Travel: Stars of our own show at Cameron House, Loch Lomond

With Cameron House in the background, passengers board a seaplane for a trip around Loch Lomond.

Top down, our little red convertible pulls up before the 18th-Century baronial mansion at Cameron House to the skirl of the bagpipes.

Dropping the keys into the palm of a liveried, smiling valet we take in the scene. A breeze tousles the treetops and sets the surface of the nearby loch aquiver. Beside the jetty, a sea plane renowned for flying royalty and Hollywood stars is preparing to board passengers.

Soon, we too will be taking off from the water to look down on one of the world’s most spectacular landscapes courtesy of the man who “taught Superman to fly”. But first it’s off to the marina where a motor launch awaits to take us on a Champagne cruise.

With check-in completed by super-efficient staff, we feel like A-Listers. And so we should! We are guests of the uber-indulgent five-star hotel on the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond.

Minutes later, with a song in our hearts and a flute in hand – the bubbles kind – we’re sailing away on the Celtic Warrior. And with the sun sparkling on the loch we take in pretty islands peppered with pristine sandy beaches and intriguing little coves, including Inchmurrin, the most southerly. At 1½ miles long, and half-a-mile wide, it is also the largest inland isle in the UK. Along with the islands of Creinch, Torrinch, Inchcailloch, and with Conic Hill to the east and Ben Buie to the south-west, Inchmurrin forms part of the Highland Boundary Fault Line, the crossing of which, our hostess enthuses, makes us Highlanders for the afternoon.

Not too far away and easily accessible by boat from the village of Luss and its flower-festooned, leaded-windowed 18th-Century stone cottages, is the island of Inchconnachan – home to a colony of wallabies.

The island is the former summertime playground of the late Fiona Bryde Gore, Countess of Arran, who introduced the Australian wallaby to Inchconnachan shortly after the Second World War.

There are 23 islands in Loch Lomond, too many for us to visit, so it’s with the clink of glasses and choruses of “Cheers!” that we bid goodbye to new-found friends on board. Back at our sumptuous twin room with luxurious en suite we change for dinner. Ours is one of 208 elegant rooms and majestic suites and offers a tantalising view of the seaplane, bobbing at its mooring.

After pre-dinner cocktails on the terrace of the Great Scots Bar, where we are warmed by al fresco heaters and cosy blankets, we head to the elegant Cameron Grill with its plush booths and low lights, an intimate setting for the dulcet tones of singer and pianist Emma Hale – the best voice we’ve heard since Karen Carpenter. With a sophisticated menu curated to feature the finest in local produce, we dine on pan-seared Orkney scallops, Chateaubriand, and Cameron Pink Lady apple tarte tatin – divine!

After a great night’s sleep we wake to a Champagne breakfast and an action-packed day. Enter Loch Lomond Seaplanes – Europe’s first scheduled seaplane service since the 1950s celebrating 20 years and 130,000 people flown since its launch in 2004 with a new amphibious Cessna.

Owned by David West, the airline has an impressive passenger list, including three-time Formula One World Champion Sir Jackie Stewart, Hollywood actor Ben Stiller, British TV adventurer Bear Grylls, and Prince Albert of Monaco.

A retired Boeing 747 captain, and former instructor and examiner, David even lays claim to teaching Superman, aka the late Christopher Reeve, to fly.

He reveals how aged 22 – before the advent of GPS – he was en route to Florida to deliver a twin-engine light aircraft to its new owner, and had stopped off in Iceland to prepare for the next leg of his route. With a grin he tells us: “As I was sitting there, this big guy with an American accent appeared and said, ‘Hi, my name is Chris. Have you done this before?’ He asked if I could help him as he did not have enough fuel.” David showed Reeve, then 24 and filming Superman, how to fly a route that would work given his fuel situation. He chuckles: “You could say I taught Superman to fly.”

Boarding us, he becomes my daughter’s superhero when he grants her the co-pilot’s seat for the best views of the Trossachs and the Kyles of Bute and Loch Fyne and on towards the Isle of Arran; a magnificent flight and the experience of a lifetime.

The Cameron Grill dining room oozes elegance.

Cameron House Resort has it all. Set in 400 acres, guests can explore by bike, kayak, paddle board, or jet ski. Its leisure centre boasts a family pool with waterslide, steam room and sauna, and there’s a bubble pool in which to relax while gazing at the panoramic views through its floor-to-ceiling picture windows. For the fitness conscious, there’s a state-of the-art gym. Steps from the pool is the fun family eatery The Tavern, with games, live music and quiz nights, and a short walk away, the dreamy La Vista Italian restaurant overlooking the marina. The resort also offers a luxury spa with rooftop pool and The Carrick, a beautiful 18-hole golf course a short shuttle ride away.

As rain falls on our final day, we snuggle down in the sumptous in-house cinema to enjoy the latest release, drinks and popcorn in hand. Cameron House has welcomed us like stars and we are in heaven.

P.S. Fiona Bryde Gore took part in a powerboat speed trial on Loch Lomond, aged 13 and from then on a love for speed accelerated. She was the first woman to travel faster than 100mph on water in 1980, and was awarded the prestigious Segrave Trophy, eventually earning the nickname “the fastest granny on water”.