HOTEL REVIEWS
Love is in the air
To misquote Lord Tennyson, in the spring a Scottish Field subscriber’s fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love. These are some of the fabulous romantic hideaways they found
Duisdale House Hotel, Isle of Skye Reviewed by John and Rhona Duncan
Tinkerbell Cottage, Glenprosen by Kirriemuir Reviewed by Gary Gilday and Colin Pegrum from Glasgow
No Wi-Fi? Check. No TV reception? Check. No shops? Check. Idyllic fairytale cottage in the middle of a forest patrolled by an eccentric phalanx of peacocks? Check! All the ingredients were in place for an amazing two-night stay at
Tinkerbell Cottage in Glen Prosen (just north of Kirriemuir). Just entering the estate at Balnaboth House brought a smile to our faces – old bridges, amazingly eccentric cottages, and a river meet you on arrival at the former old dairy, which has been lovingly converted into a one bedroomed wonder. The keys were in the door and a fire had been lit in the wood burning stove, with a bottle of well chilled Prosecco in the fridge – now that’s what I call a welcome. We unpacked our ‘hampers’ (nearest shop? 13 miles.) and decided to go
for a walk along the river into the hills to work up an appetite for the delights we had brought with us. A supper of chestnuts roasted atop the stove, baked potatoes cooked inside the stove and the aforementioned bubbles was possibly the finest nosh I’d had in an age. Tinkerbell was so comfortable inside we thought it best to just relax in the joint glows of the fire and the large screen TV and watch a selection of videos/DVDs that are available – hadn’t seen Gregory’s Girl for years. A perfect evening. Next day we set off through the forest for a good old yomp on what
turned out to be one of the warmest November days on record. Returned exhausted so had a bit of a snooze on the big comfy bed upstairs in the stunning wood-panelled circular bedroom. Which, incidentally, is en suite. Then as it got dark, we realised that we had the most amazing view of the night sky either one of us had ever seen – the Milky Way was practically painted on to the blackness in vivid brushstrokes. An unforgettable sight. When we saw the owners of the estate the next day with Bramble, their wonderfully cheeky dog, they both said that was a common occurrence in these parts – lucky them! After fetching some more coal for the fire (an honesty-box principle operates) we just simply sat down for the remainder of our stay and did nothing. Absolutely nothing. Did I mention that there is no mobile phone signal? Bliss. Prices from £181 for three nights
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Sam’s Cottage, Loch Tay Reviewed by Tim Siddons from Edinburgh
Located in the stunning Craggantoul estate on the shores of Loch Tay, this couldn’t be a more romantic setting. The cottage itself is a refurbished farm steading, fully equipped and perfect for two with modern amenities, cosy furnishings and a top-notch walk-in power shower. For those wanting to venture outside there is a BBQ, garden furniture and a bubbling hot tub for two – what better place to enjoy a glass of fizz? And with an orchard, ancient woodland and winding trails down to the loch, this property is ideal for a romantic getaway or an intimate honeymoon. Prices from £250 for two nights
from Strathaven Duisdale Hotel, standing in a secluded bay with sea views overlooking the Sound of Sleet, provides an idyllic and luxurious retreat. On our wish list for a romantic getaway was a four-poster bed and we were not disappointed. And there was also a hot tub which, at night, looks out onto the floodlit trees giving the impression of an enchanted forest. The Chef, Joel Kirby, only uses top-quality local
produce and ingredients. The plating was picture perfect. Ken Gunn and Anne Gracie, the hotel owners take a genuine interest in each guest and use their local knowledge to give advice on interesting places to visit. Personally, we would thoroughly recommend the hotel. Prices from £103 per person per night DBB
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