HOTEL REVIEWS
One off wonders
There’s more to getting away from it all than sitting on your backside enjoying the peace and quiet. This month’s breaks all involve experiencing something just a little bit different
The Good Life Workshop at The Dell of
Sailing on Lord Jim with Celtic Sail and Explore Reviewed by Morag Bootland & Eirin Scott from Roslin & Glasgow
It was with great excitement that we caught our first glimpse of the drop dead gorgeous Lord Jim moored in Oban harbour. And it was with a distinct air of trepidation that we donned our lifejackets and took the leap of faith required to get on board ‘Little Jim’, the yacht’s trusty RIB. But any concerns we might have had were soon cast aside as we climbed aboard Lord Jim and were welcomed by Captain Michael Romeling and his crew, including the adorable Ben (the dog) with a chilled glass of Champagne. Sailing on Lord Jim is a truly bespoke affair and we spent the next hour or
so chatting about where we would like to go and what we would like to get out of the two day trip. Having established that spotting wildlife, watersports and a few drinks along the way were our priorities, we wasted no time in setting sail for Mull. By the time we reached the famous harbour at Tobermory we had already found our sea legs and hopping on and off Little Jim seemed a lot less daunting. An enjoyable whirlwind tour of Tobermory followed before the quick hop
back to Lord Jim to freshen up for dinner. The food was a real highlight, especially impressive given the compact galley kitchen in which chef cooked up a storm, and there can be no better setting that the Captain’s table for a delightful dinner and a couple of drams with our fellow shipmates. The next morning dawned misty and moody as we munched a hearty Scottish
breakfast and headed around the Ardnamurchan Peninsula. Today’s plans included taking a turn at sailing Lord Jim, hill walking and kayaking followed by a quick burst of water-skiing before dinner. We headed for the hills and enjoyed great views despite the murky weather. Porpoises investigating the kayaks made for an amazing experience and some great memories. As did the hilarious sight of yours truly in a wetsuit with water skis flailing wildly and swallowing gallons of sea water. I should at this juncture point out that Eirin was significantly more successful on the skis. Despite the short time that we spent on board Lord Jim, we formed some
lasting friendships with Captain, crew and our fellow passengers. There is not a moment that I think about this trip without the flicker of a smile that quickly spreads into a huge grin on my face. Put this on your bucket list today. Prices from £888 per person for a three day all inclusive adventure
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Abernethy, Nethy Bridge Reviewed by Fiona and Michael Audsley from Elie Dell Lodge was originally built for the head forester of the Seafield Estate. The current owners, Ross and Polly, are the third generation to live here as the house was originally bought by Polly’s grandparents in the 1960s. The setting is beautiful with the house facing the
snow covered Cairngorm Mountains. It has been sympathetically upgraded and our room was very comfortable with antique furniture, crisp white bed linen, goose down quilts and big fluffy white towels. This is not a hotel, it is a family home that can be rented as a whole or, as was the case this weekend, shared by individuals. We had time to say hello to our fellow guests and then
stretch our legs before meeting to hear more about what we were to expect from the Good Life Workshop. Activities included: Ukulele sing songs with Hector
MacInnes, a songwriter, composer and musician from the Isle of Skye; yoga sessions with Dominique Picot, who is trained in seasonal yoga; a sour dough bread and butter crash course with Pamela Brunton, who was en-route to Belgium to open an artisan bakery and restaurant; and walks guided by wilderness expert Kevin Maule. Polly and Ross could not have brought together a more impassioned group of people. Polly, formerly the chef at Ord Ban, delighted us with plate after plate of exquisite food over the course of the weekend. The highlight was the featherblade of beef slow cooked for eight hours and served with fondant potato and salsa verde. The meal was beautifully complemented with wines chosen by Ross. We all ate together round the big kitchen table and talked well into the night. Polly and Ross could not have made us any more
welcome. The combination of a lovely house, wonderful food and the chance to learn new skills in a relaxed and informal atmosphere really is a winning one. Prices from £425 for a three day, fully catered,
residential workshop
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