SELF CATERING
Forest Holidays, Ardgarten, Argyll Reviewed by Philip and Anne Laidler from
Kelso The forecast wasn’t good for the weekend we were to spend at Forest Holidays, in Ardgartan in Argyll. However, when we arrived at this stunning location, beneath Ben Arthur, on the shores of Loch Long, the weather was far from our minds. As the four of us walked into our Golden Oak cabin, there was a chorus of ‘Wows’ from us all. The cabin, right on the lochside, was spacious and cosy, with a log burner and underfl oor heating. It was beautifully appointed and immaculately clean. The well fi tted kitchen led on to a deck with a hot tub and BBQ. Laurent, the general manager explained the workings of the hot tub and other electrical equipment. Dusk saw us brave the hot tub – a fi rst for us all!
It was quite special to sit there in the dark, watching the lights twinkle across the loch in nearby Arrochar. For the more energetic, there’s canoe and bike hire available, and numerous forest walks and lochside trails to follow. We walked each evening along the shore in the vain hope of seeing otters. We did see a sea eagle the night we did a twilight walk with Andy,
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the ranger, whose extensive knowledge of the local wildlife was fascinating. On our last morning we ate breakfast watching two seals play in the loch. For those who want to explore the area, Inverary,
Loch Lomond and Loch Fyne are easily accessible and well worth a visit. On site, the well-stocked shop offers pizza delivery service and bread made on the premises. We were so impressed by the setting, the accommodation and friendly staff that we are planning a return visit. Batteries were certainly recharged and we all returned home utterly energised! Prices from £355 for a midweek break for four people
St Andrews Coach Houses Reviewed by Anne and Barclay Sinclair, East
Kilbride Set in lovely countryside on a working farm, St Andrews Coach Houses offer luxury holiday accommodation just a few minutes drive from this famous golfi ng town. We were warmly welcomed to by owner Maggie Picken who enthusiastically told us the history of these beautiful and superbly equipped holiday homes and the attractions of St Andrews and the East Neuk of Fife. The Castle Coach House is fi tted out to a high
Hill of Maunderlea, Aberchirder, Aberdeenshire
Reviewed by editor Richard Bath and family Our brand new wooden chalet would be the perfect base from which to explore Speyside, and was even better placed for touring the Moray coast, which was the purpose of our expedition. If you have never visited this part of the world, you’ve missed out big time – the fi shing ports of Portsoy, Banff, Macduff, Whitehills, Gardenstown, Cullen and Pennan all have different things to offer, ranging from cutesy shops to restaurants and museums, plus wildlife trips out along the coast to Troup Head (where a basking shark dived under our RIB). As well as being centrally-placed the accommodation is spotless and set amid 14 acres of woods and landscaped grounds where the kids can run riot in total safety. Built over two fl oors, the four Hill of Maunderlea eco-lodges lodges each sleep up to six people, have great views over the valley, and are heated sustainably via air heat pumps. The level of fi nishing is great inside, with mod-cons such as WiFi and Blu-Ray TV, while the decking outside is perfect for barbeques and chilling out with a glass of wine. Last of all, owner Lorraine is on hand with helpful advice, and proved to be a font of knowledge. Prices from £380 per week for a lodge
standard. Thoughtful touches such as the welcome basket, soft leather settees and comfortable king beds complete with cotton sheets and duvets refl ect the care that has been lavished on these properties. French doors from the lounge lead to a lawned area, bathed in sunshine from mid-morning, perfect for a glass of wine or G&T. We were fortunate to enjoy good weather but even if the Scottish rain arrives John and Maggie have catered for holidaying children and the young at heart with a fantastic play barn complete with table tennis, croquet set, pool table, straw tunnels, darts and much more. This is a wonderful part of Fife, with championship golf courses, museums, fabulous beaches and attractions ranging from the Secret Bunker, Wemyss-ware Pottery, Botanic Gardens and the Fife coastal villages, together with a terrifi c selection of dining opportunities. Prices from £299 for a three night short break
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1) The Long Barn at Dunskiag Tel: 01887 829111
www.dunskiag.co.uk
2) Duntrune Castle Holiday Cottages Tel: 01546 510271
www.duntrunecastle.com
3) Forest Holidays, Ardgarten, Argyll Tel: 03330 110495
www.forestholidays.co.uk
4) Hill of Maunderlea Lodges Tel: 01466 780488 www.
aberdeenshireluxurylodges. com
5) St Andrews Coach Houses Tel: 01334 477593 www.
standrewscoachhouses.co.uk
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