The Cairngorm Hotel

The Cairngorm Hotel sits in the centre of Aviemore, its Cairn Bar a proper spot for a pint and a meal with your dog at your side. Dogs are welcome inside the bar, so the whole group can settle in together without anyone drawing the short straw for pavement duty. The bar serves breakfast from 7:30am, lunch through the afternoon and dinner from 5pm and it stays open until 11pm Sunday to Thursday and midnight at weekends.

It's a straightforward choice if you've just stepped off the train or bus and need somewhere warm to regroup before tackling the hills, or if you're back from a walk and want food that doesn't involve unwrapping foil in a layby. The bar serves classic pub fare and the atmosphere is relaxed and dog-friendly throughout the day.

Dogs are welcome in the bar and must be on a lead in the hotel's public areas. The separate restaurant and breakfast room are dog-free, but the bar covers you for meals at any time of day, which makes life considerably easier when you're planning around ferry times, weather windows or a terrier's opinion on schedules.