The Stable, Port of Menteith

The Stable is a small self-contained cottage conversion overlooking the Lake of Menteith in the Trossachs, run by owners who clearly enjoy having dogs about the place. Guests arriving with a dog describe a properly warm welcome, practical local advice on where to walk, and no fuss made about the dog being there at all. Guests have also reported that dogs stay without an additional charge, though that is worth confirming when you book.

One thing to know before booking: the owners keep a golden retriever who is around the property and who guests describe as calm and sociable. Dog owners have found him a genuine bonus, including one party who arrived with an anxious dog and watched the two settle into each other's company. Anyone travelling with a reactive or dog-shy animal should factor him in rather than be surprised on arrival.

The cottage itself is small and well finished, with a combined living and sleeping room, a separate kitchen carrying good-quality appliances, a large bathroom with both a shower and a bath, and a sheltered sitting-out area directly outside that catches the sun. Guests single out the lake view above everything else. The surrounding roads and paths are quiet enough for a relaxed lead walk, and the Trossachs and Aberfoyle are a short drive away.

The caveats are about scale and sound. This is a couples-sized space best suited to one small or medium dog rather than a pack, and it can feel tight over a longer stay. It also forms part of a building with accommodation above, and guests have been disturbed by footsteps and furniture being moved overhead.

The Stable earns a 4.7/5 paw rating and suits couples with one sociable dog who want a quiet lakeside base for exploring the Trossachs, and who would rather stay somewhere that treats a dog as a welcome guest than merely tolerates one.