Blantyre Cottage, Muir of Ord

Blantyre Cottage is a comfortable, well-kept base for exploring the Highlands with a dog, with Inverness about twenty minutes away and much of the region within a day's drive. Guests who brought dogs rate it well, and it earns a 4.5/5 paw rating.

The cottage is all on one level, which suits older dogs, and dog owners have found bowls, food and a lead ready for them. The property takes one pet. There is laundry in the garage next to the house, handy after wet walks.

Walking is the strong point. The golf practice ground nearby leads on to the old Highland show ground, a big open field that several guests used for daily dog walks, and the village bakery and Co-op are around ten minutes away on foot.

There are honest caveats. The garden wall is low enough that a determined dog could clear it, so plan on lead time in the garden. The cottage sits right beside a busy main road with heavy lorry traffic, which bothers some light sleepers more than others, and the walk into the village is along that road. A few guests mentioned flies in the sun room, ants in the kitchen, a slow shower drain, and dog hair left on carpets and furniture by previous visitors, so cleaning between stays has not always been perfect.

For a single dog and a small family or couple who want a practical, well-equipped touring base close to Inverness, Blantyre Cottage does the job well, provided road noise is not a deal-breaker.