Best Dog Friendly Munros – Are we friends on Instagram? This is where I share my tips, videos and daily life in Scotland!
I love the dog friendliness of Loch Lomond – it’s the perfect place to bring your pup for a weekend adventure!
Best Dog Friendly Munros
On a weekend in April, Haggis, Angus and I explored the eastern side of Loch Lomond. While many would choose to visit the busy west of the lake, we decided to stay in the east, where nature and wildlife are abundant.
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We were greeted with perfect weather for hiking – cloudy skies with hints of calm blue water in the lake. Angus loves to travel – and we love taking him with us on our adventures, so for us Loch Lomond was the perfect place for a fun weekend away.
Although Loch Lomond is dog friendly, it is important to be organized when walking your dog. Read on for the ultimate guide to visiting Loch Lomond with your dog!
The best way to explore Loch Lomond is a combination of driving and walking. We found that driving east of Loch Lomond gave us more freedom, however, the road to Ruwarden was really bumpy, which really made us want to drive less!
Loch Lomond focuses on sustainability, so we try to travel to as many places as we can. After all, one of the best parts of spending time at Loch Lomond is being immersed in nature. You can walk almost anywhere as the West Highland Way runs along the East River.
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Another fun way to explore Loch Lomond is by e-bike; Electric bike chargers are installed in Dryman Square and many cafes (including St Mocha Cafe in Balmaha) have chargers for you to borrow.
The best way to get east of Loch Lomond is by train from Glasgow to Balloch, then the McGill bus to Balmaha. Public transport will take you a long way to Balmaha, so to get to Rowardennan Lodge you have to walk (about 2.5 hours) or drive.
We stayed at Rowardennan Lodge, one of Hostelling Scotland’s dog-friendly properties. The lodge was once a hunting lodge and sits right on the banks of Loch Lomond. It has the most amazing views and you can catch a view of the lake from many of the bedrooms and the living room.
Our private room had a great view of Loch Lomond to wake up to. The shared bathroom and shower are some of the best I have ever encountered in a hotel. The Wi-Fi is a bit spotty, but I hear it’s getting better soon – plus this is where you want to be relaxing, not scrolling through your social media!
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This blog post was written in paid partnership with Hostelling Scotland to write a dog guide to Loch Lomond. All opinions are my own.
There is also a large kitchen and several dining areas where you can prepare your own food or enjoy a hot meal cooked in the inn.
You can choose between a continental breakfast or a cooked breakfast. You can also order three courses for dinner which we have for one night. We had soup and roti for starters, tikka masala for main course and chocolate chocolate for dessert – it was delicious!
Angus can also join us for dinner, we bring our own plate for him and he is happy when we eat our food.
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After dinner we retired to our sitting room overlooking Loch Lomond and enjoyed a quiet beer (yes, the inn is licensed and can buy craft beer!).
I have traveled extensively around Scotland and use this hotel as a base – it is a great choice if you are looking for comfortable accommodation at a reasonable price.
One of the best things about Hostelling Scotland is that they are healthy and friendly. We met people from all walks of life – young students, retirees walking the West Highland Way, and people in their 30s (like us) using the hotel as a base for travel.
If you want to bring your dog, it costs a small £5 for each night your dog stays.
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The Clachan Inn is one of my favorite pubs in Scotland. The pub was licensed in 1734, making it one of the oldest registered pubs in Scotland and one of the oldest pubs in Scotland.
The bar is dog friendly (and in my opinion the best place to sit and eat). The owner and bar staff were amazing – they were happy to see Angus giving him plenty of food and a glass of water.
I ordered a delicious Aberdeen Angus burger and Craig had a barbecue. She swears it’s one of the best cakes she’s ever had!
This bar has a local feel and definitely has a special place in my heart. In my opinion, this is a must visit.
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The Perch was another highlight when we visited Loch Lomond. Located on the beach, The Perch is modern but offers relaxation. They specialize in homemade lunches and cakes.
Angus was greeted with a treat and a slap when we arrived and offered a glass of water while Haggis and I were studying the food. I chose the delicious pork sandwich! Haggis also has a Caesar salad which he says is delicious.
This bar / restaurant is more casual and dogs are also welcome. Angus makes a lot of friends when we go out to dinner!
You are welcome to sit outside with your dog at St. Mocha Cafe and Ice Cream Shop in Belmaha. They make their own ice cream and coffee and are passionate about sustainability using their coffee roasted fruit. They even made Angus cappuccinos when we visited!
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Nearby is the Oak Tree Inn, where you are welcome to sit outside with your dog. The Oak Tree Inn has twice been named Scotland’s top pub and they get as much of their ingredients as possible. They serve a variety of dishes including pizza, burgers, fish and chips and barbecue.
If you like the sound of homemade soup and bread, The Soup Dragon Café in Dryman is a vegetarian / vegan cafe with a lovely outdoor seating area where you can sit with your dog. There are also beautiful forest tracks here.
If you’re looking for a more difficult climb, Ben Lomond is a popular choice. As a Munro in southern Scotland (a mountain in Scotland at over 3,000 feet), Ben Lomond is popular with day walkers from Glasgow and even Edinburgh.
My recommendation is to spend more than one day in the area, especially since the climb of Ben Lomond takes an average of 4.5 – 5.5 hours.
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The great thing is that if you stay at Rowardennan Lodge, the journey to Ben Lomond starts from the lodge!
If you want a short hike with amazing views, Conic Hill is a popular choice. Conic Hill is a popular hiking trail with locals. Many Glaswegians would rush to the mountain at the weekend, climb it and be home in time for dinner.
The climb takes you through the forest and gently uphill until you reach the kiss gate and from there the path is steep but manageable. The kissing door can be a bit tricky for a big dog, but Angus ended up hanging it so we didn’t have to lift it over the door.
The view from the first little hill is amazing – you can immediately see the whole of Loch Lomond and its islands and of course the great Munro that is Ben Lomond.
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Angus loves short but steep walks and we saw dogs of all breeds and colors all the way up.
Make sure your dog is on a leash at all times as there are many animals around.
Did you know that there is an island in Loch Lomond where you can take your dog? Discover Inchcailloch Island!
The island is part of the Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve and is definitely one of the best options for exploring Loch Lomond. It is famous for its natural and natural beauty; The view from the top of Tom na Nijnan is one of the best views you can find in Scotland!
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Ferries leave boat docks in Lemha and Los from April to October (this is also a rough guide – depends on the water level when the ferry runs). It runs on demand from 9am to 5.30pm and costs £7.50 for a return ticket and yes your dog is welcome!
St Kentigerna, an Irish missionary, settled on the island in the early 8th century. He lived on the island until his death in 734, and there is a legend that he