Dog-Friendly Highlands: Max & Bria’s Favourite Activities

Love dogs? Well, if you haven’t met them personally, Max and Bria are Mackays’ favourite little helpers. Whether you chose to frequent our No.1 Bistro or spend an evening in one of our rooms, our furry friends take their roles very seriously in creating a comfortable experience for you and your four-legged friends. So, welcome to the dog-friendly Highlands!

These Paws Were Made For Walking

Here we are introducing Max and Bria’s guide to the best places to go to in Caithness with dogs!

Old Castle of Wick

If you are a fan of breath-taking landscapes, venture up the coastal paths of Wick towards the Old Castle of Wick! This really is a spectacular walk with epic views. Be sure to stay away from the cliff edges though! And whilst your four-legged friends are sure to have a ball on this walk, do take care by cliff edges!

Reiss Beach and Sinclair Bay

If it’s miles of sandy beaches just for you and your doggie, then head to Reiss Beach and Sinclairs Bay. Dog walks near Wick don’t get much better! This beautiful white sandy beach sits at the southern end of Sinclairs Bay. It’s known locally as Reiss Beach and offers endless walks along the beach. Plus it enjoys lovely sand-dunes, perfect for playing and exploring with your four-legged friends. In winter, if you are lucky, you might spot the Northern Lights. And in summer you can enjoy the beach day and night, where the sun doesn’t set until near 11pm. So, what’s not to love!

However, there are times during bird nesting season when dogs need to be kept on a lead. But the local rangers are pretty good at posting signs as to when that is! The beach is a hotspot for a wide variety of seabirds. Plus larger marine life! You might be lucky enough to enjoy seals basking and occasionally orca whales.

Dunnet Forest

Dunnet Forest provides the perfect weekend activity for the whole family! And it has its own car park with signage and maps of the forest. Sitting at the most northerly woodland community, there is something for everyone at Dunnet Forest! Plus, the forest includes a family zone, a quiet zone, and an active zone as well as providing short walk and long walk paths that are suitable for all abilities. So, whether you want to explore by foot, bike or horseback, this is a super place to explore for hours when looking for good dog walks in Caithness. The forest sits around 26 minutes from the hotel, close by the north coast of Scotland. And with so many paths to explore, it epitomises our dog-friendly Highlands.

Beaches In Mind

Did you know that Caithness has a vast number of beaches perfect for dog walks? Here is a list of dog-friendly beaches near Wick where you often can find Bria and Max on the weekends!

Brora Beach

Brora Beach contains several natural wonders that justify a weekend retreat from the city! Explore the remnants of the Jurassic period, with fossils and rocks scattered across the plane. If you’re more interested in the here and now, be sure to bring some binoculars! The beach is blessed with regular visitors such as dolphins, minke whales, grey and common seals.

Embo Beach

Peaceful, quiet and good for the soul, the vast expanse of clean, golden sands makes Embo Beach a great destination for families and walkers. Along the beach there are views over Ben Bhraggie and the Dornoch Firth where the mudflats of the Dornoch Firth provide a habitat to a wide variety of migratory birds and species of butterfly.

North Golspie

About one hour’s drive from Inverness lies the attractive seaside town of Golspie. The historic fishing village has an interesting history and provides the perfect escape to a small seaside town. If you venture along the North beach you will discover a mixture of sand, shingle and rocks which curve around the bay, providing excellent views over the Moray Firth.

Finally, if a day of adventures has you feeling slightly ruff, Mackays’ dog-friendly hotel rooms and apartments provide the perfect home away from home to get those tails wagging! So join us in the dog-friendly Highlands for Scottish holidays full of waggy adventures!