Argyll Hotel, Bellochantuy

The Argyll Hotel sits right on the shore at Bellochantuy, on the west coast of Scotland's Kintyre peninsula, with a sandy beach a few steps from its terrace. It is a small, independently run hotel in a remote coastal spot, and dogs are a natural part of the place rather than an afterthought.

Guests travelling with dogs describe the welcome as genuinely dog-friendly rather than merely dog-tolerant. Dogs are welcome in most areas of the hotel, there is no pet fee and no limit on size, and arriving pets are often greeted with a treat and a towel for sandy paws. There is a dog exercise area on site. The one firm rule is that dogs must not be left unattended, so plan on taking yours with you rather than leaving it in the room. No set number of dogs is specified either, which is worth raising when you book if you are travelling with several.

The beach on the doorstep is the standout: owners return again and again for the easy access straight onto the sand, and evening walks along the shore at sunset come up repeatedly. The owners and staff draw consistent praise for going out of their way to make both dogs and their people feel at home, and guests rate the food and breakfast highly, with many of the boutique-style rooms looking out over the sea.

A couple of things to bear in mind. This is a genuinely out-of-the-way location, so it suits a quiet coastal escape rather than a lively night out, and a few guests found the rooms on the compact side. Dogs are a constant presence here, in the bar and lounge as much as the bedrooms, which is the whole appeal for most visitors but worth knowing if yours is reactive around other dogs. It earns a 4.8/5 paw rating, and suits owners after a peaceful, scenic base on the Kintyre coast with beach walks from the door.