Most people searching for a dog friendly cottage near Loch Lomond don’t realise Loch Katrine is just over the hill. It’s quieter, less visited, and for anyone coming with a dog it’s arguably the better option — more space, fewer people, and loch shore paths that you can walk for an hour without passing anyone. Old Smiddy Cottage sits right on the water at Stronachlachar, inside Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, and dogs are genuinely welcome rather than just permitted.
Loch Lomond gets busy in summer, and the same goes for Loch Ness further north. Loch Katrine however, doesn’t, or at least not in the same way. The road in from Aberfoyle is eleven miles of single track through the Scottish Highlands — Lochs Ard, Chon and Arklet on the way — and by the time you pull up at Stronachlachar most of the rest of the world feels like it’s somewhere else entirely. That’s not an accident. It’s one of the reasons people come back.
The honest reason Loch Katrine suits dogs so well is the same reason it suits their owners — there’s space, and it’s quiet. As mentioned above the loch shore path runs for miles in both directions from Stronachlachar with almost no traffic and very few other walkers outside of peak summer weekends. No leads required on stretches of open path. No crowded car parks. No queuing behind other dogs at a busy visitor centre.
The wild landscapes around the loch are genuinely varied. Red kites circle overhead most mornings — they were reintroduced to this part of Scotland and have thrived. Ospreys fish the loch in summer. Red deer come down to the water at dusk, particularly on the quieter western shore where Old Smiddy sits. Mountain views, loch shore, woodland — for a dog with a reasonable recall, this is about as good as Scottish outdoors gets.
The Rob Roy Way passes through this part of the Trossachs and connects Loch Katrine to a wider network of hiking trails through the national park. There’s genuine variety in what’s available. Ben A’an is around thirty minutes by road — steep, direct, and the summit view over the loch is exceptional. The Great Trossachs Forest trails along the northern shore are considerably gentler and suit a longer, slower day when you’re not after a climb. Walking paths in most directions, and almost none of them busy outside of peak summer weekends.
Old Smiddy is a private self-catering cottage — no shared spaces, no other guests, no one else’s dogs to navigate. The gravel area around the cottage gives dogs room to move without being confined, and the loch shore is steps away. It’s one of the few luxury dog-friendly cottages in this part of Scotland where the dog actually gets to behave like a dog rather than being managed around other people’s expectations.
Inside, the cottage sleeps six across three bedrooms with open plan living areas, white oak flooring and a wood burner that earns its keep on cooler evenings. The private hot tub looks out over the loch — after a long day on the hiking trails with a tired dog at your feet, it tends to be exactly what’s needed. The wood-fired sauna is there for the same reason.
Self-catering suits a dog friendly holiday in a way that hotels don’t really manage. Nobody minds if you come back from a walk with muddy boots. There’s no rigid rules to work around, no dining room to navigate with a wet dog. The cottage is fully equipped for longer stays and the rhythm of the day is entirely your own.
Old Smiddy is one of very few dog friendly cottages in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs area that offers genuine lochside privacy
The loch shore path from Stronachlachar heading east is the obvious starting point — flat, scenic, and quiet enough that you’ll often have a long stretch of it entirely to yourselves. The southern shore path heads east toward Trossachs Pier through mixed woodland, the loch on one side and the hillside rising on the other, and it stays that way for most of the route. Allow a full day if you’re walking the whole length.
Heading north from the cottage, a short walk brings you to Glengyle — the birthplace of Rob Roy MacGregor and a genuinely peaceful spot with a clan burial ground and views back down the loch. The Rob Roy Way passes through here, connecting Loch Katrine to the wider network of long distance walking paths through the national park. Dogs on leads around the burial ground, off lead on the open hillside above.
For something more challenging, Ben A’an is thirty minutes by road from Stronachlachar and one of the best short hill days in the Trossachs. The path is steep and direct with good footing throughout — dogs find it straightforward and the summit view over Loch Katrine is worth every step. Ben Venue on the southern shore is a longer, quieter alternative, and on a clear day the summit gives you Ben Lomond to the south and the full length of Loch Katrine to the west.
Local cafes around the area are worth knowing about before you come. The Pier Cafe at Stronachlachar is dog friendly and right on the loch — the obvious lunch stop after a morning walk. The Byre at Brig o’ Turk welcomes dogs and is around fifteen minutes by road, a proper country pub with good Scottish food. Our guide to cafes and pubs near Loch Katrine has the full picture.
Old Smiddy Cottage is around fifty minutes from Glasgow Airport by road, passing the eastern shore of Loch Lomond on the way before turning north toward Aberfoyle, then the eleven miles of single track with passing places through to Stronachlachar. It’s worth taking that last stretch slowly the first time; the road passes Lochs Ard, Chon and Arklet and the scenery is reason enough not to rush.
Dogs are welcome at the cottage. We ask that they’re not left unattended in the property and that any damage is flagged — beyond that, four-legged guests are treated much the same as any other. When enquiring please mention how many dogs you’re bringing so we can confirm everything works for your group.
The cottage sleeps six, which tends to suit either a family holiday with dogs, two or three couples travelling together, or perhaps even your own luxury romantic break. Autumn is worth considering seriously — the paths get quieter from September, the woodland colours from October onward are exceptional, and the hot tub makes considerably more sense after a cold day on the hill than it does in July.
Bookings are confirmed directly with no platform fees or third-party commissions.
If a private cottage on Loch Katrine with good dog walking from the door sounds like the right kind of break, the best next step is to get in touch. Head to the bookings and enquiries page — happy to answer questions about bringing your dog or check availability for specific dates.
