Dog-Friendly Scotland: 20 Places to Stay with Your Dog

Scotland is one of the most dog-friendly countries in Europe. The outdoor access laws let dogs walk almost everywhere people can, most pubs and cafes welcome them, and from the Highlands to the Borders there are hundreds of hotels, cabins and country inns built around the assumption that a well-behaved dog is coming too.

I’ve been reviewing dog-friendly accommodation across Scotland for years and have stayed at every property in this guide. From five-star luxury hotels with their own spas to off-grid cabins on Highland lochs, these are my 20 favourite places to stay in Scotland with your dog.

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The best dog-friendly accommodation in Scotland

Whether you’re after a five-star hotel with a spa, a self-catering cabin with a hot tub, a proper country inn with a roaring fire, or a romantic coastal hideaway, these Scottish stays cover the full range and all welcome dogs.

From luxury Highland hotels to off-grid bothies near Oban, family lodges on Loch Lomond to pioneer-style cabins on the Ayrshire coast, here are the best dog-friendly places to stay in Scotland right now.

Explore the full guide below for how to book these dog-friendly Scottish stays.

Dog-friendly luxury hotels in Scotland

Scotland has some of the best dog-friendly luxury hotels in the UK. Five-star service, spa treatments, fine dining, and a warm welcome for the dog – often with their own bed, bowl and treats on arrival. These are my four favourites for a proper luxury dog-friendly hotel break.

The Torridon Hotel, Torridon

Best for: Five-star luxury in the Scottish Highlands, surrounded by Munros.

At the luxury Highland hotel The Torridon, dogs are welcome in the ground floor rooms at the recently refurbished Stables. Over in the gorgeous main hotel, the luxurious Chestnut Cottage welcomes dogs too. The hotel sits in miles of stunning Highland countryside, surrounded by towering Munros, the perfect base if your dog is the adventurous type.

The main hotel itself is a Victorian shooting lodge set in 58 acres on the shore of Loch Torridon, with the dramatic Torridon mountains rising behind. Two restaurants, a whisky bar with over 300 whiskies, and the kind of genuine Highland welcome that makes it worth the long drive north.

Find out more: The Torridon Hotel review and book: thetorridon.com

Mar Hall, Glasgow

Best for: A 19th-century Gothic mansion hotel on the banks of the River Clyde near Glasgow.

On a 200-acre wooded estate on the banks of the River Clyde near Glasgow sits Mar Hall, a luxury Scottish hotel in a huge 19th-century Gothic mansion. Inside are 52 gorgeously grand bedrooms and suites, all beautifully decorated and all dog-friendly. There’s a spa, two restaurants and a golf course, and the estate itself is a lovely place to walk the dog.

Mar Hall is one of the best dog-friendly hotels in Scotland if you want grand-scale luxury without committing to the Highland drive. Glasgow is 15 minutes away, Loch Lomond 20 minutes beyond that.

Find out more: Mar Hall review and book: Mar Hall

The Fairmont, St Andrews

Best for: A five-star resort with golf, spa and restaurants, just outside St Andrews.

Located just outside St Andrews with a view of the castle, cathedral and the Firth of Tay is the Fairmont St Andrews. This is a big five-star resort, with two championship golf courses, a full spa and six restaurants, and the hotel welcomes dogs in its dog-friendly rooms.

Perfect for a long weekend that combines a round of golf, a long beach walk with the dog, and a proper spa treatment. The coastal walks along West Sands and towards Kingsbarns are exceptional.

Find out more: Fairmont St Andrews review and book: The Fairmont

Portavadie, Loch Fyne

Best for: A dog-friendly spa hotel with Scotland’s best outdoor pool, set around a marina on Loch Fyne.

Portavadie is a dog-friendly hotel and apartment complex set around a 260-berth yachting marina on Loch Fyne. Choose from luxury townhouses with saunas, lodge-style hotel rooms, cute family cottages or couples retreats. Two restaurants, a cafe, and a £10m spa and swimming pool complex with utterly incredible views across the loch.

The outdoor pool is genuinely one of the best in Scotland. Heated year-round, open to the sky, with views over Loch Fyne and the hills beyond. Your dog can’t come in the pool obviously, but the walks around the marina and into the surrounding countryside are lovely.

Find out more: Portavadie review and book Portavadie

More 5 star dog friendly hotels in Scotland

• The Isle of Eriska Hotel, Spa and Island, near Oban – stunning 5 star hotel on its own island
• The Cromlix, Dunblane – Tennis star Andy Murray’s 5 star hotel
• Prestonfield House – romantic retreat in Edinburgh with a dramatic interior
• Gleneagles, Auchterarder – the Scottish classic estate accepts dogs
• Inver Lodge – head to the far north west of Scotland to this dog friendly hotel near Lochinver
• The Balmoral Hotel Edinburgh – stay with your dog at this 5 star hotel in the heart of Edinburgh.

Dog-friendly country hotels and inns in Scotland

Sometimes a proper country inn is exactly what you want. Roaring fire, a pint of ale, local food, comfortable rooms and a dog sleeping under the table. These are my four favourite dog-friendly country hotels and inns in Scotland.

The Meikleour Arms, Perthshire

Best for: A proper dog-friendly country inn on the snow roads, with rooms designed around dogs.

While many hotels proclaim they are dog-friendly, the Meikleour Arms truly is. Rooms on the ground floor are specifically designed for dogs (including some cottages), dogs are allowed throughout the restaurant and lounges, and the staff genuinely love the pups who come to stay. Your dog will particularly love the underfloor heating in the bar.

Set in East Perthshire on the snow roads between Blairgowrie and Dunkeld, the Meikleour Arms is a characterful Scottish country hotel with fishing rights on the Tay, a kitchen garden, and serious food. It is consistently my top recommendation for a dog-friendly country hotel in Scotland.

Find out more: The Meikleour Arms review

The Kirkstyle Inn, Dunning

Best for: A dog-friendly country pub with roaring fires, in one of Perthshire’s prettiest villages.

Between Auchterarder and the city of Perth, with the Ochils to the south, is the pretty village of Dunning and at its heart is The Kirkstyle Inn, one of my favourite pubs in Scotland. Roaring fires, a quirky interior, a warm welcome, delicious food including a proper Sunday roast, real ales and a good wine list. And thoroughly dog-friendly.

The rooms upstairs are comfortable and well-priced, and Dunning itself is a gorgeous base for exploring Strathearn. Ideal for a long weekend with the dog.

Find out more: The Kirkstyle Inn review and book: thekirkstyleinn.co.uk

The Whitebridge Hotel, South Loch Ness

Best for: A dog-friendly hotel on the quieter south side of Loch Ness, away from the Nessie crowds.

High above the madding crowds of Nessie hunters on the quieter south shore of Loch Ness sits The Whitebridge Hotel. The hotel has dog-friendly bedrooms, a dog-friendly restaurant, and proper character — warm, quirky and genuine. Good base for exploring the Great Glen without getting stuck in Drumnadrochit traffic.

Find out more: The Whitebridge Hotel review and book: The Whitebridge

Loch Fyne Hotel and Spa, Inveraray

Best for: A dog-friendly four-star hotel on Loch Fyne, five minutes from the bustling town of Inveraray.

A four-star hotel with spa on the banks of Loch Fyne, with good food, comfy dog-friendly rooms, a solid restaurant, and a five-minute walk into the bustling town of Inveraray. Excellent base for exploring Argyll, with Loch Fyne itself, Inveraray Castle, and the Cowal peninsula all within reach.

Book: Loch Fyne Hotel

Dog-friendly cabins and self-catering lodges in Scotland

If you want your own space, a wood-burner, and walks from the door, self-catering is the way to do it. These are my six favourite dog-friendly cabins and lodges in Scotland, from off-grid Highland bothies to luxury estates.

The Queen’s Hut, Aboyne

Best for: A luxury shepherd’s hut in Royal Deeside with a copper tub and a loch view.

Hidden in the heart of Royal Deeside near Aboyne is The Queen’s Hut. Originally built for Queen Mary, the wife of King George V, it dates from the early 1900s and has been beautifully refurbished as a luxury hideaway. Inside there are two bedrooms — a luxury master ensuite with a king-size bed and a jaw-dropping free-standing copper tub, and a twin room perfect for the kids (if you can bear to bring them).

Dogs are welcome, and the woodlands that surround the hut are ideal for long walks. The Dunnect Estate has endless trails, and the nearby country pub is dog-friendly too.

Find out more: The Queen’s Hut review

Glen Dye, Aberdeenshire

Best for: A 15,000-acre Aberdeenshire estate with dog-friendly cabins and cottages, off-grid hot tubs and wild swimming.

Dogs are welcome at all of the cabins and cottages at Glen Dye, a 15,000-acre Aberdeenshire estate that rises from the River Dye up to the peak of Clachnaben. My favourite is the North Lodge and River Cabin, a three-bed self-catering cottage with its own fabulous cabin in the woods, an off-grid hot tub and a stretch of the River Dye for wild swimming.

Glen Dye has genuinely transformed what “luxury estate cabin” means in Scotland. Serious interior design, proper attention to fabrics and fittings, and a landscape dogs love.

Find out more: Glen Dye review and book: glendyecabinsandcottages.com

The Birdwatcher’s Cabin, Golspie

Best for: A romantic dog-friendly cabin on its own private beach at Loch Fleet.

At The Birdwatcher’s Cabin in Balblair Woods near Golspie, the North Coast 500 might be right outside your door, but hidden on its own beach, the silence is only interrupted by the whistling cry of an osprey over Loch Fleet. A dream for two (or cosy for a small family), the cabin has a retro interior and a deck for watching the sunset with the pup by your side. Spa treatments and steaks and champagne ready to order complete the picture.

Find out more: The Birdwatcher’s Cabin review

Mount Freedom Cabins, Ayrshire

Best for: Pioneer-style cabins with outdoor baths and views to Ailsa Craig. Dog friendly.

Overlooking Ailsa Craig and the Firth of Clyde on the Ayrshire coast are Baron, Brae and Bennan, three beautiful pioneer-style log cabins. Designed as replicas of American Adirondack pioneer homesteads from the 1830s, with huge decks under saddlebag-style porches, external fireplaces for marshmallow toasting, and big outdoor baths for two.

Dog-friendly throughout, with the Ayrshire coast and countryside to walk. A lovely under-the-radar option for a west coast break with the dog.

Find out more: Mount Freedom review

Culbin Edge, Moray Speyside

Best for: An eco cabin with a wood-fired hot tub, up to two dogs welcome, close to the Speyside distilleries.

On the edge of Culbin Forest between Nairn and Forres in Moray Speyside is Culbin Edge, an eco-friendly cabin with a fabulous wood-fired hot tub. Sleeping up to four, and up to two dogs, the cabin is perfect for exploring the Moray Firth coastline, the beaches at Findhorn and Hopeman, and the whisky distilleries of Speyside.

Full kitchen, log burner, an eco-friendly design that keeps the cabin toasty, and lovely little touches inside. One of my favourite dog-friendly cabins in Scotland.

Find out more: Culbin Edge review

The Schenbothies at Brucefield Estate, Clackmannanshire

Best for: Scandi-style eco-bothies under the Ochils. The Mertrick cabin welcomes dogs on request.

Underneath the Ochils mountains with pretty Dollar to the north and historic Culross to the south sits the 1,000-acre Brucefield Estate, home to three gorgeous luxury Scandi-style eco cabins. Dogs are welcome in the Mertrick cabin on request. Inside the bothies it’s all Scandi-chic design — mid-century modern furniture, vintage crockery, a modern bathroom with organic toiletries, a tiny kitchen and a cosy king-size bed up in the loft.

Walking straight from the cabin into an estate that’s being carefully restored by conservationists and ecologists.

Find out more: Brucefield Estate review

Dog-friendly lodges on Loch Lomond

Loch Lomond is one of Scotland’s best dog-friendly destinations. Open countryside, clear water, Conic Hill for a walk, and plenty of dog-friendly places to eat in Balmaha and Luss. These are my two favourites for a dog-friendly Loch Lomond stay.

Loch Lomond Waterfront, Balmaha

Best for: Five-star luxury lodges on the loch, most dog-friendly, all with hot tubs.

On the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond sits Loch Lomond Waterfront — eight five-star luxury lodges and three wooden chalets. Flanked by Conic Hill on one side and the endless waters of Loch Lomond on the other, most of the lodges are dog-friendly and all have private hot tubs with loch views.

A ten-minute walk from your lodge is Conic Hill, one of Scotland’s best short walks, and the Oak Tree Inn at Balmaha is genuinely dog-friendly for a post-walk pint.

Find out more: Things to do at Balmaha and book: Loch Lomond Waterfront

Unusual and off-grid dog-friendly stays in Scotland

For something different, these two properties offer dog-friendly stays well off the beaten track. One is a restaurant with rooms in Argyll, the other is a set of architect-designed bothies accessed on foot. Both are genuinely special.

Inverlonan Bothies, Oban

Best for: Off-grid luxury on Loch Nell. Dogs welcome in the Beatha bothy.

On the banks of Loch Nell, 15 minutes from Oban, are three handcrafted modern Scottish bothies. Uisge, Beatha and Sitheil (meaning “water of life” in Scottish Gaelic), surrounded by ancient oak trees. Dogs are welcome in Beatha, and Inverlonan is one of the most memorable dog-friendly cabin stays in Scotland.

Off-grid cooking on a Kadai fire pit, sourdough pizza in the Stadler wood oven, or a private dining experience cooked on live fire by Michelin-trained Chef Michael Thompson. Dogs get Loch Nell to swim in.

Find out more: Inverlonan review and book: inverlonan.com

Inver Restaurant and Rooms, Argyll

Best for: A restaurant with rooms that welcomes dogs in one of its bothies.

Inver is a beautiful restaurant with rooms on the shore of Loch Fyne. All stays include dinner at the restaurant (there is no B&B option), and dogs are welcome in one of the bothies. The food at Inver is exceptional, genuinely some of the best in Scotland, with a focus on live-fire cooking and ingredients from within a few miles of the kitchen.

A proper destination stay. Book for a weekend, walk the dog along the loch shore, eat the very best of Scottish seafood.

Find out more: Inver review and book: inverrestaurant.co.uk

More dog-friendly stays across Scotland

Three more properties worth knowing about, across the Highlands, Lowlands and the Edinburgh hinterland.

Eagle Brae, Beauly

Best for: Five-star cedar log cabins on an 8,000-acre Highland estate, with underfloor heating for tired paws.

Beside Glen Affric, often described as Scotland’s most beautiful glen, are the stunning cabins at Eagle Brae. Dogs will love the underfloor heating and wood burners. Outside, there are enclosed balconies for fresh air, and the Highland estate has hundreds of miles of trails. Part of an 8,000-acre estate, Eagle Brae offers unique Scottish Highland log cabin holidays with an incredible sense of place and genuine warmth in welcome.

Find out more: Eagle Brae review

Eastside Cottages, Pentland Hills

Best for: A dog-friendly working sheep farm twenty minutes from Edinburgh.

Eastside Cottages offer dog-friendly holiday accommodation on a working farm in the Pentland Hills Regional Park, a few miles from the heart of Edinburgh. Miles of walks on your doorstep, including my favourite walk-up-the-Kips-to-Scald-Law. Scandi-inspired interiors, wood burners, and a proper working-farm feel.

Ideal for a long weekend that combines Edinburgh city time with genuine Scottish countryside.

Find out more: Eastside Cottages review

Gatehouse Luxury Lodges, Dumfries and Galloway

Best for: A dog-friendly luxury lodge in lovely Dumfries and Galloway, close to the Solway coast.

Gatehouse Luxury Lodges sit on the edge of lovely Gatehouse of Fleet in Dumfries and Galloway, and the Silver Birch lodge is the dog-friendly one of three. Perfectly located for exploring the area — the pretty artist town of Kirkcudbright is nearby, the Solway Beaches are a short drive (Mossyard is a personal favourite), and the South West Coastal 300 road trip runs straight past the door.

Dumfries and Galloway is one of Scotland’s most under-visited regions, and a dog-friendly luxury lodge is a lovely way in.

Find out more: South West Coastal 300 and book: gatehouseluxurylodges.co.uk

Planning a dog-friendly trip to Scotland

A few things worth knowing before you book.

Scotland’s outdoor access rights are generous. Under the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome on most land, including hills, forests and beaches. Always keep dogs on a lead near livestock (especially in lambing season, March to July) and in designated nature reserves.

Most dog-friendly hotels charge a small fee. Typically £10 to £25 per dog per night. Confirm when booking. Most cap the number of dogs at one or two.

Some dog-friendly hotels only allow dogs in specific rooms. Always check which rooms are dog-friendly before booking — it may not be all of them. The Torridon (the Stables and Chestnut Cottage), for example, is specific.

Scotland has incredible dog-friendly beaches. Tentsmuir in Fife, the Sands of Morar on the west coast, the beaches of Harris, and Gairloch’s stretch of sand in Wester Ross are all excellent. Some beaches have seasonal restrictions — check before you go.

Pack for weather. A towel for the dog, a spare one for the car, and a warm blanket for evenings in front of the wood-burner. Scotland’s weather does what it wants and a wet dog is part of the deal.

Dog-friendly places to eat. Most Scottish country pubs are dog-friendly (often with a water bowl by the door), and many urban cafes in Edinburgh, Glasgow and the bigger towns welcome dogs too. Ask before you sit down.

Read my complete guide to dog friendly Scotland

Dog-friendly accommodation in Scotland — FAQs

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More places to stay in Scotland

• My guide to the best cabins in Scotland.
• My round-up of the best lodges with hot tubs in Scotland.
• Scotland stays with outdoor baths under the stars.
• My round-up of romantic getaways in Scotland.
• All my recommended places to stay in Scotland.
• My dog-friendly Fife guide.

Love, from Scotland x