Our favourite dog-friendly cottages in the Scottish Highlands

Gille Buidhe’s Broch

The owners have lavished love on this modern take on an Iron Age roundhouse. Inside is bright and light with a sociable kitchen, relaxing bedroom and swish bathrooms with spoiling saunas for long, indulgent sessions. Burrow down into squashy sofas in front of the glowing wood burner, take in the views through the enormous windows or work your way through a stack of books. Dogs are most welcome and they’ll love exploring all the hidden beaches nearby but they must be kept on leads near sheep. Outside, all is quiet on the Coigach Peninsula, the only sounds the birds, the wind and the waves: amble along the hills, explore Achiltibuie, pack a picnic and head to the beach. 

Owner’s Reiner & Sheileagh: Stac Pollaidh is one of Scotland’s most popular hills to climb: not very high, but craggy and exposed so that you feel like a real mountaineer once you’ve followed the well-built path to the top. 

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Skelbo Steading 

This lovely steading conversion above Loch Fleet, with views across fields to the sea, is a glorious nature-filled spot for a holiday with your dog. You’re just by the wild Sutherland hills for fantastic walks and, although it feels very rural, Dornoch with its cathedral, good restaurants, cafés and shops is only 3.5 miles away. Inside, find a selection of good books, board games and a record player with a huge range of LPs, plus tea, coffee and biscuits for your arrival. Sit in the garden and take in the peace and quiet, or walk down the hill and you’re in Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve, which has birdlife and seals.

Guest Millie: We spent a very relaxing two days at the Steading, walking our dog and reading our books in our private section of the garden. There’s plenty to do in the area but it’s also the perfect place for doing nothing.

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Arrowdale

A delightful house yards from the sea with glorious hills behind. Take long walks from the door, hit the coastal track for grand picnic spots, wander through a meadow to a rocky beach, or hop in a kayak (there are two) for wonderful adventures. A 30-minute paddle takes you to a magical sandy beach – completely inaccessible by car – and in glorious weather you can spend the entire day here swimming, sunbathing, picnicking or playing games. Return to a serene space: lovely, light and warm with a big window seat for gazing towards the water, books in every room, and a glowing wood burner for your dog to dream in front of. The Shieldaig Lodge Hotel for fine dining is a mere half a mile away and a good pub, The Badachro Inn, is two miles. 

Guest Tina: A stunning home surrounded by amazing scenery. Delicious home baking, sparkling wine and doggie biscuits to welcome you to your holiday.

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Strathspey Lodge

A smart, no-expense-spared house – warm, generous and welcoming – with lots of treats (find hot chocolate, marshmallows, Prosecco and Cairngorm Brewery beer waiting for you) and masses of space indoors and out. The big enclosed garden means dogs can snuffle about solo. Hike along the Strathspey Way – it’s an hour or two to Aviemore, and then get the steam train back, hose down muddy paws and boots in the separate utility room. The house has a wonderful flow to its design: perfect for families or groups of friends. Books are arranged into cookery, maps, guidebooks; board games and televisions are many and the wood burning stove belts out the heat. French windows open onto a large terrace with a second dining table for summer eating facing the wonderful views. 

Owner Andrew: Visit the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd, Britain’s only free-ranging herd. Mostly ranging on the Cairngorm Mountains with the remainder on the Glenlivet Estate.

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The Birdhouse 

The Gaelic name for the Applecross peninsula derives from the word for sanctuary, and if you are in need of that, you’ll find it here. The views alone, the stunning Cuillin mountains on one side of you and the sea on the other, are enough to still your heart and let your spirit soar. Pack up a picnic and walk to a choice of beaches, stride hills and dales by rivers and lochs, sea kayak, fish or swim. Torrdian is 40 minutes in the car for more wonderful walks, a mighty loch and views. Return to hunker down on a comfy sofa while your dog dozes in front of the wood burning stove. This is a perfectly romantic and gorgeously restored bothy in a pretty garden on a hillside by the sea, surrounded by wildlife. 

Owner Val: Walk your dog or wild swim at Sands Beach, four miles along the coast road from the Applecross Inn – then head back for a meal.

Stay at The Birdhouse >

Browse all of our dog-friendly places to stay in Scotland >

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