Dog Friendly places to visit
Dogs Welcome – After all, it’s their holiday too!
There is a lot of difference between dogs allowed and dogs welcome. Here at Dolphin View Cottage we really believe in welcoming dogs. We do not have restrictions on dog breeds but do ask in consideration to our neighbours that they are friendly, well behaved and will not be left alone in the cottage. We are flexible on numbers but please bear in mind the cottage is a one-bedroom cottage with a normal sized living room – You are not going to fit 4 Newfoundlands in there and be comfortable! (No prejudice against Newfies, just being practical).
There is no additional charge to bring your canine best friend(s).
I provide dog bowls, dog towels, a roll of poo bags, dog treats, a torch and dog toys – the toys are yours to take away. The back garden is enclosed by a high fence between 5 and 6 foot high, the gate to the back garden is of the same height. Also provided for your use whilst staying are dog tags with my mobile number on just in case your own dog tags have your home telephone number on. I also have hard plastic beds and a large dog cage that can be taken over to the cottage if you want to travel light and your dogs are used to these items. A few house rules
Dog walks to get you started
Ardersier & immediate area
I recommend turning right from the cottage then following the shore path towards Fort George, this is a nice level path with lots of poo bins for the first part of the walk. Once you get past the houses, you reach Ardersier Common, dogs can be let
Nairn (7 miles away)
East of Ardersier lies the Victorian seaside town of Nairn, a favourite holiday destination of Charlie Chaplin. The harbour here was built by Thomas Telford. Nairn has miles of sandy beaches that are
For birdwatchers, park at the Maggot near the harbour, walk
Brodie Castle (14 miles) is well worth a visit, especially in Spring when all the daffodils are in bloom. Lovely gardens and loch walk. http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/Brodie-Castle/ Dogs allowed in grounds
Culloden Battlefield (9 miles away) the
Inverness – about 7 miles away
A lovely city, nice walks round Ness Islands – a series of islands in the River Ness liked by suspension bridges, poo bins at regular intervals, you can sometimes see seals this far up the river, but usually dippers, mergansers, gulls, kingfishers. Have seen otters here too. Another walk is
Reelig Forest, Moniack near Beauly Grid Ref NH558431 Lovely circular walk, Reelig Glen is a narrow, steep-sided gorge, cut by the rushing waters of the Moniack. The woodland is a mixture of old conifer and broadleaved trees, but its real glory is a stand of Douglas Fir trees that are well over 100 years old. They soar above you to a height of about 170 feet (50 metres).
One old giant measured over 200 feet (64 metres) in the year 2000 – the tallest tree in Britain at the time. After a local competition, it was named Dughall Mor – Big Douglas! The main walk is quite short, but there are further extensions from the car park to upper Reelig. The Old North Inn, Kirkhill, Inverness, Inverness-shire IV5 7PX sits in the small village of Inchmore on the A862 on the way back to Inverness. Your dog is welcome to accompany you into the bar area. A handy stop for lunch after a walk, Also, nearer Inverness is the Clachnaharry Inn which is very
A tour of Loch Ness
Visit the world famous Loch Ness- take a cruise with Jacobite Cruises – 5 star Scottish Tourist Board visitor attraction. There is a choice of 7 different tours ranging from 1 hour to 6.5 hours,
Drumnadrochit itself is a lovely village with a pleasant village green and a really dog-friendly, real ale bar at the Benleva Hotel which is also home to the Loch Ness Brewery. http://www.benleva.co.uk Note this is worth doing on a Sunday as the Benleva does a roast Sunday lunch usually pork or beef. (get there early 12:30 ish). Usually as many dogs as humans in this bar/hotel.
Onwards to Fort Augustus where the A82 crosses the Caledonian Canal via a swing bridge. Stop and watch the boats going up and down the flight of five locks. Visit the Caledonian Canal Visitor Centre showcasing the history of Thomas Telford’s Caledonian Canal – free admission. Dogs not allowed but a small exhibition so one of you could wait outside while the other one takes a look.
Return either the way you came or by the scenic south shore route via the spectacular 100ft waterfall of the Falls of Foyers – good area for red squirrels. Dores Inn and the Whitebridge Hotel are both
Black Isle
At Fortrose make sure you go to Chanonry Point for a
Glen Affric
Favourite photographers’ excursion especially for the Autumn colours. Justly renowned for the glory of its woodlands, this
Note: All beaches are
Dog walks to get you started Ardersier & immediate area
Nairn (7 miles away) For birdwatchers, park at the Maggot near the harbour, walk Brodie Castle (14 miles) is well worth a visit, especially in Spring when all the daffodils are in bloom. Lovely gardens and loch walk. http://www.nts.org.uk/Property/Brodie-Castle/ Dogs allowed in grounds Culloden Battlefield (9 miles away) the Inverness – about 7 miles away Reelig Forest, Moniack near Beauly Grid Ref NH558431 Lovely circular walk, Reelig Glen is a narrow, steep-sided gorge, cut by the rushing waters of the Moniack. The woodland is a mixture of old conifer and broadleaved trees, but its real glory is a stand of Douglas Fir trees that are well over 100 years old. They soar above you to a height of about 170 feet (50 metres). One old giant measured over 200 feet (64 metres) in the year 2000 – the tallest tree in Britain at the time. After a local competition, it was named Dughall Mor – Big Douglas! The main walk is quite short, but there are further extensions from the car park to upper Reelig. The Old North Inn, Kirkhill, Inverness, Inverness-shire IV5 7PX sits in the small village of Inchmore on the A862 on the way back to Inverness. Your dog is welcome to accompany you into the bar area. A handy stop for lunch after a walk, Also, nearer Inverness is the Clachnaharry Inn which is very A tour of Loch NessVisit the world famous Loch Ness- take a cruise with Jacobite Cruises – 5 star Scottish Tourist Board visitor attraction. There is a choice of 7 different tours ranging from 1 hour to 6.5 hours, Black IsleAt Fortrose make sure you go to Chanonry Point for a Glen Affric Note: All beaches are East
North
South
Around Loch Ness
Black Isle
West
Inverness.
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Good sources of information for dog walks, dog-friendly pubs and attractions visit Rover Recommended http://www.roverrecommended.com. The Facebook page Dog-Friendly Scotland and Dugs n Pubs a dog-friendly guide to places to Scotland http://www.dugsnpubs.com/
For a list of golf courses that allow dogs to accompany their owners please visit the GOLF page
To check availability at Dolphin View Cottage please click here: availability