The North Coast 500 is a brilliant holiday if you have a dog. And Caithness is so dog-friendly that is is almost quicker to say where you can’t take your dog than where you can! This post and map suggest just a few of the walks your dogs will love, and some of the cafés, pubs and restaurants that will welcome your pup on your North Coast 500 adventure.
A quick safety note. It’s best to keep your dog on a lead, even though Caithness is so welcoming for dogs. Caithness is full of a lot of big empty spaces, so lost dogs can get very lost indeed. There are also sheep or cattle in almost every field, and it’s dangerous for your dog if they chase them. I’ve only suggested one cliff-top walk (at Castle Girnigoe), because cliffs can be so dangerous too. We keep our own dog on a long-lead when we are out and about with her, because her recall is only about 90%, and we couldn’t bare it if anything happened to her.
A popular level river-side walk with a lot of foot-bridges that ends in a waterfall. A good place to take your pup if others in your party want to go to Dunrobin Castle.
A dog-friendly café with a great range of cakes and savoury food in Brora. Good for dairy-free humans too.
Serves wonderful Scottish Breakfasts, as well as lunches.
Local produce, lovingly prepared in the old laundry of Langwell House. Crafts and some clothes for sale too. Dogs are welcome in the leafy seating area outside. Closes over winter.
A quieter riverside walk up to Dunbeath Broch.
Café and craft shop which welcomes well-behaved dogs.
Fairly flat forest walks – peaceful for people, and very stimulating for dogs who love to sniff. Beware of mushrooms and toadstools in the Autumn, though.
A very popular lunch spot showcasing local foods. Well-behaved dogs are welcome in their ground floor dining room. Best to book.
A big securely fenced area for running around, and a larger area for walking your dog, including a pond and agility games.
A pleasant walk around the harbour that was home to Britain’s largest Herring fleet, and which is still full of enticing smells for your dog
Restaurant specialising in delicious Mediterranean food, open in the evenings in the summer.
The No 1 Bistro showcases local foods, and is great for brunches, lunches and evening meals.
Large local pub serving pub food, which has an area dedicated to dogs.
Level walk, popular with visitors and locals alike.
Level on-lead walk to a ruined castle – there’s a small beach by the castle, but the castle itself is on top of high cliffs.
Large sandy beach – many people exercise their dogs off-lead, but the tide can come in quickly so check tide times.
Traditional local pub with a lounge bar and a public bar, serving evening meals, and welcoming to dogs.
Large local pub, for a dog friendly meal or a welcome drink.
John o’Groats is very dog friendly, and one highlight is the pub run by John o’Groats Brewery. Cosy up by the woodburning stove in the winter, or enjoy the views over the Pentland Firth.
One of the North Coast’s most stunning beaches, a long bay of golden sand. Check tide times because the waves can come sweeping in.
A great place to get out of the wind! Children enjoy finding the sculptures, and dogs love sniffing the forest paths.
A smaller and less well-known woodland walk, with sculptures and views of the Pentland Firth.
Small town pub which shares a menu with Ynot restaurant next door.
A secure off-lead area for running around, set within a larger area of dedicated dog walks.
See the Gun-dog display, among many other events, at the annual Thrumster Game Fair.
Events like the Halkirk Games, the Mey Games and the Latheron Show all have informal dog shows – does YOUR dog have the waggiest tail? Then enter your dog on the day.
My name is Ben, and I grew up with a Golden Retriever and an English Pointer, though they wouldn’t have known what to do near a gun!
I opened the Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage as a dog-friendly place to stay in 2018, and we live next door with Bella, our big and beautiful Newfoundland. A special mention goes to my husband’s first dog, our lovely lad Jake, the best Staffie ever.
