highland rivers within easy reach. Hill lochs and lochans nearby are also of interest. Enquire with the owner for costs and permits to fish whilst at Milton Cottage.
Arriving at Milton Cottage is a joy. The property has real curb appeal in the village of Rosehall. Park up on the driveway and enjoy the space around the property with its large wrap-around garden. The views out the back are fantastic too looking out over village fields to rolling Highland hills. Entering the property by the side door you have a very useful boot/drying/utility room. Perfect for long days out exploring, the dogs and also to store waders if fishing. This leads into the spacious kitchen/dining room. Beyond is the living room with open fire - wood and coal are left for you to use. There’s a large double bedroom also on the ground floor, and the family bathroom. On the first floor there are two further bedrooms, another double and a twin. There’s also a small study if anyone is inclined to check emails on holiday. All in all, you need to pick Milton Cottage because it’s perfectly located in the far north of Scotland. You’ll have a memorable, enjoyable stay at Milton Cottage.

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.

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.

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.