A Dog Friendly Weekend In The Cairngorms

Often when I’m travelling around Scotland, I like to pack in as much as I possibly can. It’s important to make the most of my time, but checklist trips aren’t always the most relaxing. So when Hostelling Scotland invited me to enjoy a dog friendly weekend in the Cairngorms, I knew this was my opportunity to slow down.

Staying at Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel was a breath of fresh air – literally, the air felt fresher. There were a range of people visiting, from long distance hikers passing through to those looking for a quiet weekend in the mountains. Molly and I had a dog friendly private room to ourselves, with a bathroom and shower just down the hall.

After a really busy couple of months, we needed to recharge by spending time in nature. This is exactly how we did it!

Paddle Out At Loch Morlich

One of the biggest benefits of spending your dog friendly weekend in the Cairngorms with Hostelling Scotland is that Loch Morlich is right on your doorstep. Obviously not every dog loves water quite as much as Molly does, but there’s something for almost everybody here!

It’s Scotland’s highest sandy beach, so perfect for a paddle surrounded by trees and mountains. If you want to be a little more adventurous, then you can hire some dog friendly boats or canoes from Loch Morlich Watersports. As far as I know, there are no Kelpies or loch monsters lurking in the depths there…

There’s no need to get wet though! A gentle 6km path runs around the perimeter of Loch Morlich and is well enough maintained to be accessible to almost everybody. Just the right length to work up an appetite for your dinner back at the hostel.

Visit The Fairies At The Green Lochan

Much smaller than Loch Morlich, but far more mysterious is An Lochan Uaine or The Green Lochan. No prizes for guessing where it gets the name, but you might not know where it gets the colour. Clever folks might tell you its from things like algae, but storytellers know better. It’s all down to the fairies!

Everybody knows that Scottish Fairies always wear green clothes and this is where they wash them. Just like putting a red sock in with your white shirts, the colour has run and turned the water an emerald green. You might not see any while you’re here, but legend says Donald the King of the Fairies lives nearby!

You have two options to get here depending on how energetic you want your dog friendly weekend in the Cairngorms to be. There’s an easy path beside a road which will take you past the car barrier and straight to An Lochan Uaine. Or there’s a much more interesting, albeit more challenging, path that climbs past the Reindeer Centre and through the trees along the hillside.

A Gentle Hike Up Meall a’ Bhuachaille

If you’re still full of energy after An Lochan Uaine, then there’s something a little tougher further on. Meall a’ Bhuachaille means the Shepherd’s Hill and it looms above Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel. Molly and I were once regular hikers of Munros, but we’ve been out of practice so this was a bit of a test.

I’m happy to say we passed and even at 12 years old, Molly was leaving me for dust up the slopes! It took just over three hours including our stop at the loch and a good, long rest at the summit cairn. It’s nigh on impossible to get lost on the circular track so this is a good introduction for inexperienced hillwalkers.

The views over Loch Morlich and across to the higher peaks are spectacular. I’d confidently say that the reward far outweighs the effort, I’m pretty sure Molly agrees with me. If you’ve got the weather for it, then I’d highly recommend fitting Meall a’ Bhuachaille into your dog friendly Cairngorms weekend!

Look For Wolves At Loch an Eilein

Don’t panic, there are no real wolves to contend with on a dog friendly weekend in the Cairngorms! It’s the Wolf of Badenoch you might encounter at Loch An Eilein or at least his ghost since he died over 600 years ago. Take a wander through the woods here and before long you’ll spot one of the Wolf’s island fortresses.

This was just one of many castles owned by Alexander Stewart, the younger son of King Robert II. As Lord of Badenoch, he gained a reputation for controlling his land with hired groups of armed men. After his wife asked the Bishop of Moray to grant her a divorce, Alexander flew into a destructive frenzy.

His “wild, wicked Highland men” marched around the countryside destroying Forres, Pluscarden Abbey and finally Elgin Cathedral. This reign of terror didn’t last long and the Wolf of Badenoch was forced to lick his wounds in his strongholds like Loch an Eilein Castle. Sit amongst the trees, gaze out at the wee island, listen carefully and you might hear him still in there somewhere!

Don’t miss a visit to the White Croft which has some amazing crafts (and dog ice cream) for sale!

Ride The Strathspey Railway

Not every dog friendly activity in the Cairngorms has to involve hiking around the great outdoors! Head into nearby Aviemore and you can travel back in time by taking a ride on the Strathspey Railway. Occasional trips are with a Diesel engine, but the real treat is experiencing the old steam engine.

That’s every Tuesday to Sunday in July and August and a more limited timetable outside of those months. It doesn’t go far with only three stops, Aviemore – Boat of Garten – Broomhill, but then this is all about the journey rather than the destination. While the train itself is dog friendly, you won’t be allowed access to the dining cars so come prepared!

Dog Friendly Accommodation In The Cairngorms

There’s only one place I’d recommend you stay for your dog friendly weekend in the Cairngorms and that’s the Cairngorm Lodge Youth Hostel. It’s in the perfect location, has some of the best hostel beds I’ve slept in and the staff were brilliant. Dogs are only allowed in private rooms, but if you aren’t travelling with a pet, there are plenty of beds in shared dorms.

Not only is it a comfortable, welcoming spot to stay in beautiful surroundings, but even this place has a story to tell. Long before it was a hostel, this was a shooting lodge and with its perfect location in the hills you can see why. However, it also hosted Norwegian special forces during World War II.

The hills and trees of the Cairngorms was the perfect training ground for Kompani Linge. It allowed them to practice carrying out sabotage in remote surroundings. Unfortunately, one of the soldiers got a little carried away and fired his weapon through a window in the lodge! Keep your eyes open for the Norwegian flag and storyboards of the soldier’s time here.

Dog Friendly Restaurants In The Cairngorms

If you’re exhausted after an all day hike, swim or cycle on your dog friendly Cairngorms weekend, then you don’t have to go far. The Cairngorm Lodge Hostel even has its own restaurant where your furry friend can join you for dinner!

Personally I can recommend both the steak pie and fish & chips, along with an ice cold cider. You’re all set in the morning as well with options for a continental breakfast or Full Scottish!

Understandably, you might want to go a little further afield so here are some other dog friendly alternatives.

The Old Bridge Inn – Found in Aviemore, this is a great spot for a dog friendly dinner!

The Barn At Rothiemurchus – Not far along the road from the hostel towards Aviemore, they do a great range of specials for lunch.

The Coffee Pot – A wee coffee shop I almost always stop at in Aviemore.

If this trip to sounds like something you’d like to do with an experienced guide, then send me a message now about booking a Scotland’s Stories tour!

Looking for more dog friendly weekend ideas? How about the top 10 things to do with dogs in Oban?

This article is part of a paid campaign with Hostelling Scotland, but all details and opinions are my own.

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