Best Dog Friendly Munros – Are we friends on Instagram? This is where I share the best tips, videos and everyday life in Scotland!
I love how dog friendly Loch Lomond is – it’s the perfect place to take your pooch for a weekend adventure!
Best Dog Friendly Munros
On a weekend in April, The Haggis and I explored Angus and the east side of Loch Lomond. While most people choose to visit the busy, western side of the loch, we decided to stick to the eastern side, home to a variety of hiking, nature and wildlife.
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We were greeted with perfect running weather – cloudy skies with calm blue sea water. Angus loves to travel – and we love to take him on adventures, so for us Loch Lomond was the perfect base for a fun weekend away.
Although Loch Lomond is dog friendly, it is still important to be organized when traveling with dogs. Read on to discover the paw-fect guide to visiting Loch Lomond with your dog!
The best way to explore Loch Lomond is by driving and walking. We found that riding on the east side of Loch Lomond gave us more freedom, but the road to Rowardennan was quite bumpy – it definitely made us less!
Loch Lomond has a big focus on sustainability, so we try to walk in as many places as possible. Of course, the best part of spending time at Loch Lomond is being immersed in nature. The West Highland Way runs along the loch to the east so you can walk anywhere.
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Another fun way to explore Loch Lomond is by e-bike; Electric charging stations for e-bikes are being installed in Dryman Square, and several cafes (including St. Mocha coffee shop in Balmaha) have chargers you can borrow.
The best way to get to the east side of Loch Lomond is by train from Glasgow to Balloch, then the McGill bus to Balmaha. Public transport only takes you as far as Balmaha, so you have to walk (about 2.5 hours) or drive to get to Rowardennan Lodge Youth Hostel.
We stayed at Rowardennan Lodge Youth Hostel, a dog friendly property from Hostelling Scotland. The house was once a hunting lodge and sits on the shores of Loch Lomond; It has the most amazing view, and you can see loch views from most bedrooms and living rooms.
Our private room has a beautiful view of Loch Lomond to wake up to. Bathrooms are shared, and some of the best I’ve experienced in dorms. Wi-Fi is a bit spotty, but I hear it will improve soon – plus, it’s a place you want to relax, not scroll through social media!
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This blog post was written as a paid partnership with Hostelling Scotland to write a dog friendly Loch Lomond guide. All opinions are my own.
There is also a large kitchen and several dining areas where you can prepare your own meals, or you can enjoy hot meals cooked in the hostel.
You can choose a continental breakfast or a cooked breakfast; You can also order a three-course meal for dinner, which we had one night. We had soup and bread to start, tikka masala for main and chocolate brownie for dessert – it was delicious!
Angus was able to join us for dinner too – we brought our own bowls and he had a great time eating them.
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After dinner we relaxed in the lounge with views of Loch Lomond and enjoyed a quiet beer (yes, this hostel is licensed and you can buy craft beer!).
I’ve done many walking tours throughout Scotland and used this hostel as a base – it’s a great choice if you’re looking for comfortable accommodation at an affordable price.
The best thing about Hostel Scotland hostels is that they are healthy and family friendly. We met people from all walks of life – young students, pensioners walking the West Highland Way, and people in their thirties (like us) using the hostel as a walking base.
If you wish to bring your dog, there is a small charge of £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 the oldest pub in Scotland and one of the oldest pubs in Scotland.
The bar area is dog friendly (and in my opinion the best place to sit for a meal). The owner and bar staff were lovely – they were happy to see Angus and gave us lots of treats and jugs of water.
I ordered a delicious Aberdeen Angus burger and Craig had a steak pie. He swears it’s one of the best pies he’s ever had!
This bar has a local feel and will always have a special place in my heart. It is a must watch in my opinion.
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Perch was another highlight when we visited Loch Lomond. Located on the waterfront, The Perch offers fine and casual dining. They specialize in delicious brunches, lunches and home baked goods.
Angus was greeted with a treat and a patty on arrival and a jug of water while we studied the haggis and I studied the menu. I chose the pulled pork sandwich which was delicious! Had a caesar salad with haggis which was also delicious.
This bar/restaurant is more casual, and dogs are welcome. Angus made a lot of friends when we had dinner here!
You can sit outside with your dog at Balmaha’s St Mocha Coffee Shop and Ice Cream Parlor. They make their own ice cream and coffee and are committed to sustainability by using the by-products of coffee roasting. They even did Angus Puppachino when we visited!
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Located next to the Oak Tree Inn, you are welcome to sit with your dog in the outdoor area. The Oak Tree Inn has twice been voted Scotland’s Top Pub, and they source ingredients as locally as possible. They offer a variety of dishes including pizza, burgers, fish and chips and steak pies.
If you like the sound of homemade soup and bread, Sup Dragon Cafe in Dryman is a vegan/vegetarian cafe with a lovely outdoor seating area where you can sit with your dog. There is also a beautiful forest.
If you’re looking for a more challenging climb, Ben Lomond is a popular choice. Ben Lomond is popular with walkers from Glasgow and Edinburgh as Scotland’s most southerly Munro (a mountain in Scotland over 3,000 feet).
My advice is to spend more than one day in the area, especially Ben Lomond which usually takes 4.5 – 5.5 hours to walk.
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The best part is that if you stay at Rowardennan Lodge Youth Hostel, the Ben Lomond walk starts from the hostel!
If you want a short hike with great views, Conic Hill is a popular choice. Connick Hill is a popular hike with locals; Many Glaswegians flock to the mountains at weekends, climb and return home at night.
The walk takes you through the forest and you climb slowly until you come to the kissing gate, from where the path is steep but manageable. The big dog found the kissing gate a little difficult, but in the end Angus couldn’t get him through the gate!
The view from the first small mountain is stunning – you can see over Loch Lomond and its islands, and of course the mighty Munro, Ben Lomond.
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Angus enjoyed this short but steep climb – and we saw lots of dogs of all breeds and colors on the way up.
Be sure to keep your dog on a leash as there are often livestock.
Did you know there is an island in Loch Lomond where you can take your dog? Introducing Inchcailloch Island!
The island is part of the Loch Lomond National Nature Reserve and is one of the route options for exploring Loch Lomond. It is famous for its wild and natural beauty; The view from the top of Tom to Nigheenan is said to be one of the best in Scotland!
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Ferries run from Balmaha Boatyard and Luz from April to October (this is a rough guide – it also depends on the water level when the ferry runs). It’s open on demand from 9am to 5.30pm and costs £7.50 for a return ticket – yes, your dog is welcome on board!
Saint Kentigern, an Irish missionary, settled on the island in the early 8th century. He lived on the island until his death in 734 and became a legend
