Dog Friendly Travels Along the NC500!
@chester_the_sausage_ paddleboarding with WhatSUP Ullapool
If you’re looking to take your four-legged friend on holiday with you, the North Coast 500 is the perfect destination. With woodland walks, sandy beaches, seaside villages and plenty of wild countryside to roam, the North Highlands offers the ideal break for you and your canine companion.
While you’re driving the NC500, you’ll find plenty of accommodation providers of all sizes and styles – from hotels and self-catered properties, to glamping pods, campsites and B&Bs. Factor in plenty of stops along the route; from cafes, pubs and restaurants which welcome visitors of the four-legged variety, to visitor attractions for you to enjoy along with your dog, you’ll receive a warm welcome in the North Highlands. Check out our interactive map and search for ‘dog friendly’ options! (dog itinerary coming soon)
In this blog post, we’ll share our tips for taking your dog along the North Coast 500. Much of our advice relates to our top tips article, so do head across to our blog and read up on our top tips if you haven’t already.
1. Planning your trip
Planning is vital regardless of the time of year that you’re planning to travel the North Coast 500 – though when you have your canine companion with you, it’s particularly important. Make sure to book your accommodation in advance; the North Coast 500 is a popular destination all year round, so reserve ahead to make sure your whole party is catered for. Most accommodation providers want to know in advance, if you are bringing your four legged friend with you – some require a small fee for your dog.
As you check into your accommodation, you may find you are staying on a croft – particularly if you have opted for a self-catering property or a B&B. A croft is a small farm, often rented by a tenant farmer, so keep an eye out to make sure there are no farm animals nearby before letting your dog out.
2. Keep your dog under control
While you’re driving the North Coast 500, you may find that you’re sharing the roads not only with other cars, lorries, campervans and cyclists – but with sheep and deer, too! As roads narrow and wind into single tracks, particularly along the west coast of the NC500, you’ll drive through crofting land and wild landscapes. Be alert for wild animals roaming, as well as farm animals sharing the roads. When stopped for a break, make sure that your dog doesn’t scare other animals – and always follow the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.
3. The Scottish Outdoor Access Code
Read up on the Scottish Outdoor Access Code before you travel, to find out about your rights and responsibilities as you travel.
- Never let your dog worry or attack farm animals
- Don’t take your dog into fields where there are lambs, calves or other young farm animals
- If you go into a field of farm animals, keep your dog(s) on a short lead or close at heel, and keep as far as possible from the animals
- If cattle react aggressively and move towards you, keep calm, let the dog go and take the shortest, safest route out of the field
Whether you’re hill walking or just taking the dog for a quick stroll, we all share a responsibility to respect each other’s activities and interests in the outdoors. Access rights apply to people walking dogs, as long as the dogs are kept under control. For more advice, check out The Scottish Outdoor Access Code’s guide to dog walking.
4. In your vehicle
Whether you’re taking your own car, renting a vehicle, or even travelling via campervan – you’ll want to make sure to factor in plenty of breaks along the route. Driving distances in Scotland can be deceptive, and travelling often takes longer than the journey may appear on a map! When letting your dog out for toilet breaks, make sure to keep him on a lead, particularly if farm animals are nearby.
5. Dog travel kit
Holiday with your dog can be easy, provided you have packed all the essentials! As you explore the North Coast 500 on foot, it’s important that you carry a wee dog essential travel kit based on your dog’s needs.
- Buy a tick remover – a must if you are uncertain of removing those pesky wee insects! (Tick treatment also recommended). Ticks are very common in the UK, especially in heather and long grass and it’s important that you remove the whole insect from your dog (or yourself) to avoid the spread of limes disease. More advice here.
- Poo Bags – essential. Pick up and remove your dog’s faeces and dispose in dispose where appropriate (DO NOT leave the bags behind or hang them from trees!)
- Water bowl (and water) & snacks – some walks are long and exposed so they can be exhausting in hot weather.
Photos: Image 1&2: Duncansby Stacks, Whaligoe Steps by @Morv_21 and Image 3&4: Dunnet Head, Stoer Light House by The Wee White Dog
| More Recommendations around the NC500 |
Forests rich for exploring
Photo: Dog Falls by The Wee White Dog
One of the reasons why the North Coast 500 is such a popular choice for travellers with dogs is the myriad of great walks along the route.
If you own a Golden Retriever, head off the beaten path to Tomich, near Glen Affric near the start and end of the NC500 route – this is where the breed was created! While you’re in the area, why not visit Dog Falls? You’ll find three circular trails to choose from, each one clearly signposted. For a shorter walk, try the white viewpoint trail, taking in views of the Munros, Tom a Choinich and Toll Creagach.
These trails are managed by Forestry Commission Scotland, who welcome dogs into the woods – these forests really are the perfect place to walk and unwind! Make sure to follow The Scottish Outdoor Access Code, take full responsibility for your dog’s behaviour, and leave the forest as you find it, disposing of all rubbish and waste.
Walks
Looking for more inspiration for a dog-friendly walk near Inverness? The RSPB Scotland Fairy Glen Nature Reserve near Rosemarkie gets our vote! Follow winding footpaths and glittering streams past waterfalls on this enchanting walk – we’re sure your pooch will love it as much as you do.
Further along the east coast, Big Burn Golspie is a real hidden gem – this spectacular short walk takes you up a gorge criss-crossed by footbridges and ending in a waterfall. Alternatively, drive west to Corrieshalloch Gorge to discover the box-canyon that was cut as far back as 2.6million years ago by Ice Age glacial meltwater.
Heading further north? Try Sibster Forest in Caithness, taking in two gentle trails through young woodland and meadows.
Photo: Keiss Castle by The Wee White Dog
Beaches
Most beaches along the North Coast 500 allow dogs, though make sure to research if you have a specific spot in mind. Achmelvich Beach, for example, does not permit dogs during the peak summer season, and neither of the nearby camping and caravan sites allow dogs either. Much of the surrounding land is owned by crofting communities, and this measure is to help keep the sheep safe.
Before you travel, read up on the Highland Dog Friendly Beach Guide to make sure that the sandy spot you have in mind can be enjoyed by your four-legged friend, too. Some of our top recommendations for dog-friendly beaches are Scourie Bay on the north-west coast, Sinclair’s Bay in Caithness, Shandwick Bay on the east coast, and Dornoch Beach.
Photos: Image 1&2: Balnakeil Beach and Beinne Eighe Nature Reserve by The Wee White Dog and Image 3&4: Reiss Beach and the caves at Strathy Point by @Morv_21
Camping with your dog
Camping is a wonderful way to experience the wilds of the North Highlands. If you’re looking for a little more luxury, why not opt for a glamping experience, or a camping site with full facilities for you to enjoy? Most campsites along the NC500 allow dogs, although please note that the Shore Caravan Park in Achmelvich does not, due to surrounding croft land.
Our top dog friendly glamping sites:
- NC500 Pods, Achmelvich
- West Coast Hideaways, Drumbeg
- Delny Glamping, Invergordon
- Black Isle Pods, Munlochy
- Cawdor Hideways, Cawdor
For more tips and information, check out our Happy Campers itinerary.
Activities with your dog
Walking, exploring and days at the beach aren’t the only activities for your canine companion to enjoy in the North Highlands!
Your dog is an important member of the family, so why not bring them along for a day on the water? Liquid Footprints, based in Dingwall, specialises in outdoor experiences such as canoeing, sea kayaking, gorge scrambling and mountain guiding. Over on the other side of the Highlands, you and your four-legged friend can take to the water by paddleboard with WhatSUP Ullapool or explore the coves and bays of the north-west by canoe with Kayak Summer Isles.
All the activity providers we work for have plenty of experience in creating memorable adventure trips for the whole family, and that includes your dog – you’ll even find specially-designed dog buoyancy aids available on certain trips.
If you’d prefer to venture out onto the water in a slightly larger boat and cruise the waters of the west coast on a wildlife tour, West Highland Marine offer dog friendly boat trips from Inverewe Gardens. What Jamie doesn’t know about the seabirds and sealife around the Inverewe Estate Peninsula isn’t worth knowing! Encounter white tailed sea eagles, herons, seals, otters, sea stars, crabs, lobsters and more!
If you ask us, that all sounds PAWesome! 🐾
Photo: Liquid Footprints
Dog friendly Eateries
You’ll find plenty of dog-friendly cafes, restaurants and takeaways along the North Coast 500. We get lots of dogs coming along for holidays with roadtrippers doing the NC500 and we love seeing your pictures of your four-legged friends!
The Storehouse at Foulis, overlooking the Cromarty Firth, is renowned for serving delicious, fresh, locally-sourced food. Make yourself comfortable in the outside seating area, where you can enjoy your meal while looking out towards the water – you might even spot grey seals resting on the shore. Tagliotello is the ideal place to stop and pick up a gourmet bite to eat on the go when you’re passing through Inverness. For a more formal sit down meal, book a table at The Torridon – you won’t be disappointed.
Some of our top dog friendly food & drink picks:
- Forse Of Nature, Latheron
- John O’Groats Brewery
- Ulbster Arms, Halkirk
- Lochinver Larder, Lochinver
- The Gorse Bush, Kinlochewe
- Badachro Inn, Gairloch
- The Torridon, Torridon
- West Coast Deli, Ullapool (grab a gourmet graze box to go and eat it on the shores of Loch Broom)
Visit our interactive map for even more options!
Dog friendly accommodation
From cosy guesthouses with individual boutique style rooms and sea-views on the west coast to majestic country houses with spectacular mountain views in the north, the North Coast 500 has no shortage of accommodations ready to welcome you and your canine.
Some of our top dog friendly accommodation options:
- Bungalow 500, Ullapool
- Coul House Hotel, Contin,
- Mackay’s Hotel, Wick
- Heathmount Hotel, Inverness
- Langridge Highland Home, Little Loch Broom
- Thrumster House, Wick
- Forss House Hotel, Forss
- Loch Broom Chalets, Ullapool
Have you taken your four-legged friend on holiday with you along the North Coast 500? If you have any tips or photos you’d like to share, please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you!
Photo: Lairg area by @Morv_21
