IF YOU are the type of person who can’t decide whether to have a luxury hotel break where you can dine on the best local cuisine and relax in beautifully-designed rooms, or an active holiday packed with outdoor fun, then look no further.
The Torridon Hotel, Annat, about 60 miles from Inverness on the west coast, is the perfect place to enjoy exclusive luxury with a personal touch, with delicious food and wonderfully-appointed public areas making the hotel the perfect place for a relaxing stay.
The hotel is also ideal for those who wish to experience adventure, and was recently named the Scottish Activities Hotel of the Year.
The Torridon’s activities team offer access to a host of outdoor fun, including gorge scrambling, mountaineering, sea kayaking and clay pigeon shooting.
Adventure packages include a two-day/three-night break, featuring bed, breakfast and dinner. During the day, guests can walk or paddle through the wonderful Highland landscape, stopping to enjoy local food at stunning locations. As the daylight wanes, you will return to The Torridon for pre-dinner drinks and canapes, followed by a five-course fine dining menu.
For those looking to pack in as much as possible, the five-day ultimate package is crammed full of opportunities. Six nights wallowing in the Torridon Hotel’s exclusive luxury allows a full five days to explore the west coast, offering an unsurpassed opportunity for wildlife spotting, exploring and adventure.
A kayaking package takes in the famous Plockton, via a small cluster of islands, a day on Loch Marree with the chance to share the water with rare black-throated divers, and a visit to a viking burial site on Kishorn Island, with lunch taking the form of a barbecue with locally-sourced seafood.
Opt for a walking break and you will enjoy a trip to a secluded bothy with lunch by a waterfall, two day-long trips to Rona and the Shants on a cruise boat and a visit to the famous village of Applecross for a walk along its stunning peninsula, followed by a drink in the local pub.
The hotel is an escape in itself. Holder of three AA Rosettes, a Hotel of the Year award from the Scottish Licensed Trade News Awards, and countless others for its restaurant, it offers a first-class break in beautiful surroundings.
On entering, guests are welcomed by a roaring fire, before enjoying a specially-selected tipple in the Whisky Bar. Accommodation is provided by way of 19 luxurious bedrooms.
The menu at the Torridon also takes some beating, and rightly so, with the hotel having access to some of the country’s finest fresh ingredients, from locally caught seafood to beef reared on its own land.
Head chef Jason “Bruno” Birkbeck works with local suppliers to ensure that the quality of produce he is delivered is of the highest order. He can then ensure that each dish is cooked and presented to the highest standards.
For more information on The Torridon Hotel and its activity packages, visit www.thetorridon.com