Eight of the top dog-friendly pubs with rooms in Scotland, as chosen by the Good Hotel Guide

Ancient inns and coastal escapes, sea views and woodland walks – Scotland’s inns provide the kind of setting and experience that four-legged friends enjoy as much as their owners.

Spend the days roaming the countryside and your evenings sampling local whiskies, gins, and regional produce. Savour every moment and let Fido join in the fun, as the Good Hotel Guide shares some of their top dog-friendly pub with rooms in Scotland.

The Inn at Loch Tummel, Pitlochry

With panoramic views over the loch, the eponymous Inn at Loch Tummel is surrounded by beautiful countryside.  The inn has kept passers-by fed and watered since the early 1800s and is ideally placed for hiking in the forests and spotting the local wildlife. All that outdoor activity makes returning to eat even more of a treat, especially as much is grown in their own herb garden. Rooms and suites are stylish and snug. They charge £10 per dog, with a maximum of two dogs per room and will readily recommend excellent walking routes.

The Ship Inn, Elie

A village pub overlooking the Firth of Forth, The Ship Inn has several unique attributes, including its own beach cricket team. Each room at the coastal inn has its own style. For example, the dog-friendly Sir Walter Raleigh room sits on the ground floor and has a clear view of the sand. Following a good game of fetch on the beach, dogs can join owners in the bar, and for those staying the night, water, treats, and beds are provided.

The Meikleour Arms, Meikleour

A former fishing lodge on the Meikleour estate, the Meikleour Arms has been in the same Franco-Scottish family since 1362. Surrounded by woodland and on the banks of the River Tay, it’s a blissful destination that turns everything into a ritualistic experience. The dog-friendly pub and oak-beamed restaurant features a cheerful wood-burner. Food is made with produce from the estate’s fields, forest and kitchen garden, and drink is a choice of real ale, artisanal gin, one of more than 50 malts or the house Claret. Dogs are welcomed in the ground-floor and cottage bedrooms as well as in the pub area.

The Loch Ness Inn, Drumnadrochit

Perfectly located for passing hikers and cyclists on the Great Glen Way, this 160-year-old coaching inn offers an unpretentious place to rest, refuel and mingle with the locals. Scottish whiskies and hand-pulled ciders abound while classic pub dishes use produce from nearby waters, farms and estates. Some of the rooms overlook the River Coiltie, and well-behaved dogs are allowed in one of the bedrooms as well as in the bar area.

The Kirkstyle Inn & Rooms, Dunning

Log fires and fiddle players set the scene at this welcoming village inn, offering a sense of heritage as well as a warm welcome. There’s a true sense of comfort created by the well-worn leather armchairs, historic building and eclectic bits and pieces peppered throughout. Time tested hospitality invites you to sample the pub’s own gin and ‘Risky Kelt’ beer, while a day of walking will mean you delight in the beef-and-ale pie or Tamworth pork chops on the weekly menu. Once your appetite is sated, rest your head in one of the rooms in a nearby separate building. Dogs are welcome in all areas, just don’t let them on the beds!

The Bonnie Badger, Gullane

A Michelin-starred gastropub-with-rooms, Bonnie Badger is a coastal inn turned luxury bijoux hotel. Blending Scottish and Scandi style, the menu has really earned it a stellar reputation. Using local ingredients, they serve up a creative and enticing menu. Everything meets five-star standards, which is probably why it’s been a runaway success since it opened in 2018. Dogs are welcome to join in the fun, stay overnight in some rooms – despite its style, it’s unpretentious and superbly inviting.

The Colintraive Hotel, Colintraive

Offering peace, tranquillity and local food on the edge of Loch Lomond, Colintraive Hotel is located within a national park.  Spend the days walking, and the evenings sitting by log fires. Dogs will love the scenic strolls as well as spotting wildlife, from red squirrels and eagles to basking sharks. Return to the hotel bar for a cool drink before dinner, for a chance to relax.

Applecross Inn, Applecross

On a remote north-west Highlands peninsula, the Applecross Inn looks out across the Inner Sound of Raasay to the Isle of Skye. It has seven guest bedrooms to stay in, ranging from twins to a large family room, and all with sea views. The restaurant celebrates Scottish food, wine, whisky, and gin, all of which are as local as possible. Recommendations include Orkney rollmop herring and haggis flambéed in Drambuie, Applecross Bay prawns and Scottish chicken supreme. Dogs are allowed in two of the bedrooms and on lead in the bar.