Dog Friendly Walks in Highlands

Glen Affric is the most beautiful glen in Scotland; this full loch circuit through ancient Caledonian pinewoods delivers exceptional off-lead walking, unlimited loch swimming and total Highland immersion.

The most westerly point on mainland Britain rewards the journey with exceptional coastal wildlife, open off-lead moorland and Atlantic views south to Mull and north to Rum and Eigg.

The summit plateau above one of Scotland's most spectacular mountain passes gives an outstanding off-lead moorland walk with panoramic views across the Inner Sound to Raasay and Skye.

Britain's first National Nature Reserve offers a demanding mountain trail through ancient Caledonian pinewoods and up quartzite scree to breathtaking viewpoints over Loch Maree and the Torridon peaks.

One of the best places in Europe to watch wild dolphins from shore, with flat off-lead shingle-beach walking and reliable sightings year-round from the Moray Firth tideline.

A forest and moorland climb to a replica Indian gate arch on the Cnoc Fyrish summit, with high off-lead potential above the tree line and outstanding views over the Cromarty Firth and Easter Ross.

A dog friendly, gentle river and pinewood walk up Glen Feshie to the iconic Ruigh Aiteachain bothy, one of the easiest bothy visits in the Cairngorms.

A spectacular gorge walk to Steall Falls, the second-highest waterfall in Scotland, with excellent off-lead meadow walking and outstanding cold-water swimming in the upper glen.

A hidden glacial corrie in the heart of Glencoe, reached through a boulder gorge: one of the finest moderate dog walks in the Highlands with excellent off-lead time on the corrie floor.

Stac Pollaidh's serrated sandstone ridge rises from flat Coigach moorland in one of Scotland's most distinctive shapes; the circular route offers outstanding off-lead moorland and big views across Assynt.

Britain's last wilderness peninsula, reachable only by ferry from Mallaig, offers unlimited off-lead moorland and coastal walking to a remote crofting settlement, ending at the UK's most remote mainland pub.

One of Scotland's finest easy dog walks: ancient Caledonian pinewood above the shores of Loch Maree with excellent off-lead potential and multiple swimming spots in exceptionally clear water.

An easy, genuinely dog friendly forest and lochan circuit through Glenmore's Caledonian pines, with a beach finish Loch Morlich is famous for.

The Silver Sands of Morar rank among Scotland's finest beaches: a succession of white shell-sand bays with off-lead running, clear shallow swimming and the shortest river in Scotland at the return.

Skye's quietest corner: a varied coastal walk through Atlantic oakwood and moorland to the island's southernmost tip, with high off-lead potential and views across the Sound of Sleat to Knoydart.

A remote 9km moorland approach rewards with what many consider the finest beach in Britain, a 2km arc of pink sand framed by dramatic sea stacks and with virtually no human infrastructure whatsoever.

One of the most extraordinary landscapes in Scotland, an active landslip of towering pinnacles and hidden plateaus on the Trotternish ridge, with far-reaching views across to the mainland.

One of the great ridge walks of Skye follows the dramatic Trotternish escarpment through extraordinary volcanic landslip scenery, with high off-lead potential and sweeping views to the mainland.

The most prominent mountain on the Inverness skyline rewards a serious ascent with one of Scotland's longest summit plateaus and exceptional off-lead walking across open, livestock-free high ground.

Total off-lead freedom across open moorland to 281-metre Atlantic cliffs at mainland Britain's northernmost corner, reached by a legendary ferry crossing into Scotland's last true wilderness.

The Cromarty Firth coastal path from the historic town of Cromarty follows the Sutors cliffs above the firth entrance with exceptional seabird and dolphin viewing, ancient woodland and dramatic coastal scenery.

Scotland's most photographed castle provides the backdrop for a lochside circular combining sea-loch swimming for dogs with moderate off-lead woodland walking beneath the Kintail mountains.

A spectacular Skye moorland walk along the Allt Coir' a' Mhadaidh beneath the Black Cuillin, passing a series of crystal-clear turquoise plunge pools and cascading waterfalls with excellent dog swimming.

A compact woodland walk on the eastern shore of Loch Ness to a spectacular 30-metre waterfall that inspired Robert Burns, with good off-lead forest paths and a Loch Ness shoreline section for dogs to swim.

A gentle and historically resonant woodland walk to the traditional signal point of the 1692 Massacre, through ancient Atlantic oakwood above the River Coe with good off-lead paths.

The iconic 21-arch viaduct, Loch Shiel and the Jacobite monument combine in one of Lochaber's most satisfying short walks, with loch swimming access for dogs and moderate off-lead hillside.

A rewarding hill walk above a Lochaber sea loch with panoramic views of Ben Nevis and the Glencoe mountains, and high off-lead potential across open Mamore moorland.

A lochside and woodland section of the Great Glen Way along the southern shore of Loch Ness, offering easy flat walking with iconic Highland water views and good off-lead potential through the trees.

Ancient Atlantic oakwood lines one of Scotland's longest sea lochs, with regular otter sightings, calm-water swimming for dogs and a quiet, unhurried character throughout.

The most westerly point on Skye leads to a dramatically positioned lighthouse on basalt cliffs, with seabird colonies overhead, common porpoise in the water below and wide Atlantic views to the Outer Hebrides.

Skye's most iconic walk climbs through plantation woodland to the extraordinary rock pinnacles above Loch Leathan, including the 55-metre Old Man of Storr, with sweeping east coast views as the reward.

A short but dramatic forest walk to a spectacular 46-metre waterfall in Glen Affric, set among towering Douglas firs and with an overhanging viewpoint platform above the falls.

The walk from Bridge of Orchy onto the Rannoch Moor edge above Loch Tulla delivers vast, unfenced Highland space and exceptional off-lead freedom on Britain's greatest wilderness plateau.

A compact woodland walk to a spectacular salmon-leap waterfall on the Black Water, with easy off-lead forest paths and the extraordinary spectacle of fish clearing the falls in late summer.

A short but fascinating north coast walk combining the largest sea cave entrance in Britain with dramatic limestone gorge scenery and open cliff-top paths above the turquoise waters of the Kyle of Durness.

The highest mountain in the British Isles, offering a demanding but well-trodden route with sweeping Highland views, though the summit plateau is exposed and dogs should be kept close on the upper ridges.

A huge, remote, dog friendly mountain day onto Britain's third highest summit, only suitable for fit dogs and fit owners with mountain experience.

A bold, dog friendly high plateau route above Aviemore, best suited to experienced owners comfortable with exposed mountain terrain.

A short, dramatic walk to one of Scotland's most impressive box canyons, where the Falls of Measach drop 46 metres into a gorge hung with ferns and mosses, viewed from a Victorian suspension bridge.

Scotland's most iconic mountain in profile: a serious ascent for experienced dogs with the moorland approach offering off-lead walking and the unmatched visual drama of the Glencoe gateway.

A short ferry crossing unlocks one of Scotland's most important seabird reserves, with extraordinary cliff-top wildlife and a circular island walk; dogs are welcome but leads are required during nesting season.

A pleasant harbour-and-woodland circuit from Skye's main town combining moderate off-lead paths through Scorrybreac woodland with colourful Portree Harbour and good post-walk dog-friendly facilities.

A quiet and little-known valley walk along the clear River Glass through the farmland and riverside woodland of Strathglass, with excellent swimming access for dogs and a genuine sense of Highland solitude.

Liathach is one of the most imposing mountains in Scotland and the Coire Dubh route traverses beneath its mighty sandstone terraces, making this a serious but spectacular outing for experienced hill dogs only.