Portbahn, Bruichladdich

Portbahn is a large house on the shore at Bruichladdich, looking out across Loch Indaal on the west side of Islay, and it is about as easy a dog holiday as the Hebrides offer. The whole house is yours, the garden is big and enclosed, and a path runs along the front of the property straight into a morning walk.

That garden is what guests travelling with dogs mention first. It is large enough that dogs can be let out without anyone standing over them, which takes the daily tension out of a self-catering stay, and families with children and dogs together make good use of it; there is a trampoline and a swing set out there as well. More than one dog at a time is clearly no obstacle.

Inside, the house is comfortable and properly equipped, with a well-stocked kitchen, plenty of storage, comfortable beds and loch views from the main rooms that guests rate above everything else. Communication from the hosts is quick and helpful before and during a stay. Bruichladdich itself is small but walkable, with a distillery and a hotel bar within strolling distance, and the beaches and moorland of the Rhinns are on the doorstep for longer outings.

The catch is getting there rather than anything about the house. Islay is reached by ferry or a small plane, and vehicle space on the summer crossings goes early, so book the travel before you commit to dates. The property charges £15 per dog per stay and sets no cap on numbers or on size, and Portbahn Beach is five minutes' walk from the door. For a dog that likes space, salt air and a garden it can be trusted in, Portbahn earns its 4.6/5 paw rating.