Craigneuk near Oban

Craigneuk sits just outside Benderloch, a few miles north of Oban on Scotland's west coast, in a private spot looking out to sea with a beach barely a minute from the door. It is a five-star self-catering house rather than a hotel, so you and your dog have the whole place to yourselves - no shared corridors, no lobby to cross - and the owners, David and Amanda, get a warm mention in review after review for the welcome they lay on.

As a whole-house rental, dogs stay here as part of the family, and guests arriving with two dogs report no trouble at all. The property's booking listing does not spell out a pet fee or a limit on numbers, so it is worth confirming those directly when you book, particularly if you are travelling with more than a couple of dogs.

The feature dog owners come back to most is the garden: several describe it as secure and enclosed, which makes letting a dog out off the lead easy and is a real relief after the long drive north. The beach on the doorstep and the walks straight from the house - along the shore or up the hill behind - come up in nearly every account, so an active dog is well looked after.

One caveat is worth flagging honestly. The house sits close to a busy main road, and one guest noted the frontage is not fenced off from it. Most visitors describe the garden itself as safely enclosed, but it is sensible to keep dogs on the lead around the roadside and treat the garden as the off-lead space.

Craigneuk suits dog owners who want scenery, sea air and room to breathe over hotel formality. A couple with a lively dog, or a family with two, will find it hard to beat as a base for exploring Oban and the wider Argyll coast.