Guide to best dog walks in Scotland

If you are a dog owner, everyday walks are part of the daily routine - which generally means you do a select number of walks on rotation, if not the same route. However, when on holiday with more time off, one can be a little more adventurous and plan longer routes to explore with a four-legged friend. With dramatic scenery, endless woodland and plentiful beaches, Scotland has it all and is a total haven for dogs and their owners alike.

With so many dog-friendly holiday homes on our books, it only made sense to highlight some routes which we consider to be some of the best dog walks in Scotland.

Skip to:

• Central Scotland
• Perthshire
• East Lothian
• Highlands
• Glasgow
• Aberdeenshire
• Isle of Skye

Central Scotland

Cairndow, Loch Fyne, Argyll and Bute

At the head of Loch Fyne sits the beautiful village of Cairndow and this is the perfect starting point for walks around the loch. You can explore around the Lochside, taking in all the views and admiring the surrounding nature, but you can also visit the Ardkinglas Woodland Gardens which is a private garden welcoming dogs (just keep them on a lead). This would be a nice place to rest the legs for a while.

Perthshire

Pitlochry Dam and Fish Ladder, River Tummel

If you haven’t heard of the ‘Fish Ladder’ it needs to be on your dog-walk list. The circular walk takes you from the Port-na-Craig bridge to the top of the dam and then on to Loch Faskally. If you go in the spring, you can often see salmon swimming upstream which is really fascinating. The ladder as it is known is 310 metres in length and has 34 pools, three of which are resting pools. There are two viewing windows, side by side looking into two pools; these enable you and pup to observe the salmon using the ladder!

East Lothian

Tyninghame Bay, East Linton, East Lothian

This is a lovely mixture of woodland walking and beach fun! Start at the Tyninghame Links car park and follow the path through the woodland until you reach the sand dunes which will quickly turn into a doggie playground. The beauty of this beach is that it is usually quiet, unlike its neighbour North Berwick, so you can relax and let your pups off the lead so they can fully blow off some steam before returning to the car.

Highlands

Balnakeil Beach, Durness, Sutherland

Located in Scotland’s far north, this beach is one of the best for dog walks with its wide expanse of sand to run on and clear blue waters to splash in. Being a relatively quiet beach all year round, it lends itself well to lots of off-the-lead playtime as it’s bordered with lots of sand dunes and there will be plenty of sticks to find. The sandy bay is crescent shaped and is very clean, so there is little chance of pup eating something he shouldn’t!

Glasgow

Linn Park, southside of Glasgow

Whilst many like the idea of getting out into the more remote places, others enjoy the sociable elements of dog walking. So here is one of our favourite parks. Linn Park consists of 200 acres of woodland, waterfalls and grasslands and many owners come to walk their furry friends here. Playing with other pooches is a great way for yours to burn off some energy!

Aberdeenshire

Alastrean Circuit, Aberdeen

This peaceful walk leads you through picturesque woodland and fields, with vast amounts of flat land that will have your dog running for hours on end. There are areas where it is advised you clip the lead on for a bit, so remember to pack it. Despite this, you’re sure to enjoy this quiet country walk! You might also want to take a few balls as this area is great for games of fetch!

Isle of Skye

Dunscaith Castle, Tokavaig

Most locations on the Isle of Skye suit our four-legged friends but this route stands out as one of the best dog walks. Located just 2 miles from Ord is a walk to the ruins of Dunscaith Castle. Enjoy a gentle stroll past a deserted croft and take in great views out to the Small Isles and the Cuillins. Dramatic scenery and fresh air will make for a content and tired pooch. Read our guide to the Isle of Skye today to find out more about this great location.

Plan a holiday with the dog and visit Scotland

Hopefully, this list has shown you a variety of areas and that this country is brimming with dog-friendly walks. Make sure you check out our guide to dog-friendly beaches in Scotland as that will give you some more ideas and if you are looking for accommodation keep our range of dog-friendly holiday homes in mind.

For more ideas and inspiration take a read of our ultimate guide to dog-friendly holidays in Scotland.