Forss House Hotel

Forss House sits in its own wooded grounds on the north Caithness coast, five miles west of Thurso, with the river running past and a waterfall audible from some of the rooms. It is a Georgian country house with a bar full of leather armchairs and a local reputation built on its kitchen, and a regular stop for people driving the North Coast 500. Rooms are split between the main house and several cottages and annexes in the grounds, which matters more than usual when you travel with a dog.

The hotel's own pet-friendly rooms page is unusually specific about the terms. Dogs are charged at £20 per dog per night, up to two per booking, and they stay in one of three rooms: the Master Double, the Master Twin or the Classic Twin. Those rooms have to be booked in advance, either by adding the dog to the online booking or by ringing the hotel, and arriving with a dog that was not booked may mean there is no suitable room free. A dog bed, treats, waste bags, a tennis ball, a tote bag of accessories and a local walking map are provided; bowls, a dog towel, food and a lead are yours to bring. No weight limit is published. It is worth asking where your room sits, too: a garden cottage gives you a door straight outside, and a main-house room does not.

Reports from guests who brought a dog are few but warm, and they point at a kitchen that goes out of its way - a dog being brought something of its own at breakfast is the detail that surfaces. More generally, guests lead on attentive staff and on food that is the main reason they come back.

One thing to know before booking. Dogs are not confined to the bedrooms here; they join their owners in the dining area. That is a real plus if you would rather not leave yours upstairs through dinner, but it is not to every guest's taste, and guests without dogs have said they would sooner have eaten away from them. If your dog is reactive around others at close quarters, ask about quieter sitting times.

The coast is walkable from the grounds, with the beach at Crosskirk close by and Dunnet Head a short drive on. Two caveats: confirmed reports from guests travelling with a dog number exactly one against a much larger general pool, so treat the pet-specific picture as provisional; and room standards vary by building, the annexe rooms being described as more basic than the main house.

Best suited to couples breaking a North Coast 500 drive who want a proper dinner and a comfortable room, with a dog that is relaxed in a busy dining room.