So I finally got to tick off “the Scottish Highlands” from my Bucket List earlier on this year… This has always been somewhere that I have wanted to take Cooper – even from the day that I first brought him home as an 8 week old puppy. We had lots of missed opportunities to go over the years, particularly when COVID-19 hit and lockdowns meant that travelling to Scotland from South Wales was completely forbidden. But, roll forward to May 2023 and we finally made the week long trip!
We started off the 604 mile journey from the Rhondda Valleys and decided to drive through the night to avoid traffic. We made sure to make regular stops in the service stations, more so for Cooper to have plenty of toilet breaks and an opportunity to stretch his legs, before heading to The Isle of Skye for our first destination. We managed to squeeze in a quick whistle stop tour as we had just 24 hours to see all of the sights! We had a brief stop off at Eilean Donan Castle (just remember that dogs are not allowed in the castle itself), had some refreshments, enjoyed the sights before we continued on to Skye.
Isle of Skye
We stayed at The Uig Hotel for 1 night, which was dog friendly, of course. Be sure to book your evening meal here too – there aren’t many places nearby to eat and the food was absolutely divine (bonus, the restaurant was dog friendly too). The hotel offered free parking, the rooms were absolutely spotless and the service from the staff was exceptional. From the hotel, we were able to visit the famous Fairy Pools, The Fairy Glenn and Rha Falls. We then decided to make our way back down to Glencoe, with a few stop offs along the way. We took the scenic route through the Quiraing, stopped at Kilt Rock (although we couldn’t see Mealt Falls as the car park was currently under refurb) and we finally went on to hike The Old Man of Storr.
Glencoe
After our flying visit at Skye, we headed South for Fort William and Glencoe. Here, we stayed at the Invercoe Highland Holidays where we glamped for 4 nights. The campsite was great – with clean toilet and shower facilities, utility wash areas and plenty of bins. Parking was free and directly next to our Glamping Pod. The owners also lived on site so were easily available/accessible if needed. The campsite was overlooking the beautiful Loch Leven. It was also just down the road from The Glencoe Gathering bar and restaurant, and 10 minute drive from The Claichaig Inn, both of which were also dog friendly. There is also a Co-Op a short drive away for any groceries or last minute items that you may need to pick up.
Glencoe was our main base and we were able to travel from here to Fort William – where we were able to bag our first Munro, Ben Nevis (1345m). We also used Glencoe as our base to travel to Glenfinnan Viaduct (one for all of you Harry Potter fans), Silver Sands of Morar, Loch Ness, Steall Falls, Glencoe Lochan, The Hidden Valley and our second Munro, Stob Coire Sgreamhach (1072m). Glencoe is a quiet town around a 30 minute drive to Fort William. We were happy to drive the extra distance to some of these locations as we wanted to enjoy the peace and quiet of Glencoe. But I also appreciate that this might not be for everyone – and so Fort William might be more suitable for those of you who want to stay within a busier town. Fort William had more “hustle and bustle” feel of a busy town, with plenty of cafes and shops just on your doorstep.
Loch Lomond
Unfortunately, we only had one night at Loch Lomond! We stayed in Callander at The Waverley Hotel. Of course, this was another dog friendly hotel, which also sported a dog friendly bar/restaurant. There was free parking available on the street, directly outside the hotel. Check in was easy enough at the bar and the staff were friendly and helpful. The bar was also a great place to go if you wanted to catch some sports – like the Dog Daddy – who desperately needed to see the football that evening! It certainly was the perfect place to end our trip, with great food and a pint in hand! The hotel was also a 15 minute drive to Ben A’an, nearby Loch Lomond and just a 50 minute drive to Glasgow!
We absolutely loved our short, but sweet trip to the Highlands and we hope to re-visit again in the not-so near future!
We will follow up with another blog post highlighting our Scotland Day-by-Day Itinerary. But for now, I think it’s best to leave you with a few of our top tips:
- We went mid-May and thankfully we were lucky to miss most of the “midge” season. I have heard that midges can be rife in Scotland, so be prepared and pack all appropriate essentials.
- Pack a tick remover for your dog. The ticks love the Scottish highlands!
- Remember all of your essential items for big hikes – food, water, first aid kit, clothing for all weather (including waterproofs), appropriate footwear, maps (phones don’t always have signal!). And be sure to tell someone where you are going and when you expect to be back.
- Research dog friendly places, particularly in the more remote areas. Some restaurants were dog friendly, but needed reservations as they become so busy! So be sure to research where you plan to stay and eat.
- Look up your nearest vets and any emergency numbers you might need.
** Note – none of these hotels are ads/affiliated links. We stayed there ourselves and are recommending purely based on our good experiences there. **
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