Highlands, Scotland
Overview
Location & Accommodation
In the winter of 2022, during our road trip through Scotland, we spent three nights at this flat tucked away in the Highlands, not far from Loch Ness and Cairngorms National Park. The accommodation was pretty simple but offered everything we needed: two bedrooms, a functional kitchen, and a comfy living area to relax in after a long day of exploring. The flat is located above another building, so you do have to take an outdoor staircase to access it, something to keep in mind if you're carrying a lot of gear or traveling with someone less mobile. It’s a quiet, remote spot surrounded by beautiful countryside, with horses grazing nearby and wide open views all around. There’s not much in walking distance, so having a car is essential here. But if you’re looking to disconnect a little and enjoy a peaceful base while exploring the Highlands, this place definitely did the job for us.
Overall experience
We stayed at this Airbnb just after New Year's, and it was such a lovely end to our Scotland trip. The house is located at the edge of Cairngorms National Park, making it a great spot to explore the park and beautiful nature all around. The home sits on a large open property, and is actually a part of a Highland Victorian Hunting lodge. We kept the dogs on leash out of respect for the resident horses and other animals wandering the grounds, but they still enjoyed sniffing around and taking in all the new scents. The owners do require dogs to be leashed at their property.
Inside, the cabin has a cozy living room with a fireplace and kitchen. There are two bedrooms: one with a double bed and the other with two singles, plus a decently sized bathroom (though we did have a day without hot water). The furnishings are simple and a little old-fashioned, but they suited the rustic, relaxed vibe of the place, and it had everything we needed.
Rating
Accommodation details
Indoor space
The flat has a nice layout. A long hallway with the living room and kitchen at the end. The kitchen is fully equipped and the living rooms is spacious enough for four people and three dogs. In the hallway you'll find the two bedrooms and the bathroom.
Outdoor space
The views from the flat are amazing! Looking over the fields with the mountains in the background. You have your own parking spot in front of the flat and there's plenty of space to walk the dogs around the flat. We didn't wander off the property as there's a road that runs along it, so we did take the car any time we wanted to go somewhere. As mentioned before, you will find animals on the property (horses and chickens).​​
Dog friendly amenities
Facilities & area
We really enjoyed our stay here. The flat had everything we needed and even with the cold temperatures outside it stayed warm and cozy inside. The beds were comfy, the kitchen had everything we needed to cook and the dogs had more than enough space to relax. We did all of our groceries for the days we'd be here right before checking in, so we didn't need to go to the supermarket during our stay. As there's only a town 40 minutes away with several supermarkets. There's lots of great things to do in the area, such as hiking in the park or visiting Loch Ness!​​​
Pet policy
We paid an additional 10 pounds per dog during our stay. The owners do require you to keep your dog on a leash on their property due to free reining chickens. On top of that dog poop should be cleaned up and properly disposed of. There weren't any specific supplies for the dogs (we brought them ourselves), but the dogs had no issues relaxing in this place!
For more information about the AirBnB, please visit here.
Scotland guide
Planning a trip to Scotland with your dog? My Scotland guide is full of tips and recommendations from our own adventure, including scenic walks and local spots worth checking out. Whether you’re exploring the Highlands, wandering along the coast, or stopping in charming villages, this guide will help you make the most of your trip with your dog.