Dog stops north east England to Inverness

[locket2009]

I have posted this in holidays also but thought this might be a more knowledgeable topic ?

We are travelling with our dog from NE England to Inverness later this month (2A and 2 teenagers) up A1 to Edinburgh then M90 then A9

obv we will be making a few stops for stretching legs toilet stops and food etc and wondering if anyone can recommend dog friendly places en route or not too much of a diversion ?

travelling home via balmoral so anywhere that way also appreciated

Thankyou

House of Bruar, near Blair Atholl.

Beaches at Gullane and North Berwick lovely and not too far off A1. Kinross, for Loch Leven, an easy stop off M90. On A9, Dalwhinnie is right off the road and has spots to exercise dog nearby.

The Morpeth area of Northumberland is very dog friendly. There is a garden centre just off the a1 on the a697 that is ideal to stop off for a break .

Faskally Forest near Pitlochry, you do pay for parking (not expensive) but a nice stroll around the loch for a quicker stop.

Taste of Perthshire at Bankfoot on the A9 has some huts that are dog friendly (and heated) where you can eat and they have a shop too if you want to just grab and go.

Braemar has a few dog friendly areas within the restaurants and cafes. We didn’t stop anywhere else on that side of the Cairngorms.

House of Bruar is very dog friendly and also a great place to stop overall. Fantastic toilets!

aberdour silversands v dog friendly ( lovely cafe too)

public toilets aswell

IKEA on the Edinburgh bypass?

I am a bad traveller so need loads of car sickness stops! I try to get out every hour or so. This would be my route:

Alnmouth or Eyemouth would be my first stop (depending where you start, maybe both!), both have a beach for exercise and dog friendly cafes.

I’d probably plow from Eyemouth to the other side of Edinburgh, but if you want to stop or hit bad traffic, peeling off at Dalkeith for the country park might be a welcome break.

On the other side of Edinburgh, I’d reward myself with a stop at Aberdour, for a visit to a dog friendly pub and a run on the beach.

This would fuel you to reach House of Bruar, as has been said, is a good place for dogs.

Finally, I’d take my last stop within striking distance of Inverness at Aviemore or Carrbridge. Both dog friendly country places with nice space to walk.

Thank you everyone some great ideas ! @FunnyOrcai used to live in cartridge for a while so would certainly like to pay it a visit !

It is so beautiful!

Did you see the documentary set there that came out last year? The Golden Spurtle.

Any of the five running fox cafes, depending on your route.

Changed as thought you were querying where it was rather than a suggestion

Spital beach then Direct Pets for a treat in Berwick

No @FunnyOrcainwill have to take a look!

Thanks again everyone

There can often be long tailbacks heading towards the Broxden or Inveralmond roundabouts @locket2009 so if anyone is in need of a stop off it would be an idea not to take any chances.

Loch Leven's Larder isn't too far from the Kinross turn-off and it's good for dogs; there's a Sainsbury's near the motorway or there's The Earn Coffee Shop at Bridge of Earn, 10 minutes from the motorway, but it's only open Thursday to Monday.

There's an M&S food shop in Inveralmond Industrial Estate (two left turns off the A9, very near) with toilets and a nice big walnut tree opposite the door for the dog to wet or wait under 🐶

Will you be coming back via the A93 from Balmoral? There's some lovely scenery down that road, look out for the longest hedge at Meikleour. There's a hotel in the village but I haven't tried it so don't know if it's any good.

Thanks so much 😁

Ralia cafe near Newtonmore in an easy pull off as on left side of road and has excellent food and space for a dog walk. Toilets are free for cafe users. House of bruer has a lovely walk along the side of the river on the left side as you enter the complex but I usually avoid heading north as can be busy turning right to get back on a9.

You can't take dogs into the cafe at Loch Leven larder, you have to walk round the outside of the building and sit outside :(
Working south to north:
Alnmouth beach is also good for a leg stretch and most of the pubs & cafes in the village are dog friendly. There's public toilets by the golf club. There's an M&S food and Starbucks as you turn off the A1 at Alnwick and also Sainsburys and Aldi along the way.
Morrisons at B-U-T for toilets. Also Greggs, Aldi, Costa and McDonalds in the same complex.
Asda at Dunbar for toilets.
Short detour to Portobello beach or head into Musselburgh.
Herriot Watt Riccarton campus just off Edinburgh city bypass - park in car park A to the right as you enter the campus and then follow the path into the woods from in front of the sports centre across the road. There's toilets in the sports centre and a basic cafe bar.
South Queensferry - quaint high street between the Forth bridges. Good ice cream shops!
Shops by Inveralmond roundabout in Perth - Tiso outdoor shop (dog friendly I think and they have toilets), M&S food & Costa).
The Hermitage at Dunkeld (the only toilets are portaloos but the walk is lovely).
House of Bruar kills me, it's such a tourist trap and smells of old people but one of the few places along the way you can get a coffee, walk and a civilised wee. Best visited heading south if you don't want to dice with death turning right back onto the A9 northbound.
Pitlochry - walk round the dam and back through the village.
Ralia cafe
Aviemore - although by that point I'd probably be putting my foot to the floor to press on to Inverness!

You can't take dogs into the cafe at Loch Leven larder, you have to walk round the outside of the building and sit outside

They used to have pods to sit in with dogs@MiddleAgedDread , do you know if they're still there? They perhaps need to be booked in advance though, I'm not sure.

House of Bruar - Best visited heading south if you don't want to dice with death turning right back onto the A9 northbound.

Yes, that's a very fair point, there are often accidents there.

yeah there was some sort of outdoor shelter for sitting with dogs last time I was there @QuintessentiallyScottish

Thank you @MiddleAgedDread , I've not been for a while.