Braidwood Castle, Carluke

Braidwood Castle is a restored historic tower house in its own grounds at Braidwood, a couple of miles south of Carluke in the Clyde valley, and it is one of the more unusual places in Scotland to take a dog. The grounds are the reason to bring one: mature trees, a stream, and an orchard that is properly gated and enclosed, so a dog can be let off the lead to chase a frisbee while you sit at the picnic table.

The building is the reason to think twice. Living space is stacked vertically over five levels - kitchen on the ground floor, sitting room above it, bedrooms and bathrooms above that - and the tower stairs between them are steep, narrow and uneven, with low doorways and limited headroom. Dog owners raise this more than anything else. Going up is manageable; coming down defeats a lot of dogs, and parties travelling with two have found that one of them could not manage the climb to the sitting room at all. Some have said outright that they would return without the dogs. A small, agile dog will cope. An older dog, a large dog or a short-legged breed will not, and carrying one down a spiral stair several times a day is not a holiday.

Assuming your dog can handle the stairs, the rest lands well. Guests report a generous welcome pack, responsive owners, warm rooms, strong wifi in the great hall, a washing machine and tumble drier, and a stack of games for wet days. The booking listing confirms that a charge applies for each pet, so a party arriving with two dogs pays twice; the amount is not published, so settle it when you book. Bowls are not provided either, so bring your own. Local walking is plentiful, including a route down past the stream.

Two practical notes: cleanliness has been patchy, with reports of mice droppings in the kitchen and crockery needing a wash before use; and there is no pavement into Carluke and the road is uphill, so a car is essential for shopping and pubs.

Best suited to a fit party with a young, agile dog who want somewhere genuinely memorable and have their own transport.