19The Scotsman Saturday 2 February 2008Fi n e s tTrack down your perfect holidayCHUFFED:
You can
enjoy stunning
scenery in luxury
surroundings on
board the Royal
Scotsman, while
Skye8217s Three
Chimneys serves
wonderful foodAngela Dewar
urges you to climb on board and
enjoy the best breaks Scotland has to offerSOME things inlife are worth
splashing out on and there8217s no
shortage of inspired restaurants,
divine hotels and elegant bolt-
holes to escape to in Scotland.
Let the train take the strain and see the
country instyle froma comfortableseat
on boardthe RoyalScotsman. Itsteams
outof EdinburghWaverley,through
Perthshire and on to the Highlands.
Relax on a sofa or armchair in the
Edwardianobservationcar orgetsome
fresh airon theveranda atthe back,
watching the scenery gently pass by.
Abit likeacountryhouse hotelon
wheels,cabins havemahoganywalls
with marquetry inlay.The train actually
pullsintoasiding forthenight,soa
good night8217s sleep is guaranteed.
For some, the luxury experience is all
about the dining car, where Scottish
seafood andprime cutsare servedon
crisp white linens and shining silver.
Fewer than50 guests ata timecan in-
dulge in the pleasureof a cruise around
Scotland on board the Hebridean
Princess, thought tobe the smallest
luxury cruise ship in the world. It sets sail
from Oban, headingfor the stunning
coastline ofthe WesternIsles and
beyond. When it slips into remote lochs
andports,stepashore toexploreortry
guided walksin someof themost
remote and beautiful parts of the
countr y.
Discover oldfishing villageson the
Summer Isles, spot wild birds on the tiny
islandof Handa,see theCallanish
standing stones on Lewis and soak up
the history on Iona.
Back onboard, warmyourself bythe
inglenookfireplacein theTireelounge,
relaxin theconservatory orbrowse
through the books in the library. The
top-of-the-range Isle of Arran suite has a
separate day roomand Victorian bath-
room, whilebalcony cabinshave large
picture windows and private outdoor
seating.
Back on dry land, book a lodge retreat
onthe banksofalluringLoch Ness.Five-
starLoch NessLodgewasbuilt bylocal
craftsmen in the style of a traditional
Highland lodge and offers exclusive-use
accommodation with stunning views of
the lochfrom eachof itsseven
bedrooms aswell asaccess toits own
private stretch of loch shoreline.
With seven membersof staff, includ-
ing a chef who trained under celebrated
Englishrestaurateur MarcoPierre
White,yourevery needisattendedto.
Each uniquelystyled bedroomhas
large luxurybeds, softlinens, power
showers, flat-screen television, CD and
DVD players as well as Wi-Fi.
Thepampering continuesat
Escape,LochNess Lodge8217sspaand
therapy suite, providingsauna, hot tub
and afull rangeof treatmentsto
revive and replenish body and soul.
Or you could tryyour hand at fly
fishing, shooting, golfon nearby
championship courses,walking,
kayaking and mountain biking in some
of the country8217s finest settings.
In Perthshire,Atholl Estates8217Kindro-
chet Lodge is situated just outside the
village ofCalvine, abovethe River
Errochty, four miles from Blair Atholl.
It8217s theperfect placefor agetaway
with friendsand family,with fivetwin
roomsand threedoubles 8211aswell asa
room for your own cook. Take lazy walks
in the grounds, or if it8217s raining, play bil-
liards in the games room.
Foodiescan bookan organicbreak,
receiving fresh deliveries of organic beef
and lamb,reared onthe estateand
Scottish-grown fruit and vegetables
from a local supplier.
Thenget atasteoflife onthees-
tate, spendingtime witha game-
keeper, discovering the workings
oforganic cattleand sheepfarm-
ing, getting tipsfrom the castle
gardener, trekkingthe hillson a
Highland ponyor takinga Land
Rovertour. Locatedatthefoot ofthe
Cairngorms, with the picturesque vil-
lage of Blair Atholl and magnificent
Blair Castle at its heart, Atholl Estates is a
spectacular backdrop in which to relax.
Fortrulyamazingfood inasettingto
die for,there8217s nowherequite likeSkye8217s
Three Chimneys. The views from the old
crofter8217s cottage whichhouses this
stand-out restaurant, with stylish bed-
rooms inthe House Over Bynext door,
are almost as wonderful as the menu.
Light danceson thewater ofLoch
Dunvegan as it laps on the nearby shore.
The contoursof therugged Skyecoast-
line, with moorlandand heather-clad
hills, arethe perfectbackdrop todishes
jam-packed with local produce.
Langoustines, lobster and mussels
come from thesurrounding waters,
lamband beefarerearedon theisland
and vegetables, herbs and salad leaves
are served within hours of being picked.
Shirley Spear has spent the last 23
yearsbuilding theundisputedreputa-
tion ofthis tinyremote restaurant8211
three hours8217 drive from Inverness and 50
miles fromthe Skyebridge 8211on the
north-west coast. Recentlyshe handed
over thebaton inthe kitchento head
chef MichaelSmith, butthere isno
change in the quality of the award-
winning food.
In the heart of Perthshire, Crieff
Hydro has beenwelcoming guests for
the last 140 years. In that time, the facili-
ties might have changed, with a modern
lagoonpool andgym, butthe ideaof
creating ahaven torelax remains.
Choose from Hydro rooms in a choice of
traditionalormodern stylesorself-
cateringcottagesand lodges.Havea
treatment atthe Victorianspa, gofor a
swim or explore the grounds of the 900-
acre estate.
There8217s off-road drivingand quad
biking as well as horse riding, climbing
and golf.The kids8217area hasa cr232che,ad-
venture castle,play areasand evenits
own theatre.
It8217s a long, winding road which leads
to stylish Highlandretreat Monachyle
Mhor, tucked away in the Perthshire
hills, but it8217s well worth the effort.
Energeticowner andhead chefTom
Lewishastransformed thefamilyfarm
into anuber-stylish getaway.When
you8217veconqueredone offivelocal
Munros or tried your hand at salmon
fishing, there8217s no better place to be than
in front of the fire in the bar.
Cosyup inone ofthe snugseats
around the fireplace to enjoy a warming
nip ofwhisky and abite toeat. Or
indulgeinthea lacartemenu,packed
with freshgame, inthe restaurantnext
door,whichoverlooks LochVoiland
Loch Doine provides wonderful views of
the Trossachs.8216Get some
fresh air on
the veranda
at the back,
wat c h i n g
the scenery
gently pass
by 8217
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