The Mews, Port of Menteith

The Mews is a converted cottage on a farm above the Lake of Menteith, in the Trossachs, and the setting is the reason to come: wide water views, deep quiet, and Callander, Aberfoyle and Loch Lomond all within reach for a day out. Inside it is comfortably and thoughtfully fitted, with a wood burner and firewood included, good cooking kit, robes and towels, and a small welcome basket of basics. The hosts are attentive to the point of arranging extras such as local spa access.

For dogs the picture is more mixed than the general guest ratings suggest, and it comes down to temperament. Confident, sociable dogs do well here, and owners describe theirs enjoying the space and the open hillside as much as they did. The site has dogs of its own, and for many guests meeting them is part of the charm of the place.

That is precisely the problem for anyone travelling with a nervous or reactive dog, and the point deserves stating clearly. The site dogs are not reliably contained: reviews describe them meeting guests at the vehicle on arrival, following visitors indoors as soon as the door was opened, and a nervous collie being nipped at and barked at on the morning of departure despite being kept on a lead throughout the stay. There is no enclosed garden or dog-secure outdoor area to retreat to, so there is no way to give a wary dog a break from the encounters. The same stay reported being put into the wrong property initially, and finding no vacuum or cleaning materials for tidying up before leaving.

The 4.1/5 paw rating reflects that split. For an easygoing dog that likes other dogs, The Mews is a lovely, well-run Trossachs base with an outstanding view. For a nervous, reactive or dog-shy companion it is the wrong choice, and the scenery does not make up for it.