Travel: Cameron House’s lochside lodges are the perfect boltholes for families to unwind

Scotland could hardly be described as lacking in iconic venues. But is there anywhere more quintessentially Scottish, more likely to stir patriotic yearning among natives and idealistic dreams among distant foreigners, than Loch Lomond? It is certainly debatable.

The Loch’s bonnie, bonnie banks (sorry) have drawn visitors like moths to a flame since the dawn of a time (nearly).

There are those that contend that it has become too much of a tourist trap, too busy to properly appreciate, but visit the right place at the right time and you might just encounter something approaching perfection.

Late winter (or early spring if you are feeling particularly charitable) could be seen as a questionable choice for a Scottish break, but it turned out to be just the job for our clan.

Cameron House lodges

Our destination for the weekend was the decidedly upmarket lodges at Cameron House.
Driving on to the tranquil site, past the rather grand hotel and golf course, with the loch on the left, one is enveloped by a very welcome sense of calm, helped, doubtless, by the rather simplistic check-in system.

All the necessary faffing with details can be done in advance, meaning you can simply park up and enter your lodge without any of the queueing and waiting around for keys that can otherwise add a layer of frustration and stress to the start of what should be a relaxing break.

Our accommodation for the weekend was a three-bedroom luxury lodge, promising all the mod cons. It didn’t disappoint.

© Paul Reich

The lodges are well appointed and spacious. The open plan upper floor included access on to a lovely balcony overlooking the golf course – and would have been ideal for al fresco dining were the weather a tad more charitable.

The living area was vast, with large dining table, spacious kitchen and generous sitting space. The bedrooms, too, were all of a decent size, with two boasting en-suite facilities.

With the children having bagsied their beds and settled down in front of the TV (each room has its own flat-screen set), we decided to take a pre-dinner stroll along some of the many walking trails which criss-cross the sprawling Cameron House site.

There were not too many fellow walkers out and about, making for a very tranquil and enjoyable way to unwind and make some space for the meal to come.

Dining out

It was as well we did, as it helped to ensure there was capacity to enjoy a truly delicious dinner at the Cameron Grill. A couple of minutes’ stroll from the lodge, the Grill was bustling with customers, but well-staffed by attentive and friendly waiters and waitresses.

The menu is varied, offering everything from Cullen skink and steak tartare to monkfish and lamb rump. The vegetarian in our party was also well catered for, with a delicious dish of Ras el Hanout spiced courgettes.

The corn-fed chicken is also highly recommended, while the younger diners were delighted to find a tender steak on the kids’ menu.

During the weekend we also lunched at the Tavern – a far more relaxed venue featuring classic pub grub – and dined at the Clubhouse (a couple of miles away, but accessed via a complimentary car transfer ride).

Both proved to be excellent options, but for the finest dining experience, the Grill undoubtedly comes most highly recommended.

Taking to the loch

Awaking refreshed on the Saturday morning, it seemed churlish not to enjoy the delights of the Loch itself, and so it was that we found ourselves toddling along to the nearby Marina – and gingerly clambering in to a “katakanu”.

Having been provided with a very brief and unfussy safety briefing (and decked out in fetching buoyancy jackets) we enjoyed a wonderful 45 minutes on the glass-like water. While the parents put in the effort and paddled strenuously, the younger members of the party dabbed ineffectually at the surface of the water (honestly, they were barely even trying…).

One short lesson in aquatic motion later and our family found ourselves able to co-ordinate our efforts sufficiently to travel not only in a straight line, but even turn ourselves in a circle to fully appreciate the magnificent views from all angles. Very satisfying.

The morning had been cool but still and – mercifully – dry. The afternoon brought with it rain, but that couldn’t dampen the spirits of our adventure-hungry mob and we enjoyed a terrific bout of laser clay shooting on the lawn in front of Cameron House.

Given the way the young offspring were toting their weapons, it was perhaps just as well for our fellow guests that they were firing lasers rather than real cartridges, but it was great fun.

Credit, too, to the organisers – setting up in all that rain can’t have been very pleasant but they remained upbeat and friendly throughout.

Numerous other activities are on offer at Cameron House too (the archery looked entertaining, and the numerous golfers of all ages would suggest the championship course is also worth a go).

It wouldn’t be possible to do it all in one weekend – but then what better excuse to book in a return trip?

Factfile

Cameron Lodges offer a variety of self-catering lodges, holiday cottages and luxurious “Mansion House” suites.

Situated in the heart of the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park, the site is 25 miles from Glasgow Airport.

Activities on offer include jet and water skiing, paddle boarding, kayaking, mountain bikes, 4×4 off-road driving, Segway trips and clay pigeon shooting.

P.S. Loch Lomond is a freshwater loch that stretches for 22 miles and is seen as the divide between Lowland and Highland Scotland. The loch contains many islands, including Inchmurrin, the largest fresh-water island in the British Isles. The loch is a popular attraction for many, with kayaking and paddleboarding among the top activities.