Dog-Friendly Scottish Highlands

A beautiful stone cottage based in Skerray, Scotland. Perfect for the North Coast 500. WiFi. Country views. Enclosed garden. Bettyhill 6.4 miles; Tongue 7.5 miles.

Dalcharn is a fantastic cottage in an awe-inspiring location on the north coast of Scotland. Located on the outskirts of Bettyhill, it is perched on a hillside overlooking the mouth of the River Naver to Torrisdale Bay with its sandy beach and dunes. Dalcharn is a very spacious cottage with beautiful views. Enter the turn of the century cottage and arrive in the kitchen/dining room at the rear of the property. The space has a large wood burner which heats this room, and the neighbouring living room has an electric wood burner and sensational views to the river and bay. Also on the ground floor is a second living room with sofa bed, TV for games consoles and DVDs (if you bring them with you) and a still working pump organ! On the first floor are three bedrooms and the family bathroom, which are all spacious and comfortable. Outside there’s an enclosed garden for dogs to roam around when not running around on the beach or up in the hills.
Bettyhill is a village that was created in the early 19th century when the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland moved 15,000 people as part of the Highland Clearances from Strathnaver, which runs south from the cottage for 20 miles towards Altnaharra. Bettyhill is a rarity of the Clearances period because it’s a resettlement village taking the Duchess’ name. The now very quiet Strath is dotted with only a few houses and is mostly the domain of the serious fly fisherman.
To the east of Bettyhill is an older village called Farr, and the two places have sort of merged together now. Farr Bay is your closest beach from 51 Dalcharn being just under a mile away. It’s a fabulous sandy beach which often has good swell for surfing. Strathy Bay, Melvich and Thurso East are well known hot spots for surfing in the UK, so be sure to make the most of it during your stay (lessons are available locally too if you’ve never tried).
Fishing is outstanding in the far north of Scotland. Some of the most productive salmon rivers in the country are tucked away across Sutherland and Caithness. However, the majority are incredibly exclusive and expensive. An advantage of Dalcharn though is that you’re by the mouth of the River Naver which has its lower beat managed by the local angling club. The club offers day permits for £20 on a first-come-first-served basis available at The Store in Bettyhill (very close to the cottage). You’re in prime position here to gain access to some outstanding salmon and sea trout fishing. Other rivers and lochs nearby are possible, so do research and contact estates and angling groups in good time.
Hiking and cycling (road and mountain biking) are popular pastimes here with many routes to try. Ben Hope is not far, the most northerly Munro in Scotland and a fantastic vantage point to look down over Scotland to the south (on a clear day!). Being just off the North Coast 500 at Dalcharn you can venture off further afield and explore many fascinating places in no time at all. However, once you’re at Dalcharn it’s honestly difficult to leave because all you want from a holiday is right here! Beach 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.

This charming former fisherman’s cottage, with enclosed garden, is set in the heart of Fishertown which forms part of the lively town of Nairn. Located on the Moray Coast, Nairn boasts a sandy beach which is just a few minutes’ walk from the holiday cottage. A toy cupboard provides amusement at the cottage. Seashell Cottage is ideally situated to enjoy the variety of facilities the town has to offer including a links golf course, fishing and boat trips to see the bottlenose dolphins. Cawdor and Brodie Castle are nearby along with numerous distilleries - take the Whisky Trail on Speyside. Loch Ness, Culloden Battlefield and Inverness, the Highland capital are all within a short drive. Shop, pub and restaurant 500 yards.

Set on the fringes of Aviemore village, a wonderful location for enjoying the great outdoors in the heart of the Cairngorm National Park, these superbly appointed and beautifully furnished properties offer a very high degree of comfort. Sitting in a quiet cul de sac, they are ideal for family gatherings. All of the four properties (refs S4401, S4402, S4615 and S4538) enjoy their own private hot tub (each for 4 people) and S4401, S4402 and S4538 have a digital, infrared sauna with music and colour system, Freeview TVs and hairdryers in all bedrooms. Aviemore is a renowned centre for outdoor pursuits – excellent climbing and hill walking, competition standard mountain bike tracks, water sports on Lochs Morlich and Insch and, of course, skiing and snow boarding in season are just some of the activities on offer. The fishing and golf are similarly excellent, with trout fishing available all year at Rothiemurchus Estate, 2 miles, or hire equipment (at cost, licence required) for salmon fishing at the River Spey (seasonal). Sled dog rides, train trips to the resort at the top of the mountain, and the Strathspey steam railway are also found here and Britain’s only freely roaming reindeer herd can be spotted against the stunning backdrop of Glenmore. Shops, good restaurants, themed bars, live music are all within ½ mile. Other great attractions in the area are The Highland Wildlife Centre with Amur tigers, wolves and polar bear, The Landmark Centre, Tree Zone; an incredible aerial adventure and Aviemore Highland Resort Leisure Centre with its own wavepool, water slides and cinema.

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.

Nestling amid the glorious Highland countryside, with a stunning backdrop of mountains, this traditionally built stone house stands detached on the site of an old croft, on a 350-acre estate. Ideal for year round family holidays, it features a most attractively furnished, designer interior, which opens out onto a large, south-facing enclosed garden laid mainly to lawn. The surrounding area is a nature lover’s paradise, with several lochs close by offering excellent fishing and bird-watching opportunities, and much indigenous flora and fauna. Inverness 17 miles. Shops 6 miles, pub 1 mile (open Apr-Oct).

A well-appointed cottage located just over a mile from the village of Roy Bridge in Lochaber. Open plan living area. Views. Enclosed garden. Pet friendly. Fort William 11.5 miles; Inverness 58 miles.

This impressive bungalow rests in Grantown-on-Spey near Nethy Bridge, Scottish Highlands. Pet-friendly. Woodburning stove. Ground-floor living. Bedroom with en-suite. Nethy Bridge 2.5 miles; Boat of Garten 6.5 miles; Aviemore 13.9 miles.