Dog Friendly Walks in Highlands
44 dog friendly walks across Highlands, reviewed by dog owners. Find routes with off-lead potential, manageable terrain, and places where your dog is genuinely welcome.
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Loch Affric Circular Walk
HighlandsGlen 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.
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Ardnamurchan Point Lighthouse Walk
HighlandsThe 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.
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Bealach na Ba Summit Walk, Applecross
HighlandsThe 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.
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Beinn Eighe Mountain Trail
HighlandsBritain'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.
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Chanonry Point and the Black Isle Coastal Walk
HighlandsOne 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.
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Fyrish Monument Circular, Evanton
HighlandsA 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.
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Glen Feshie Walk to Ruigh Aiteachain
HighlandsA 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.
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Glen Nevis River Walk and Steall Falls
HighlandsA 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.
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Glencoe: The Lost Valley (Coire Gabhail)
HighlandsA 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.
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Inverpolly Nature Reserve: Stac Pollaidh
HighlandsStac 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.
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Knoydart Peninsula: Inverie to Airor
HighlandsBritain'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.
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Loch Maree Shoreline Walk (Beinn Eighe)
HighlandsOne 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.
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Loch Morlich to Ryvoan Pass
HighlandsAn easy, genuinely dog friendly forest and lochan circuit through Glenmore's Caledonian pines, with a beach finish Loch Morlich is famous for.
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Mallaig to Morar Silver Sands Walk
HighlandsThe 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.
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Point of Sleat Coastal Walk, Skye
HighlandsSkye'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.
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Sandwood Bay from Blairmore
HighlandsA 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.
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The Quiraing, Isle of Skye
HighlandsOne 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.
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Trotternish Ridge: Flodigarry to the Quiraing
HighlandsOne 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.
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Ben Wyvis from Garbat
HighlandsThe 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.
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Cape Wrath Coastal Walk
HighlandsTotal 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.
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Cromarty Firth Coastal Path
HighlandsThe 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.
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Eilean Donan Castle and Loch Duich Shore Walk
HighlandsScotland'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.
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Fairy Pools, Glenbrittle, Isle of Skye
HighlandsA 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.
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Falls of Foyers, Loch Ness
HighlandsA 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.
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Glencoe Village to Signal Rock
HighlandsA 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.
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Glenfinnan Viaduct and Monument Walk
HighlandsThe 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.
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Kinlochleven to Mamore Lodge Hill Walk
HighlandsA 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.
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Loch Ness Great Glen Way Section (Fort Augustus)
HighlandsA 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.
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Loch Sunart Shoreline Walk
HighlandsAncient 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.
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Neist Point Lighthouse Walk, Isle of Skye
HighlandsThe 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.
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Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye
HighlandsSkye'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.
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Plodda Falls Circular Walk
HighlandsA 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.
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Rannoch Moor Edge Walk from Bridge of Orchy
HighlandsThe 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.
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Rogie Falls Circular Walk
HighlandsA 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.
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Smoo Cave and Durness Coastal Path
HighlandsA 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.
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Ben Nevis via the Mountain Track
HighlandsThe 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.
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Braeriach from the Lairig Ghru Path
HighlandsA huge, remote, dog friendly mountain day onto Britain's third highest summit, only suitable for fit dogs and fit owners with mountain experience.
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Cairngorm Plateau from the Cairngorm Ski Area
HighlandsA bold, dog friendly high plateau route above Aviemore, best suited to experienced owners comfortable with exposed mountain terrain.
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Corrieshalloch Gorge and Falls of Measach
HighlandsA 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.
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Glencoe: Buachaille Etive Mor from Altnafeadh
HighlandsScotland'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.
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Handa Island Ferry Walk
HighlandsA 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.
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Portree Loch Circular, Isle of Skye
HighlandsA 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.
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River Glass and Strathglass Valley Walk
HighlandsA 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.
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Torridon Ridge: Liathach via Coire Dubh
HighlandsLiathach 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.