dog friendly road trip scotland

A Dog-Friendly Itinerary to the Scottish Highlands

Categories Dog-Friendly Travel , Travel Europe

We were guests of the Outdoor Capital of the UK and the Lochaber Chamber of Commerce during our visit. We are grateful for their hospitality and for the opportunity to explore their beautiful home. All opinions are our own.

For well over a decade, the Scottish Highlands have been at the top of my travel bucket list. Since we were already on our way to Paris to meet my parents for a few days, we figured we should visit the UK before Brexit potentially made traveling with a dog to the UK more of a challenge.

 For an outdoor enthusiast like me, the region is truly the adventure capital of the UK, with the abundant trails, ski areas, and waterways that just beg to be explored. And don’t forget the opportunity to try and find the Loch Ness Monster!

The Highlands encompass the rugged and little-populated north and northwestern part of Scotland. In our short visit, we only touched on a small portion of the region and I’m already plotting our next visit to explore the places we missed like the Outer Hebrides, Isle of Skye, and the Orkney Islands.

We loved all the dog-friendly trails and pubs and especially appreciated the Scottish Rights of Way laws . Also called the ScotWays, these rights allow all human-powered (and dog-powered, too in many-cases) users to access land and waterways, even on private properties, provided they act in a responsible manner.

Outdoor Activities in the Scottish Highlands

Mountain Biking

We happened to be visiting Fort William a few days before the Mountain Bike World Cup at Glencoe Mountain Resort. One of the premiere mountain biking events in the world, the city’s population swells from 10,000 inhabitants to some 30,000. 

This region of Scotland features some of the best mountain biking in the world. The endless trails, forest roads, and rugged mountain terrain should put this country at the top of any avid mountain biker’s list of dream destinations. You can drool over all the trails as you plan your trip with this trail map from the tourism board.

Fortunately, for us newbies, there are trails for all levels. We stuck to something more casual for our outing. We picked up our rides from Off Beat Bikes a great shop that rents a variety of bikes to suit all abilities and types of recreation.

The knowledgeable staff helped us pick from several routes , gave us a map, fitted us to the bikes, and sent us on our way. Since this was Laila’s first time riding and one of our first, we stuck to an easy gravel path called the Gairlochy Loop . I wouldn’t call it mountain biking, but it gave us a taste of what Laila can handle (she did great, by the way!). 

Trail Runing

The main attraction for me in this beautiful part of Scotland is the trail running. I have wanted to take on the trail here for ages. Unfortunately, time and weather did not allow me to get out as I would have liked, but we did manage to get in a one good run.

The tourism board kindly connected us with Sara Bellshaw, who showed us a snippet of the local trails. She is an accomplished mountain runner and founder of Rannsaich , an adventure running company that combines sailing and trail running, mindfulness, and healthy food. Sara knows the area very well and talked on and on about all the paths we could have taken. It made me vow to return for a proper trail running adventure, ideally with Rannsaich!

Paddle Boarding

After paddling around the world, owners Rob Kingslad and Keren Smail of Rugged Paddle Board returned home to the UK in order to show off Glencoe from the water. 

We donned wetsuits and booties and headed to tranquil Glencoe Lochen, a small lake surrounded by mountains. Depending on your level of paddling experience, Rugged Paddle gives lessons, offers short outing of 1-2 hours, or a longer full day tour exploring the region by SUP. Alternatively, you can hire your own board and go where you like.

As a bonus for anyone traveling with their dogs, the Signal Rock Cottage where Rugged Paddle makes their home is dog-friendly for a very reasonable fee of £2.50 per day.

There is a reason that the Scottish Highlands have taken claim as the Outdoor Capital of the UK. Throughout the highlands, miles upon miles of trails intersect. Hiking enthusiasts can choose to summit Ben Nevis , tackle a long distance trail such as the popular Great Glen Way (117km), or go on a waterfall hunt to Steall Falls or Eas Chia-aig Waterfall. The opportunities are endless.

Don’t be scared off by the crowds you’ll see taking photos on the side of the main road going into town. All you have to do is drive a little way down a side road and you’ll find empty trails. 

An hour and a half from Fort William will bring you to Cairngorms National Park, the largest in the UK. We met up with Instafriends @roman.around.scotland who showed us around a wee bit of the park (I picked up “wee” in Scotland!). 

Hit the Beach

The beaches in Scotland reminded me a bit of those in the Pacific Northwest. They’re rugged and rocky with expansive sand for the dogs to play as hard as they want. Since the water is so cold, we practically had the entire space to ourselves.

If you’re staying in the Highlands, definitely plan a day trip to the beach. On the rare clear June day we were granted, we drove along the scenic Road to the Isles to Arisaig and played fetch, ran down sand dunes, and trekked along the short trail nearby. 

The beach was simply exquisite and had we the time to explore more, we would have ventured just a bit farther to Camusdarach Beach in Morar with turquoise waters that would make you think you’re in the tropics.

Dog-friendly Restaurants & Pubs in the Scottish Highlands

One of the most wonderful parts about visiting the Highlands with your dog is that many pubs welcome your pup inside the pub. This was actually fairly common throughout the UK and we took full advantage. The other bonus for us veg eaters is that the UK is very much aware of veganism and we were hard-pressed to find a place that didn’t have vegan options.

Glen Spean Brewing Co.

While this isn’t a bar, restaurant, or pub, it is a brewery and we are never ones to pass on craft beer. Opened in 2018, Glen Spean Brewery brews out of an 18th century converted barn behind the house of owners Ian Peter “Peeps” MacDonald, Lucy Hicks, and James Leggatt. 

Peep’s family has lived in a short radius of the location of the brewery over the past several generations. All of the beers are named for a story from the history of the region (of which Peeps can tell you all about, he is incredibly knowledgeable of the history of his land). 

All four beers we sampled more than satisfied our snobby PNW palates and since they only sell locally, I guess we’ll have to return one day to enjoy them another time.

Kingshouse Bar

Serving as a refuge for weary hikers since the 1750’s, the Kingshouse Bar was the first bar in Glencoe. With cozy seats, a fireplace, delicious meals, oh, and floor to ceiling windows unveiling a spectacular view, this bar feels fancy, but caters to both high-end visitors and muddy sodden hikers alike. Everyone is welcome, including the dogs.

Special Mention: The Wildcat

While The Wildcast does not allow dogs inside, unfortunately (as is the case with all cafes in Scotland), they will bring you food to the public benches just outside if you come with your pup. As the only specifically vegan place in town, we frequented the cafe every day during our stay. The food was phenomenal (especially the cakes), there’s a small shop selling food and plastic-free products, and the coffee out of this world.

A few other pubs and restaurants that allow dogs:

• Grog and Grul
• Ben Nevis Bar
• The Crofter

Dog-friendly Accommodation in the Scottish Highlands

Isles of glencoe hotel.

I’m not sure if there is a single spot in this hotel that does not have an amazing view. Situated on the shores of Loch Leven, I couldn’t stop staring out our window at the scenery. Even with the terrible rain during our visit, a constant string of clouds danced over the lake putting on a stunning show. Our room was super cozy with tons of space and a door that opened practically onto the lake.

Check Booking.com for rates .

Linnhe Lochside Holidays

Situated right on the shores of Loch Linnhe, this holiday resort offers luxury camping options, including cabins, pitches, chalets, and lodges. The private beach has amazing views of the surrounding mountains, and lovely walking paths.

Check Booking.com for rates.

Use the map below to find other dog-friendly accommodation in the Scottish Highlands

A Glossary of Scottish Terms to Know

I found myself wondering nearly daily whether the Scots are truly speaking English. Their accent is so thick and they roll their R’s making the words sound completely different from how I am used to hearing them. They also have some Gaelic words they incorporate into the language, so here’s a little cheat sheet to help you during your visit.

You’ll notice that nearly every trail refers to a “glen” of some sort. Simply put, glens refer to valleys, however if we are getting specific, they are the “Scottish term for a deep valley in the Highlands that is narrower than a strath.” 

Munros are Scottish mountains over 3,000 ft named after Sir Hugh T Munro, who surveyed and catalogued all 282 peaks. Attempting to summit all 282 peaks is known as “Munro bagging,” a feat accomplished by just 6,000 people called “compleatists.” The FKT (fastest known time) for bagging every single peak is set by Stephen Pyke, who finished in 39 days, 9 hours, and 6 minutes. Think you have what it takes to surpass him?

Bothies are basic mountain huts located along the many trails throughout the country. There are no facilities, some have sleeping platforms and fireplaces, but you must bring your own equipment.

Loch is nothing more than the Gaelic word for lake or sea inlet. 

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Pet Friendly Scotland Tour £432

8 day pet friendly scotland car tour.

A fantastic 8 day round trip of Scotland, staying in pet friendly accommodation. This tour is available from April to October. Simply choose the day you want to start the trip and we book it all the hotels for you! First Pet stay free!

Every hillside is a dog walk - every beach a time for discovery, every forest a hunting ground. Take your best friend on the holiday of their life!

Scotland has enacted in law the right to roam which unofficially makes this the most dog friendly nation on the planet. there are thousands of miles of moorland and forest and beach for your best friend to explore, run through and dream about! with so many wild animals, scotland is an olfactory feast and while you drive on, he or she will be sitting in the back wondering what was that smell?

Day 1 Arrival

Arrive at Edinburgh/Glasgow Airport and pick up your self-drive car. Depart for the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh. As one of Europe’s must see destinations Edinburgh offers much for the visitor, great museums and art galleries, fantastic shopping, great restaurants and bars and one of the most unforgettable skylines with Edinburgh Castle dominating the centre of the city overlooking Princes Street Gardens. Overnight in Edinburgh.

After your Full Scottish Breakfast depart Edinburgh heading north crossing the Forth Road Bridge with its dramatic views of the Victorian feat of engineering the Forth Railway Bridge. Continuing north visit Pitlochry , a small Highland town. Stop at the Salmon Ladder where you may be lucky enough to see salmon leaping! From Pitlochry, travel towards Braemar . You will take the very scenic & dramatic road over the Spittal of Glenshee one of the highest points in Scotland and also site of one of Scotland’s ski resorts. Descend into Braemar which sits in the heart of Royal Deeside, the favoured holiday area for the Royal Family in Scotland.

Today you will ravel through the Speyside area towards Inverness . Speyside is a great area to sample some of Scotland’s Natural Larder. You can learn everything you need to know about Scotland’s National Drink with a tour of one of the Speyside distilleries. You can visit Glenfiddich, McCallan, Grants, Cardhu and many more. Visit the pet friendly battlefield of Culloden Moor, site of the last land battle on British soil. Wander around Inverness, capital of the Highlands, take the Strathspey Railway from Boat of Garten to Aviemore, watch the Ospreys at Loch Garten. Accommodation in Inverness area.

Enjoy a day visiting the West Coast of Scotland. Journey across to Ullapool , a quaint fishing village. Then travel down past the dramatic Corrieshalloch Gorge to the Inverewe Gardens, run by the National Trust. These magnificent gardens have a famous rhododendron collection and who would expect to find palm trees in Scotland. Take a stroll through one of the pet friendly walks of Pinewood Trail, Inverewe Trail or Kernsery Path. Return through the magnificent scenery of the Torridon area and past Loch Maree. Return to the Inverness area for overnight.

Today travel south again going via Loch Ness . Loch Ness forms part of the Caledonian Canal a feat of some great engineering by Thomas Telford linking East Scotland with West by using a series of lochs linked by a canal system. Make a stop at Urquhart Castle, a very scenic spot and also the place where the most sightings of “Nessie” have been. Continue on the road to Kyle and take the bridge to explore Skye, the largest and most scenic of the Hebridean Islands. Overnight in Kyle of Lochalsh/ Isle of Skye .

This morning, journey south to Kyleakin where you will cross over the new “Skye Bridge” to the mainland enjoying a brief photo-stop at Eilean Donan Castle , the magnificent setting of the film “Highlander”. Continue onto Fort William set in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain.

From Fort William, start travelling south. Travel through the beautiful and mysterious Glencoe, which is a great spot for walking the dog. You then travel over Rannoch Moor and into the heart of the Trossachs. Loch Lomond and the Trossachs are home to a variety or terrain and are known as the “Highlands in miniature”. Continue to Glasgow for your final night.

Day 8 Departure

Unfortunately it is time to leave Scotland. Return to the airport and leave your car.

• 7 nights accommodation in the above style of accommodation with facilities inclusive of Scottish breakfast.
• First pet supplement
• Service & VAT
• Entrances detailed in itinerary
• Evening meals
• Personal Expenses

The Little Details

• Min Age: NA
• Tour Vehicle Type: Self-Driven
• Months of Operation: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
• Duration of Tour: 8 days
• Departure Point: Edinburgh
• Departure Point: Edinburgh or Glasgow

Ask for a Quote

Rates & dates.

The price is per person for the whole tour , and is based on two people sharing a room. The single person supplement applies to single rooms. 

Tour Prices Per Person 1st April to 31st March 2016

Itinerary summary, child policy.

Based on one child sharing a room with 2 adults:

• 0-4 years : Free
• 5-12 years: 50% of adult price
• 13 years and above: Adult price

Booking Notes

The tour is available from April to October. Simply enter your preferred start date during the booking process.

Click on the 'Book Now' button for our secure online booking form. Please be aware it can take several days for JAC Travel to book the accommodation for you; we'll then take payment and email you the list of your accommodation.

The Process

After we have received your enquiry, we will send you the full quotation for your tour. If you choose to proceed, we simply need a reply to that email stating you want to proceed. We will then generate a payment request to send to you.

You will receive your full vouchers after payment. Where bookings are made very late, we send itinerary vouchers to the first hotel of your tour.

Cancellation Charges

Changing accommodation.

We provide accommodation details after booking.

If you wish to change some accommodation, we will always attempt to change it to one that you feel suits you more. However, this may incur an increase tour cost.

If you don't like the tour accommodation and you wish cancel completely, you can do so within 5 days of receiving the accommodation details without incurring any costs

Payment is via Paypal in two tranches.

• the first for your deposit payment which is 20% of the price after which we place bookings.
• the second is payable three weeks before departure and is the balance of the booking.

If you are unable to travel because of sudden last minute illnesses or other circumstances, you should rely on your travel insurance for a refund of travel costs

We are unable to cover those on your behalf

Ipso Facto, we always recommend that travellers take out travel insurance

Some Places We Will Visit

Small Highland tour that is a frequent stopping place for coaches travelling along the A9. Somewhat a one road town of shops and cafes.

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Aviemore was once a sleepy village which was later developed into a ski and tourism resort and has fallen victim to profiteering developers who have scant regard for the local community here. However, Aviemore is great for the services being offered here for visitors.

The Highlands' largest town and enjoying a real renaissance over the past ten years as young professionals have moved to the city. The gateway to the far north and a fun night out if you stay.

Boat of Garten

Eight miles northeast of Aviemore is the tiny village of Boat of Garten which suddenly shot to fame when a pair of ospreys, which had disappeared from these shores, reappeared on nearby Loch Garten, two miles east of the village. Now these beautiful birds of prey have established themselves here and elsewhere and there are thought be well over 100 pairs throughout the Highlands.

Skye's largest town and a charmingly friendly stop-off popular with all visitors.

Dramatic landscape with a dramatic history. Few who visit the glen are unmoved by its majesty and power.

Fort William

Fort William is the gateway to the Western Highlands and one of the country's main tourist centres. It stands at the head of Loch Linnhe, with the snow-topped mass of Ben Nevis towering behind.

Fort Augustus

At the more scenic southern end of Loch Ness stands the village of Fort Augustus, originally set up as a garrison after the Jacobite rebellion of 1715, and headquarters of General Wade's campaign to pacify the Highlands. Today Fort Augustus is a busy little place; full of monster-hunting tourists and boats using the flight of five locks to enter or leave Loch Ness on their journey along the Caledonian Canal.

Castle Visited

Eilean Donan Castle

One of the world's quintessential castles: Eilean Donan is familiar from films and stunning in its romantic location. Open daily.

Urquhart Castle

Semi ruinous castle in strong position beside Loch Ness controlling the route North. Captured by Robert the Bruce by clever negotiation. Visitor centre open all year.

Dunvegan Castle

The Clan MacLeod has had its family seat at Dunvegan Castle since about the 12th century. It remains the seat of the Clan and a castle well worth visiting for its history and excellent state of repair

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