Dog-friendly Scotland
Explore Scotland's dog-friendly destinations for an ideal holiday with your four-legged friend. Whether it's a quaint hotel, cosy cottage, B&B, or a charming country house, find the perfect spot for a short break with your pooch. Discover stunning Scottish landscapes and create lasting memories on your next adventure.
Banff, ScotlandConstructed in 1864, this picturesque, renovated church building that has been lovingly restored making it a luxurious place for you and your family or friends to stay. Its exterior form has happily been retained, bearing clear witness to its original function, whilst inside a stained glass window is the central feature to the first floor living room. Other features of note include high ceilings, large windows, plenty of spacious accommodation and large mature gardens. The majority of the living space is to the ground floor. The open plan kitchen and dining area with sliding door opening to the rear garden was formerly the church hall. Five bedrooms have been stylishly designed, along with a contemporary bathroom and two additional shower rooms, whilst a cinema and games room will keep you busy on a rainy day. The extensive gardens of an acre comprise of a woodland driveway to the front. The enclosed rear garden has mature trees and shrubs, including a monkey puzzle tree, lawns and three patio seating areas. The summerhouse and patios are the ideal place for enjoying a morning coffee or evening drink while taking in the surrounding views and starlit sky.
The property is nestled in a very beautiful part of Scotland and offers many activities in short striking distance, including walking, cycling, golfing, fishing and the seaside. The property is just 3 miles from Mintlaw, home to Aden Country Park covering 230 acres. Recognised as one of Scotland’s top green spaces, the park is a popular spot for walkers, cyclists and families thanks to its picturesque surroundings and busy events calendar. Mintlaw hosts a wide variety of amenities including pub, takeaways and local supermarket.
8 miles to the east is Cruden Bay, which has a sweeping expanse of pink sands and dunes approximately 1½ miles in length. This sandy beach is popular with day trippers, water sports enthusiasts and for sea fishing. Here you can also visit the remains of Slains Castle, once a place where celebrities were entertained on numerous occasions in the 19th Century. One of the most notable guests was Bram Stoker and it is believed the castle is the inspiration for the setting of ’Count Dracula’. 14 miles south of Torreagles is Newburgh beach, home to a colony of around 400 seals, adjacent to which are Forvie Nature Reserve and Foveran Links, a site of special scientific interest.
Golfers will appreciate numerous challenging courses less than a half hour’s drive from the property, including three of Scotland’s top twenty championship courses, Cruden Bay Golf Club, Trump International Golf Links and Royal Aberdeen Golf Club. Whatever you decide to do during your stay, this is an ideal base to explore this lovely part of Scotland. Beach 8 miles.£189From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & book
Price Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Rothesay, ScotlandSituated amongst the rolling countryside of the ever popular Isle of Bute, these two renovated cottages (Milton Cottage is detached, Milton Byre adjoins another property) offer an ideal holiday location from which to explore the dramatic coastline and stunning scenery of the island. For the outdoor enthusiast, walking, cycling, golf, fishing, sailing and watersports are in abundance. The wildlife is outstanding with deer, pheasant, otter and eagle readily seen. Visit the Victorian Gothic mansion of Mount Stuart, Bute Museum, Rothesay Castle and the fabulous gardens of Ascog Hall and Ardencraig. Many events throughout the year, including the now famous annual Jazz Festival and the spectacular Highland Games, traditional agricultural shows, concerts and art festivals. Shops and pub 2 miles.£50From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Hallin, Scotland
5.00The Old Dye House is set in a quiet location overlooking the sea, and on good days you can see the Outer Hebrides far in the distance. This detached cottage for two, adjacent to the owner’s home, is spacious and warm and has been sympathetically renovated and furnished to a very good standard. Beautifully presented with tasteful use of colours and textures, The Old Dye House makes the perfect base from which to explore the lovely Isle of Skye and the west coast.
Waternish itself is home to several art galleries, a family run sheepskin tannery, which gives guided tours, the oldest inn on Skye and a Michelin star restaurant. There are also plenty of walks available nearby for all abilities and the best sunsets on the island. Set towards the northern end of the island, all the attaractions Skye has to offer are within easy driving distance. Take a trip to Dunvegan Castle and gardens, and after enjoying that you can take a walk along the shoreline to Coral Beach – just stunning! Visit Portree, the island’s capital, with its wide variety of shops, art galleries, craft shops and some great places to eat and drink. A trip from Portree to the Trotternish Peninsula is well recommended. You will see dramatic scenery, and one of the most famous walks, the Old Man of Storr, which is a large pinnacle of rock and can be seen for many miles. Part of the Trotternish Ridge was created by a massive ancient landslide leaving probably what is one of the most photographed landscapes in the world.
To the southern end of the island you will find the Sleat Peninsula, known as the ‘Garden of Skye’, where you can visit Armadale Castle along with some amazing places to eat. There is a large variety of outdoor pursuits available including hill and mountain climbing in the famous Cuillins, sea trips, fishing, kayaking, sailing and mountain biking. Take a stroll along some of the many quiet and unspoilt beaches which surround the rugged coastline. For the less energetic, sit back and relax in front of the wood burner and enjoy the everchanging vistas. Shop 21 miles, pub and restaurant 1½ miles.£98From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Dalton, Scotland 5.00Situated on the outskirts of a quiet village, in the heart of 7Stanes Mountain Biking country, this detached, converted former dairy is set on a small holding and boasts stunning views over open countryside. This holiday cottage is ideally located to explore local history, with castles, abbeys, mansions and ruins. Dumfries and Galloway boasts rugged coastlines and sandy beaches, and is surrounded by breathtaking scenery, offering an ideal base from which to explore the Machars Peninsula and the Galloway Hills. The historic cities of Edinburgh and Carlisle, cosmopolitan Glasgow and the North Lake District are easily reached within an hour. Fishing is available on the River Annan at Hoddom, and there is golfing close by at Hoddom and Powfoot, as well as all the courses Dumfries and Galloway has to offer. Beach 5 miles. Shop 5 miles, pub and restaurant ½ mile.£76From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Eyemouth, Scotland 4.50Tucked away on the edge of the picture postcard village of Coldingham, Garden Cottage has lovely light, spacious living areas and a great bathroom with both a shower cubicle and a bath. This property is perfect for guests with younger children, as there is a cot and highchair available. There are gardens to both front and rear, and it is just a few minutes’ walk into the village where there is a priory, as well as local shops and a couple of cosy pubs serving food. You can also enjoy circular walks round the village. Sandy, sheltered Coldingham Bay, popular with surfers and divers, is 20 minutes’ walk, and Coldingham Loch offers fly fishing. St Abbs is a fishing harbour with a café/restaurant, and St Abbs Head National Nature Reserve is a coastal headland with breathtaking panoramic views and awesome cliffs where thousands of seabirds nest in the spring. You can enjoy amazing coastal walks, including a 30-mile route from Berwick-upon-Tweed to Cockburnspath, or take a boat trips from Seahouses to the Farne Islands, or from Berwick-upon-Tweed on the River Tweed out into the North Sea. Edinburgh is under an hour by train from Berwick, a fascinating Elizabethan walled town. There is a working harbour and golf in Eyemouth, historic houses and castles galore, fishing nearby, and plenty of crafts and galleries. Beach 1¼ miles. Shop, pub and restaurant ½ mile.£84From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Helmsdale, Scotland 5.00Situated on its own, right on the shoreline, enjoying panoramic views of the seascape this unique detached house offers an exceptionally good standard of holiday accommodation throughout. The living room and large kitchen/dining room look out across the bay. A second living room upstairs is built in the form of an ’observatory’, complete with balcony from which to spot the wide variety of bird and sea-life. Miles of shoreline walks are accessed directly from the property. The unspoilt fishing village of Helmsdale has a harbour and restaurants and shops. The area is renowned for its unspoilt beaches, wild and rugged coastline and traditional villages. Fossils are regularly found along this particular stretch of coast. Travel north to visit the Castle of Mey, John O’ Groats and the Orkney Isles. Golf, fishing, cycling, hill-walking, surfing and pony trekking all available locally. Try panning for gold in the Helmsdale river and visit the fairytale castle of Dunrobin. Shops, pub and restaurant 500 yards.£140From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Ruthven, Scotland 5.00Set on a working arable and cattle farm, within the owner’s 2000-acre estate in the Vale of Strathmore, these four welcoming and spacious holiday cottages have been restored to a very high standard. The most recent addition to the collection, Kingfisher Cottage (UK38211) is a renovated, detached, single-storey luxury cottage, tucked way down a farm track. With two stylish bedrooms and beautiful quality furnishings throughout, the high ceilinged open plan living room/kitchen features an eyecatching wood burner flanked by full length picture windows, making the most of the view for the ultimate relaxing experience. Islabank Farmhouse (ref SAAP) is a traditional, characterful, comfortable farmhouse which is ideal for families. Curlew Cottage (ref SYYJ) is a charming, beautifully converted, detached, single-storey property and a haven for wildlife. Still part of the farm but located 4 miles away is Osprey Cottage (ref UZQ), a delightful, light and sunny, single-storey detached cottage.
Set amongst beautiful farmland and fruit-growing country, they make an excellent choice for relaxing breaks in the heart of rural Perthshire. The estate makes an ideal base for exploring central Scotland, Edinburgh, Perth, St Andrews and the Highlands. Glamis Castle is a few miles away. Outdoor activities (golf, skiing, fishing, riding, cycling) are readily available. Shops and pub 3 miles.
Kingfisher Cottage (UK38211), Islabank Farmhouse (SAAP), Curlew Cottage (SYYJ) and Osprey Cottage (UZQ, 4 miles away) can be booked together to accommodate up to 16 guests.£86From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Newton Stewart, Scotland 5.00Situated close to Newton Stewart, this compact, cosy, holiday cottage with low ceilings provides a base from which to explore Galloway and south-west Scotland, with riverside walks directly form the property. The town offers a good range of shops, pubs and eateries, and has a swimming pool. There are also tennis courts and an 18-hole golf course. Galloway Forest Park is close by, with many beaches and rocky coves to explore. Enjoy cycling and walking routes to suit all levels. Fishing, horse riding and sailing all nearby. Shop, pub and restaurant 1 mile.£51From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Newton Stewart, Scotland 5.00Surrounded by similar cottages in Old Minnigaff, on the edge of Newton Stewart, this cosy, character filled, terraced riverbank cottage is located in a quiet courtyard. It is just a short stroll from the property to all the local amenities including pubs, restaurants and shops. The garden is set right on the riverbank and is perfect for spending endless hours watching the local wildlife, including kingfishers and otters, or just enjoying a glass of wine as the sun sets over the river. The wood burner in the living room and huge picture window means that even when it is raining you can still enjoy the outlook over the River Cree.
Newton Stewart lies on the southern edge of the Galloway Forest Park, which was Scotland’s first Dark Sky Park. If you go for a walk there in the day time you may meet red deer and wild goats that inhabit the area. The area is fantastic for walking, with rolling glens, forests and stunning coastline paths. For bikers there are two of the world famous 7stanes mountain bike trial centres close by at Glentrool and Kirroughtree. Scotland’s ’National Book Town’, Wigtown, is only 7 miles away. This quaint town has a large number of book shops where you can spend hours searching for that perfect holiday read. Wigtown Bay is also the largest Local Nature Reserve in Britain, with a wealth of wildlife, making it ideal for birdwatching. Kirkcudbright, Gatehouse of Fleet and Castle Douglas are also all close by. Beach 7 miles. Shop 300 yards, pub and restaurant 100 yards.£46From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
Hawick, Scotland 5.00Welcome to Heathfield, your gateway to the enchanting Denholm village nestled in the heart of the picturesque Scottish Borders. A warm embrace of heritage and natural beauty awaits you in this idyllic holiday destination. Denholm, with its rich historical tapestry, invites you to step back in time and discover the charm of a bygone era. Wander through cobbled streets lined with quaint cottages, and you’ll find yourself transported to an age of yesteryear. The village’s clock tower, a prominent feature, stands tall as a reminder of its past, where time moves at its own, leisurely pace.
For those with a penchant for the outdoors, the Scottish Borders offer an array of activities to keep you engaged. The rolling hills and serene landscapes provide the perfect backdrop for scenic walks and invigorating hikes. Follow in the footsteps of Sir Walter Scott, exploring the very trails that inspired his literary masterpieces. Fishing enthusiasts can cast their lines into the Teviot River, famous for its abundance of salmon and trout. Meanwhile, cyclists can explore a network of cycling routes, taking you through the breathtaking vistas of the Borders.
If history and culture beckon, visit the nearby Mary Queen of Scots Visitor Centre in Jedburgh or immerse yourself in local traditions at the Hawick Museum. The Borders are known for their vibrant arts scene, so don’t forget to check out local galleries and craft shops. Heathfield in Denholm offers the ideal starting point for your adventure in the Scottish Borders, where each day is an opportunity to explore, relax, and create lasting memories.£67From price per night based on 7 night stayExplore & bookPrice Match GuaranteeDogs Stay Free
