Those early morning wakeups from Fido are sweetened at this traditional three-bedroom fishermen's cottage that boasts sea views from the gardens and a beach on the doorstep. Gaze out over the ocean from the picnic table with a steaming coffee and let the dogs enjoy snuffling the undergrowth and splashing in the burn while the world awakes around you.
The cottage is full of Arran charm, from the tartan armchairs to the charming puffin ornaments and mounted antlers. The entrance hall is a real plus when returning from outdoor adventures, with space to shed sandy and wet gear, and to dry off wet dogs. Get the wood burner going in the cosy lounge and warm everyone up under the exposed beams with a cuppa and maybe a sample of some tasty local baking too. The galley kitchen has everything you'll need for dinner, whether it's a quick fix in the microwave or more leisurely meal prepared on the electric oven, and there's a dishwasher for an easy clean-up. With a double bedroom on the ground floor, you can dispatch children and additional guests to their own floor upstairs, and there's plenty of space for dog beds or crates.
It's just 500 metres down to the sandy shore, and about the same to the local store, while the centre of Whiting Bay village is around a mile away. Stroll along the coast from the house to King's Cross Point, about a mile, for some beautiful views of Holy Isle and the rest of the Firth of Clyde. The more energetic visiting dogs might prefer a scamper through the forest to the spectacular Glenashdale Falls, about 3 miles away.