Are you looking forward to your dog walking holiday in Scotland? We hope you love Scotland as much as we do, the Scottish countryside is filled with potential, ripe for the walking. Sniff out some coastal dog walks, lochside trails and forest treks all across Scotland including Edinburgh, Aberdeenshire, Blairgowie, Perth, Central Scotland and beyond.
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We have compiled a long list of excellent (and rather demanding) ideas, and we have tried to include as many of these as possible in our Guide to Scotland Walkies. Our guide contains some of the best places to visit on your trip to Scotland, where rugged mountains and glens can only try to compete with the enchanting lochs and parks.
Climb a mountain
One of Scotland’s most popular summits and its most southerly Munro, the dignified and mystical Ben Lomond will be sure to draw you in with its wild beauty.
For fit dogs with equally fit humans who want to reach the peak, the best place to set off is the Rowardennan car park on the eastern shore of Loch Lomond. Follow the path behind the centre and climb through the great oak woods, following the uphill path through a clearing. Soon you will see a peek of Loch Lomond and at this point be careful as livestock graze here. As you continue and near the final ascent, bear in mind that there is a steep climb, so it may be wise to stop and rest awhile.
Once you get up to the summit, you will be rewarded with spectacular views across Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. The glacial loch is absolutely beautiful but the whole area still retains the feel of the wilderness that Scotland’s famous outlaw Rob Roy experienced many centuries ago; you will really feel that you are in proper walking country here!
In terms of difficulty, the trail up is pretty even and well-used; to get back down you can use the same path or there is another route down the Ptarmigan Ridge which makes the walk completely circular. It can be muddy and rocky in places however, so this is worth taking into consideration when choosing your route.
Best for: Very fit dogs used to climbing. It is a long walk up to the top so only take dogs who are up to it. The walks around the loch however are gentler so most dogs would be able to cope with this.
Additional information: The climb takes about five hours and rises up to the summit of 974 metres. Ben Lomond is open all year, daily and is free but the car park is £3 per car at Rowardennan car park.
Other similar walkies:
- Beinn Chabhair – not too difficult, this walk has an easy start but can get rocky at the top.
- Ben Challum – a very straightforward Munro, great for most dogs.
- Ben Vorlich – a gradual climb with lovely views over Loch Earn.
Coastal dog walks
If your pooch is hinting about a tropical holiday on a desert island but you are saving that for a significant other, head to this iconic, wild unspoilt beach in the Outer Hebrides, which is a close second. Green rounded hills dotted with pink rock, creamy white sands stretching out to sparkling aquamarine seas and golden eagles swooping down from Ben Luskentyre will make this picture-perfect beach a real treat.
Whatever time of year you go, you are greeted with the most wonderful light that is perfect for taking hundreds of photographs of your dog being amazing. Remember to take a ball and frisbee for your pooch to give him some paddling time in the shallow waters.
Best for: Dogs who love to feel the sand between their paws and the wind in their fur.
Additional information: Dogs are allowed here all year round at no cost and there is free parking.
Other similar walkies:
- The award-winning beach of Loch Morlich is heaven for dogs who love a long beach walk.
- Sandwood Bay is one of the most beautiful walks and perfect for beach-loving pooches.
- Sanna Bay gives amazing views of the Isles of Rum, Eigg, Muck and Canna and you may spot dolphins or whales in the water.
A circular dog walk
The grounds of this fairy tale castle offer a variety of easy trails, perfect for dogs of all types. You will traverse a mixture of parkland, farmland and woodland on your travels, though we suggest the two waymarked walks on the estate if you don’t know the area - they give you the most spectacular views over the surrounding countryside. The Alton Brae Trail is a lovely easy trail of 1.5 miles, though unsurfaced with some slopes and it is about an hour in length. You will be treated to a rather impressive approach to the castle through the Broad Walk of sycamores, and in the woodland areas, you will see a variety of wildlife including long-tailed tits.
Another easy trail is the interestingly named Miss Bristow’s Trail, named after the lady who designed it, with the same sort of length and terrain. Beautiful wildflowers wave in the breeze as you pass by and in the spring and summer, bluebells, foxgloves and anemones light your way. These walks are really lovely and very different from the rugged terrain of the mountains.
Best for: All sorts of canines, but especially those who like a good nose in the woods and are not up for hurting their paws on rugged mountain trails.
Additional information: Castle Fraser is open all year, daily and admission is £10.50 for adults/concessions £7.50. Car parking is £2. Dogs are allowed in the grounds of the castle but need to be kept on leads near the children’s play area and in the courtyard.
Other similar walkies:
- Crathes Castle – with 240 acres of woodland and country, this is a gorgeous dog walk.
- Fyvie Castle – straight out of an Austrian fairy tale with 49 hectares and a loch walk.
- Newhailes – more a huge house than a castle, this has lovely woodland strolls and is really dog-friendly. Dogs even have their own gallery on the house’s Facebook page!
A scenic dog walk
Though it sounds like it should be in the sunny climes of Spain, Torridon couldn’t be further away with its majestic and rugged terrain. With some of the most spectacular mountain scenery in the UK, it is an ancient and mountainous wilderness. There are five of the National Trust for Scotland’s Munros here, so you will be spoiled for choice – two of which are Beinn Alligin which stands at 3,230ft and Liathach which peaks at 3,456ft.
A paradise for climbers and hikers, you may spot a red deer on the misty hillsides in the morning or the iconic Highland cattle on the estate farm, though be careful to keep dogs under control and on a lead around livestock. If your canine has really decided that mountain life is not for them, the upper shores of Loch Torridon are the perfect place to stop and have a rest or share a light picnic with your pooch – the lower level walks give you a great view of the Highlands. Try the Two Corries which take you into an amazing mountain pass between Liathach, Beinn Alligin, Beinn Dearg and Beinn Eighe.
"A paradise for climbers and hikers, you may spot a red deer on the misty hillsides in the morning..."
For a different type of adventure, which you can fit in between walkies, hop aboard a vintage steam train journey through the Highlands, through the Cairngorms National Park. Dogs are welcome, but not in first-class or the dining areas, and travel completely free. Or hop aboard a cruise on Loch Ness where you can look out for the monster! There are trips across the Loch and through the Caledonian Canal which well-behaved pooches are invited on.
Best for: Dogs with a real sense of adventure who don’t suffer from sea-sickness.
Additional information: Torridon is open all year (the countryside centre is open April-September only) daily and admission is free. Costs vary for the steam train and Loch Ness cruise.
Other similar walkies:
A gentle dog walk
If your dog prefers a bit more park than a mountain in their walk, they will certainly enjoy this gorgeous park and rugged coastline. This magnificent opulent castle and country park on the rugged south Ayrshire coast has a multitude of wonderful walkies for a pooch who loves a day out and there are acres of parkland that just beg you to spend a day there together. It’s not all about the castle, there is also a multitude of secret follies to explore as well as Swan Pond and the cliffs.
Another similar one is Glenmore Forest Park which is the most enchanting place to walk – with ancient woodland leading down to glacial lochs, every dog will find something to gets their nose into here! Set in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park, it is part of a national nature reserve and has marked trails, so it is easy to navigate.
Best for: The more refined dog who enjoys opulent surroundings and perhaps some walking in between looking magnificent.
Additional information: The Country Park is open all year but with limited facilities between November and March.
Other similar walkies:
Dog walks map
Each of the Scottish dog walks feature on the handy map below.
We hope that you and your pooch have enjoyed our selection of wonderful walkies. If you need somewhere to stay, why not look at our selection of dog-friendly cottages in Scotland?
You'll find even more brilliant dog walks wherever you are in the UK with our complete guide to the country's best dog walks.
Disclaimer: Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information at the time of writing,
please ensure you check carefully before making any decisions based on the contents within this article.