The Inn at Port nan Gael

The Inn at Port nan Gael sits at Pennyghael on the south of the Isle of Mull, roughly halfway between Craignure and Fionnphort, and it makes a practical stop for dog owners working their way across the island. It is a small, informal inn rather than a full-service hotel, with a pub and restaurant, a well-stocked shop and a laundrette on site, and it doubles as the hub for the campsite next door. It earns a 4.1/5 paw rating from guests who travelled with their dogs.

Dogs are allowed, and the facilities for them are a genuine plus. Guests with dogs single out the dog run and the small park on site, and staff are described as friendly and relaxed about four-legged guests. The bar food gets regular praise, with fresh local fish on the menu, which helps when the nearest alternatives are a long drive away.

The setting is the main draw. The inn is remote in the best sense, with a hill rising directly behind it for walks with big views in any weather, quiet roads and plenty of open space for a dog to stretch its legs after a long drive.

There are a few things to know before booking. Dog-friendly rooms are a specific, smaller room category, and guests with dogs have reported arriving to find their booking had not flagged the dog, being moved into a smaller dog-friendly room and still paying the pet supplement. Some ground-floor rooms face the car park, so people walking past can see in. Breakfast is self-service and charged separately at around £10 per person, and prices in general are high, as they tend to be across Mull. Dogs must be declared when booking, and the pet charge is £20 per stay, so flagging your dog at the outset and confirming the room type before you travel should avoid surprises.

For walkers and island explorers who want a friendly bar, a shop on the doorstep and space for a dog to run, Port nan Gael is a useful base for the south of Mull.