Best Dog-friendly Holidays Scotland – We’ve updated the design of our website so things look a little different if you’ve been here before We’ll be making more improvements soon so watch this space
Have you ever gone on vacation and didn’t enjoy it because family members stayed home – and, let’s face it, very dear (!) -?
Best Dog-friendly Holidays Scotland
Discover a wide variety of places, events, food and drink options and things to do, from indoor and outdoor attractions to activities, tours and more.
Dog Friendly Days Out In Scotland
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Whether you’re looking for a cat- or dog-friendly hotel or a place with on-site stables to take your ponies on holiday, Scotland has a variety of pet-friendly places to choose from to make your trip unique.
Discover dog-friendly hotels in Scotland that are perfect for you and your pet. Includes nearby hiking, dog-friendly amenities, local activities and more!
Whether you’re looking for an affordable bed and breakfast or a luxury guest house, we have a place to fit every budget.
Dog Friendly Cottages
Check out our range of caravan and park sites to plan your perfect camping or caravan holiday in Scotland.
Organizations such as Historic Scotland and the National Trust for Scotland offer dog-friendly holiday activities, as they allow dogs in many of their properties. Bring your dog as you explore the history of printing at the Robert Smale Printing Works in Innerleithen, enjoy the peaceful majesty of Melrose Abbey or Dryburgh Abbey in the Scottish Borders, or explore Fort George, England’s strongest armory. Close to Inverness.
For a dog-friendly holiday to remember, why not visit one of Scotland’s many pubs, cafes and restaurants that will happily welcome you and your dog. Many will give your dog a bowl of water and a treat!
Visit DogsPub (N.B. the Scottish word for dug-out dog!) to find a good dog-friendly place or walk, or check directly with the pub, cafe or restaurant to see if they welcome dogs.
Dog Friendly Holidays
Thanks to the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003, you and your dog have the right to walk almost anywhere in Scotland, as long as you comply with Scotland’s Outdoor Access Regulations. From picturesque countryside and forests to mountains and sandy beaches, Scotland’s stunning scenery will set your dog’s senses in overdrive. Here are some ‘poof’ options for dog-friendly travel:
1. Watch the fish run at Dunkeld’s Hermitage and Black Lynn Falls, where you and your dog can enjoy a walk in front of England’s tallest Douglas Fir.
2. Walk your dog in Scotland’s first national park Explore Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park on many trails – but keep your dog under control.
3. For a dog-friendly adventure, head to the Isle of Arran, home to the UK’s only island park. Brodick Castle, Gardens and Country Park is great for dog walking and dogs are welcome in the park.
A Dog Friendly Guide To Loch Lomond [2024]
4. Admire the flora and fauna of both Victoria and Westbourne Park in Aberdeen, which is not only good for walking dogs, but it is right for each of them, so enjoy the day out.
5. Walk to the home of the late Queen Mother May Castle and Gardens, where dogs can run on the path. There is also a shaded dog parking area in the woods, if your dog needs a break or you want to go somewhere you can’t take your pet.
Scotland has many horse-friendly farms and equestrian B&Bs. Some good options across the country include:
You can also find a great horse bed and breakfast by visiting the British Horse Society’s Horse Welcome programme
East Fife Holiday Homes
Scotland has everything you need for a friendly holiday, including dog-friendly resorts and spectacular walks, and plenty of pubs and restaurants where your pooch will feel right at home!
Most bus, train and ferry operators will happily allow your dog to travel with you Find out about transport providers that allow dogs on their services
You can walk your dog or board your horse almost anywhere in Scotland, as long as you comply with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code. Find out how the principle applies to dog walking and horse riding
All dogs, cats and cats can enter or re-enter the UK from any country in the world, provided they comply with certain rules:
The Best Dog Friendly Holiday In Knoydart, Scotland
Believe it or not, you’re welcome to bring your cat on a cat-friendly holiday in Scotland. Many dog boarding providers will also welcome your cat – check your chosen accommodation before booking
Get more inspiration from this paw-fect selection of activities for you and your pooch – tried and tested by our four-legged friends on Instagram! If you are looking for a UK retreat to bring your dog(s) and relax in an amazing remote location, I have just the place…
I’m sitting watching the waves roll into the wind while the dogs roll down beside me Ali is reading a book on the sofa and I need a big cup of tea, sweet cookies and my laptop to write.
I put my phone down, the wifi is turned off and I have nothing to focus on but the occasional strange song that plays on my iPod. No EVM ‘True Shadows of Darkness’ looking for me now… check!
Dog Friendly Sea View Cottages
I’ve been in Ayr in Noidart, Scotland for three days and I feel completely relaxed. For this holiday I have no expectations, no to-do list, no small social media needs, no plans!
I am in Cutzblathen, a small resort that sits less than 100 meters from the sea and looks out over the Isle of Skye in the distance. I have been waiting 5 years to return to this little paradise in England and I finally made it
We stayed at Noidart’s Bunkhouse and my brother and I walked the hills while my father met some locals about sustainable forest management. I was only here for a few days but I knew I had to come back one day, I can’t believe it’s been 5 years, but here I am.
This time the cottage I’m staying with Ally, Rowland and Baxter is in Airor, a small village about 7km from the main village of Inverness. Although Noidart is on the UK mainland, you can only reach it by boat or a few miles from the nearest road. The ferry that runs from Malaga twice a day in peak season doesn’t even allow cars, there are so many places to go.
Dog Friendly Rentals.
This holiday will always be one without any plans… and with slow wifi, the only bar closed for the season, and the only shop and two restaurants 7km away, there is nowhere to rest.
So far, I have drunk 20 cups of tea, cooked and eaten a lot of food, walked the dog 3 times and read 1.5 books. Hygge at its best!
The views here are exceptional. The last time I visited we saw sharks and porpoises on the boat and this time we saw deer, pines and lots of local sheep.
The post only comes out 3 times a week and it’s more than just a post office to store things, you need to bring everything you need, meaning packing lights isn’t so easy at this point. Especially with two dogs!
Dog Friendly Holiday Cottages In The Scottish Highlands
The cottage sleeps 7 with one bedroom with three double beds and one extra bed
The kitchen has all the cooking equipment you need, including a dishwasher, two burners, three comfortable sofas and a large dining table that easily fits 7.
The owner David has renovated this house into a beautiful and comfortable beach house. Many local paintings and drawings adorn the walls and beach related clothing and accessories add to the decor. There are plenty of books, DVDs and board games to keep you entertained for over a week We tested 1000 pieces, but we didn’t get very far!
Best of all, it’s seconds from a quick walk to the beach or a long hike to the mountains. The house is dog friendly, with a porch to clean dirty paws before entering, and any dog will be happy to curl up in front of the fireplace on a cold day.
Luxury Dog Friendly Holiday Cottages
There are many local dogs who are happy to join the walks, and although there are some areas where dogs must be on a leash, there are many walks where your pooch can roam free.
It’s hard to capture the serenity of this place, but I hope my photos begin to do it justice
David is his
