Dog-Friendly Attractions in Inverness & Around Loch Ness

The red-sandstone castle stands above the River Ness in the heart of the city, and while the new Inverness Castle Experience inside is an indoor ticketed attraction, the surrounding grounds and esplanade are open to walk for free. The viewpoint on Castle Hill gives a fine panorama over the rooftops and river, and a bronze statue of Flora MacDonald and her collie greets you at the entrance.

The moor where the 1746 Jacobite rising ended is now a National Trust for Scotland memorial site, and dogs are welcome to walk the outdoor battlefield paths. It is a moving, atmospheric place with a strong sense of history, and the outdoor memorial trail is free to walk even if you do not visit the ticketed museum.

A beautifully preserved group of around 4,000-year-old Bronze Age burial cairns and standing stones set in a quiet grove near Culloden, free to visit and cared for by Historic Environment Scotland. It is an unstaffed outdoor site where leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome, and its atmospheric ring cairns draw a steady trickle of visitors.

Jacobite runs Loch Ness cruises from near Inverness, and dogs are welcome free of charge on the boat-only tours, up to five dogs per sailing, with both open deck and inside seating so you can pick what suits your dog. It is a relaxed, memorable way to see the loch, and the open deck lets a dog take in the views and fresh Highland air.

The romantic lochside ruin at Drumnadrochit is the most photographed castle on Loch Ness, but it is important to know before you drive out that Historic Environment Scotland does not admit dogs here except assistance dogs, in the grounds or the buildings. We include it so you can plan: if you want the classic Loch Ness castle view with a dog, the Jacobite boat-only cruise passes it from the water.