Burnside Pines, Aviemore

Burnside Pines is a house on a quiet residential street in central Aviemore, a few minutes' walk from the town and well set up for families arriving with a dog in the boot. It is a practical Highland base rather than a rural retreat, and that is rather the point: you can walk into town for supplies and be out on the hill twenty minutes later.

The house makes a real effort for dogs. Guests report finding blankets, treats and poo bags provided in the house on arrival, which is a small thing that says a lot about how dogs are regarded here. There is plenty of room for a family plus a dog, with a downstairs bedroom and bathroom that guests travelling with older relatives find useful, and boot warmers and a sauna that earn their keep after a wet day out.

Two things are worth knowing if you are bringing a dog. The garden is enclosed but small and has no grass, so the outside space is for sitting rather than for the dog, though walks are easy to reach from the house and Aviemore's riverside paths are close by. The house also has a noise monitor, and persistent barking can set it off. Guests who triggered it were not penalised, but it is worth knowing if your dog is vocal when left alone.

Smaller gripes include a kitchen that stays cooler than the rest of the house and pillows that could be better. On cost, the property charges £30 per dog per stay, and dangerous breeds are not accepted, so check where your dog stands before you book.

At 4.6/5, Burnside Pines works best for families who want Aviemore on foot and the Cairngorms on the doorstep, and whose dog is happy without a garden.