On a recent short break in the Falkirk area I was impressed by the many places I visited that welcomed dogs.  I didn't have my own furry adventure buddy with me on this particular trip but I did think it would be a destination that I could take her to in the future and not feel like I was having to compromise on too many things that I wanted to see and do.

As a dog owner myself, I know how frustrating and time-consuming it can be having to research dog friendly options when I'm visiting somewhere so I thought it would be helpful if I put together this guide to the places that I came across that welcome dogs in the Falkirk area.

I'm sure there will be other options out there that I have missed and if you are a dog friendly business or know of a business that is definitely dog friendly in the Falkirk area, do drop me an e-mail and I'll add it to the list.

For those with furbabies, I hope you find this blog post helpful.

From town parks to country estates and canal side strolls, there is a huge variety of walks around Falkirk where furry members of the family can enjoy a good leg stretch.  It might surprise you to discover that Falkirk has been crowned Britain's best walking neighbourhood.

There are 383 miles of signposted and well-maintained paths so it would take me a while to list all the walking options but here are a few of my top picks with nice walking trails.

​I don't know about you but I don't really class places that make you sit outside as dog friendly, I mean, realistically, how often is the weather nice enough to dine al fresco in Scotland?!

From personal experience and feedback from other dog owners, the following places all allow your dog to join you inside for a drink or a meal so you will be made to feel welcome come rain or shine.  Some even keep treats and water bowls for four-legged visitors which we all know is a way of bribing your dog to bring their owners back again!

It is always good to be able to add a bit of sightseeing when you're travelling with your dog and Falkirk has a few great options, including its most famous sites!

When I'm in Edinburgh I find the quiet grandeur of the Georgian streets of the New Town an ideal antidote to the hustle and bustle of the Old Town which can start to feel a bit claustrophobic and overwhelming after a while.

If I'm staying in the city, this is the location I prefer to base myself as it is still handy for the main tourist attractions but offers a more local and sedate feel.  When I was invited to review 34A Abercromby Street I was keen to check it out as it provides an authentic New Town experience being located in one of the beautiful Georgian terraces. 

The apartment is part of The Royal Scots Club which is just a couple of doors along.  Founded in 1919 as a tribute to those who fell in The Great War, it also has 27 luxury en-suite rooms in the main building which is run as both a private club and hotel.

Guests renting the apartment can book a table at the restaurant in the main building for a meal if you prefer not to self-cater.  Unfortunately due to Covid restrictions during my visit, it wasn't yet open for meals but it would be a nice treat if you fancy a night off from cooking.

I'm always looking for quality Scottish accommodation options that I can recommend to my readers and include in my itinerary planning services.  This is especially true for Edinburgh as it is such a popular city and I get asked for recommendations frequently.

It is also important to me that I have personal experience of the places I suggest and I'm really pleased to add 34A Abercromby Place to my list of top places to stay in Edinburgh. It is ideally situated for throwing yourself into everything Scotland's capital has to offer but provides an oasis of calm and luxury when you are ready to retreat from the crowds.  It really does offer the best of both worlds which I've often struggled to find in the city centre.

If, like me, you are a bit guilty of only gravitating towards The Kelpies or The Falkirk Wheel on trips to the Falkirk area, you are missing out on much of the fascinating history and outdoor activities that the region has to offer.

Recently I spent 2 days expanding my horizons and explorations to include the historic heart of the town and the surrounding green spaces.  I made many surprising discoveries along the way and my perception of Falkirk has drastically changed.  For example, did you know that Falkirk won Britain's best walking neighbourhood award, partly due to having 383 miles of well-maintained and signposted paths?  The number of walking and cycling options definitely came as a surprise to me.

Less than an hour from Glasgow and Edinburgh, it makes an ideal day trip from either city, although after reading this blog post I hope you might be inspired to spend a bit longer there.  However, if you do only have one day, I've put together an itinerary that covers the best of Falkirk imho!

If you are planning a trip with your furry companion, you might want to check out my guide listing dog friendly things to do in Falkirk.

This is a superb starting point for any trip to the area as it reveals Falkirk's many historical layers and gives you a deeper appreciation of the places you will visit later in the day.

The exhibition at Callendar House was much bigger than I anticipated and I had only set an hour aside which is enough if you don't spend too long in each room, but if you have the time, you might want to add on another 30 minutes.

From medieval beginnings to Roman invasion and industrial expansion, every significant period of local history has a dedicated space - and the best thing?  It is free to visit which is brilliant as it is a real gem.  It feels more like a museum and there is lots and lots to see!

The exhibition is located inside Callendar House, a 14th century mansion house set in beautiful parkland.  As you follow the displays, you also pass through the Georgian kitchen which might be familiar to Outlander fans as it was used as the Duke of Sandringham's House in Season 2.

​When I absorbed as much history as I could handle, I grabbed a takeaway coffee from the shop and followed one of the paths around the park which gave me a nice morning boost before my next stop.

Discover more - In the park you will also find ornamental gardens, a small loch, a family mausoleum and sections of the Antonine Wall.

Could this unassuming, tranquil corner of Moray really be the 'blasted heath' where Shakespeare's Macbeth famously met the three witches declaring enigmatic prophecies about his future?

It is certainly in the right part of the country and is frequented by visitors on the trail of Macbeth.  Research has shown that it was known as Macbeth's Hillock on a map dating back to 1770 but the truth is we can only surmise about the connection.

However, witches do form a very real part of local history, with records of witchcraft trials and subsequent executions of those found guilty.  We now know that these 'witches' were in fact mainly innocent women, and occasionally men, who were persecuted and tortured for crimes often based on superstitious beliefs and fear, rather than real evidence.

With so much history on the doorstep, Macbeth's Hillock makes for an interesting place to stay in an often overlooked part of Scotland.  I can also confirm that it ticks all the boxes for a very comfortable accommodation option which is also dog friendly.  So what exactly does your glamping pod come with?