Scotland eased its coronavirus restrictions and opened its borders to visitors from 26th April. Holidaymakers from England, Wales and other parts of the United Kingdom can now stay overnight in Scotland. Some limits remain in place, such as the requirement for only one household per property. But with many holiday properties, attractions, activities and restaurants open to visitors for the first time in months, now is a good time to share our tips on where to stay and what to do in Scotland on holiday with a dog.
Home to Europe’s “Last Great Wilderness”, regal evergreens, rugged peaks, rippling lochs and sprawling beaches coated in powder-fine sands, Scotland is a truly unique destination for a well-deserved dog-friendly staycation.
Here you can pad along well-worn trails and little-known tracks with your canine companion and spend countless hours exploring the country’s time-old monuments, beautiful national parks and dog-friendly towns and villages lined with shops, restaurants and attractions. With the promise of space, scenery and fresh air, Scotland is the perfect post-lockdown getaway for you and your dog.
Comprising the best dog-friendly attractions, activities, beaches and restaurants and more, here is our dog-friendly guide to holidays in Scotland.
Dog-Friendly Destinations in Scotland
Due to its sheer size, there is something for everyone in Scotland. With a huge variety of spaces and places, landscapes and terrains, you can enjoy any type of holiday imaginable, from town breaks with your pup to wilderness hideaways to dreamy coastal escapes. Split into more or less 25 regions across the country, you can decide what type of activities and adventures call to you the most, and then decide where you and your canine companion want to go from there.
For example, if you are looking for a rugged coastline and beautiful beaches, then Argyll and the Isles, Dumfries and Galloway, Orkney and the Outer Hebrides may appeal to you most. For hiking, the Highlands offer incredible mountains while Fife affords mile upon mile of coastal paths. If you want to settle into local life, Ayrshire and Arran offer tranquil vibes, while the Scottish borders are great for history-lovers thanks to the plethora of castles. For nature trails (especially popular amongst energetic pups) and stunning scenery, Perthshire and Stirlingshire are also firm favourites.
Dog-Friendly Attractions in Scotland
Woods and Wilderness
Whether you are looking for natural beauty or man-made wonders, Scotland has plenty to offer both two and four-legged visitors. Particularly exciting for keen-nosed hounds are the country’s enormous areas of woodland, home to the largest forests in the UK. From Rothiemurchus and Abernethy Forest in the Cairngorms National Park to Galloway Forest Park (the UK’s largest forest) in Dumfries and Galloway to Perthshire’s ‘Big Tree Country’, you will be simply over-awed by the scale and beauty of these leafy expanses.
That said, if you prefer your adventures a little more rugged, you can hike up Scotland’s highest peak at Ben Nevis in the Grampian Mountains or even explore Scotland’s North Western Highlands. Comprising Knoydart, Wester Ross and Sutherland and Assynt, this area is considered Europe’s “Last Great Wilderness” and calls to experienced hikers looking to burn through the miles amongst some of the most incredible scenery imaginable.
History and Culture
To paw through some of the country’s top UNESCO sites together, we particularly recommend visiting the island of St Kilda and walking in the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire Biosphere. To learn more about the country’s rich and varied history, the choices are endless. In Fortingall, Perthshire, you can take a trip to the Fortingall Yew, which at an estimated 3,000 years old this tree is believed to be one of the oldest living things in the world.
In the Outer Hebrides, you can see the world-famous Calanais Standing Stones, one of the most important stone circles in Europe from 2,900BC. For slightly more recent history, the dog-friendly Dunnottar Castle in Aberdeenshire, Culzean Castle and Country Park in Ayrshire and Tantallon Castle in East Lothian all provide equally dramatic settings and welcome dogs on leads.
Attractions and Activities
If you’re ready to switch up your adventures, The Helix is a dog-friendly ecopark in Falkirk, offering lots of activities such as cycling, walking, and more. It is also the home of the famous Kelpies, two 30-metre-high horse heads, which will certainly pique the interest of your pups. Another day, you should travel back in time at Inveraray Jail in Argyll and Bute, one of the best-preserved jails and courtrooms in the world where, in the Victorian times, dogs were once locked up! For something sedate, why not enjoy a leisurely boat cruise together to Inchcolm Abbey on the Maid of the Forth, or around Loch Katrine on the Sir Walter Scott Steamship? Or, for some fairy-tale inspiration, visit the Isle of Skye’s Fair Pools or Grey Mare’s Tail waterfall in Moffat.
City Breaks
Glasgow and Edinburgh are both surprisingly dog-friendly. They may be a lot busier than other Scottish destinations, but are well worth a visit if your dog can handle lots of people and traffic. In Edinburgh you can walk the Royal Mile in the shadow of the famous castle, visit the statue of Greyfriars Bobby skye terrier dog in the historic centre, dine in dog-friendly café and then hike to the top of Arthur’s Seat for dramatic views of the city. While Glasgow is a great city to walk around and look at the stunning architecture, from the art nouveau splendour of Charles Rennie Mackintosh designed buildings to Zaha Hadid’s ultra-modern Riverside Museum. Here you can revel in the city’s industrial past with a walk along the Clyde or stroll with your dog through leafy Kelvingrove Park.
Dog-Friendly Beaches and Lochs in Scotland
If your dog loves days by the water just as much as you do, then Scotland will call to you both. With over 6,000 miles of mainland coastline, 900 islands and 30,000 freshwater lochs, few other places in Europe (or the world) can compare. Especially appealing for dog-friendly holidays in Scotland, you can take your pick of waterside destinations for leisurely days by the shore or active hours tracing the water on foot and paw. While there are many coastal routes, the Fife Coastal Trail is acknowledged for its beautiful beaches, as are the Arran Coastal Way, John Muir Way and Moray Coast Trail, among many more. Also, Dunnet Head is a great coastal destination to visit with your pooch, marking the most northerly point of both mainland Scotland and Great Britain.
For more laidback days with senior dogs or young pups who are eager for a day off, Scotland’s beaches are hard to resist. Top picks for dogs include Balnakiel Beach in Durness, Mellon Udrigle Beach in Wester Ross, Cramond Beach near Edinburgh, Westport Beach in Argyll and Dornoch Beach in Sutherland. Meanwhile, for loch-side adventures, no staycation in Scotland would be complete without a trip to Loch Lomond, the largest lake in Scotland, or the great Loch Ness, famous for its alleged resident, the Loch Ness Monster.
Dog-Friendly Pubs and Restaurants in Scotland
One of the best bits about going on holiday with your dog is getting to try local food in great restaurants (without worrying about the washing up!). While your four-pawed chum will surely be just as interested in these new culinary delights as you, it’s not always easy to find great eateries and pubs that allow dogs. So, with this in mind, we’ve done the hard work for you and found some of the most highly recommend dog-friendly restaurants, pubs and cafés for you to visit with your loyal friend during your holiday in Scotland.
If you’re looking for inspiration, some of our favourite dog-friendly spots are:
- The Stables in Glasgow, voted as Scotland’s most dog-friendly pub
- The Ship Inn in Fife, for its waterside location and 100% Scottish meat and fish
- The Sorn Inn in Sorn, for its welcoming dog-friendly bar and restaurant
- The Real Food Café in Tyndrum, for its famous fish and chips
- Lochview Restaurant at Achray House in St Fillans, for its beautiful views over the water
- The Cranachan and Crowdie in Edinburgh, for its Scottish whiskies and Cranachan dessert
- The Rockpool Café in Buckie, for its takeaway ‘Cullen skink’ fish soup
- Brewdog Dundee, for its craft beers and dog-friendly birthday parties (yes, that’s right)
That said, should you be after some goodies to take back to your dog-friendly self-catering accommodation in Scotland, there are some must-tries for your hamper. While sadly your dog can’t try all of them, we’re sure they’ll be happy to accept a compromise of a tasty treat of their own to chew on instead! Love them or loathe them, some culinary highlights include haggis (best served with neeps and tatties), Scottish salmon, Scottish tablet (a delicious dessert made with sugar, condensed milk, butter and other naughtiness), Scottish shortbread and Scotch pies (which can be served hot or cold).
Book Your Trip to Scotland
Take a sensational staycation in Scotland this year. From high mountains and woodland walks, to quiet beaches and lochside rambles, Scotland is the perfect destination for a dog-friendly holiday. Book your stay in self-catering holiday accommodation and enjoy all that this spectacular country has to offer.
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