Tartan, Tatties and The Trossachs: Jane Wilson enjoys the hospitality and breathtaking views of Cameron House Hotel on Loch Lomond.
The light played hide and seek, shimmering on the surface, hiding behind greenery, shadowing a sea plane at the end of the jetty and lacing the trails of passing boats. Mystic, moody and atmospheric. As I stood absorbed by the spellbinding views of Loch Lomond from the delightful alcove of the turreted feature of my suite, the tale of Rapunzel came to mind. If I was standing a little higher, I could pretend to be at the top of the tower but I wasn’t locked in a sparsely furnished room. Instead I was wallowing in the sumptuous surroundings of Cameron House Hotel and free to watch the gentle ripples of Loch Lomond waltz gracefully from my window and explore all the luxuries of this historic property.
History of Cameron House
This luxury property opened as a hotel in 1990 with a fascinating history dating back to the 15th century. In 1823, under the ownership of the Smolletts, a local family of shipbuilders and artists, plans were finalised for extensive renovations that would transform the home into a grand baronial mansion, known today as Cameron House Hotel. Over two centuries, the resort has been remodelled and visited by literary greats and political stalwarts including Empress Eugenie and Sir Winston Churchill in the 1900s. It was once a popular tourist attraction and bear park in the 70s when wild animals such as bison and black, brown and Himalayan bears formed part of the scenery.
Inside the hotel
There is a total of 298 rooms which range from one-bedroom suites, family rooms, loch view and garden terrace bedrooms. The rooms are designed in a deep and dark colour scheme dressed in Scottish textiles in honour of its location and accentuating the traditional, baronial architectural details. Inviting, peaceful and unique. The 14 suites include the indulgence of a complimentary mini bar, a Nespresso machine for your caffeine intake and a tempting miniature bottle of Glenmorangie Single Malt Whisky gifted on the side table.
It sits proudly at the edge of the Loch flaunting its distinguishing peaked gables and decorative turrets. Inside is the leisure centre which includes a 18m swimming pool, family pool with slides, steam room, sauna, and bubble pool. The impressive fitness facility features the latest Technogym machines and equipment. For entertainment, there’s a premium cinema, the Wee Shop (not so wee) and a lounge area. The corridors are lined with photographs of previous famous guests – Barack Obama, Clint Eastwood and Gary Barlow – and furnishings that nod to its heritage. As for sampling those Scottish wee drams and chef’s Scottish delights, there are several bars and restaurants.
Dine and drink Scottish style, think neeps, tatties and haggis
One of the most traditional dishes in Scotland is haggis, neeps and tatties, (turnips and potatoes). Haggis is a combination of meat, oatmeal, onions, salt and spices and served as part of the Scottish breakfast at Cameron House with black pudding as well as Scottish porridge and of course more healthier options and creative smoothie mixes. This first meal of the day was appetizingly laid out in The Cameron Grill with courteous staff fashioning their Cameron clan tartan dress.
This was also the venue for dinner where the menu described dishes as modern fusion with a focus on grilled food. I indulged in pan-seared Orkney Scallops with a Rhubarb Chutney and Scurvy Grass Oil, followed by Guinea Fowl with a brandy green peppercorn sauce and to finish, a Cameron Pink Lady Apple Tarte Tatin. Delicious.
To toast the occasion, the expansive Scot’s Bar overflows onto a terrace to admire the views while along the walls, bottles of whiskey form part of the wallpaper. There’s also the Tavern for a more informal experience with sports on screen, quizzes and live music on certain evenings. Drinks and meals are also served alfresco on the lawn, weather permitting.
A gentle stroll away is the Marina and the Vista Italian Restaurant with mushroom and truffle aranchini, tempting plates of over-sized pizzas, fresh pasta dishes and sweet endings of tiramisu and affogato (gelato with hot double expresso). If you wanted to join the afternoon guests and visitors in the lounge area of the hotel, the Lobby Bar served traditional afternoon tea.
The Club House (in the Cameron Club) was a ride away, courtesy of the hotel’s transport. Here it was more informal with a menu featuring dishes such as sea food chowder, beef brisket taco and sticky toffee pudding, served as the screens beamed in golf tournaments and football matches while you dined.
The Cameron Club, Golf & Spa
The Cameron Club (formerly the Carrick Estate) with two golf courses (9- and 18-hole) and an award-winning spa is situated two miles north, just a ten-minute drive away.
The Spa was worth visiting. The thermal facilities are well laid out with a choice of experiences, a hydrotherapy pool, a small rooftop infinity pool, steam rooms, ice bath, aromatherapy room, infra-red sauna and a café. A windowed sauna looked out to ducks waddling outside on the golf course posing a good distraction from the heat inside. The treatment room area was tranquil, with the soft twinkle of candles leading to spacious soothing areas to relax.
I enjoyed a ‘Hide With Me’ treatment which awarded me 60-minutes of me-time. Bliss. It included a back, neck and shoulder massage with a personalised express facial (thankfully, not so express) with special attention to eyes and lips, areas often neglected, finishing with a short scalp treatment and head massage. The spa uses quality ESPA and Made of Life Organics products.
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond is the largest inland stretch of water in Britain and one of the most popular destinations in Scotland. The Loch, which famously features in the song ‘The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond’, extends north for around 24 miles from Balloch, popularly known as an access point to the Highlands. The Loch is home to over 30 small islands, including Inchmurrin, Britain’s largest fresh-water island, and Inchcailloch, which may not be the largest, but it is the most accessible. This freshwater Loch crosses the Highland Boundary Fault, often considered the boundary between the Lowlands of Central Scotland. In total, there are 33,000 lochs in Scotland and one lake.
Celtic Warrior
One of the highlights was the trip on Loch Lomond aboard the hotel’s boat, the Celtic Warrior, which carries up to ten guests. This hour-long voyage explored the Loch with views of Ben Lomond, the first of the southerly mountains. Skipper Collette and assistant Joanne provided a running commentary of this gateway to the Highlands, and were well-versed in the history of the Highland boundary fault line which we passed over. It was fascinating to imagine these lands once joined with North America before the glaciers divided us with great stretches of water. The cruise runs four one-hour trips daily (£55 per adult or £35 for children).
Location
Cameron House is a good base to visit the Trossachs area, known as Scotland in miniature where its mountains and lochs were Rob Roy McGregor’s (Scotland’s most notorious outlaw) hunting ground. The estate sits amidst a National Park and proudly within108 acres of land. There are bicycles to use or a woodland walk to enjoy along Lomond Shores to Balloch.
With memorable views, a historic mansion and an award-winning spa, it would be a shame to be Rapunzel and miss the Cameron House Hotel experience.
Next steps
To plan and book your trip to Scotland, call Silver Travel Advisor on 0800 412 5678.
