David Dalziel treated his family to a weekend of five-star luxury and relaxation in Killin
No two words in the English language get my young children more excited than these: hot tub.
Mention this to them and they explode with excitement and can’t get into their swimming costumes quick enough. So, when I told them we were spending the weekend at a holiday home that came complete with a sunken, outdoor hot tub, they were beside themselves.
They weren’t alone, as their parents were rather excited at the prospect as well. We were to spend the weekend at The Crannog, a luxury cottage – in the style of the ancient loch dwellings found throughout Scotland around 2,500 years ago – overlooking the River Lochay.
Having made the scenic drive from Aberdeen to Killin in just under three hours, we were delighted to shut the rain outside as we stepped into our warm, modern, spacious accommodation.
From the stylish kitchen to the open-plan dining-living area, our weekend home oozed class. The floor-to-ceiling windows afforded us prime views of the river and, later that evening, we were lucky enough to see a large deer foraging about two metres from where we watched.
But first things first, bags out of the car it was time to hit the hot tub for some alfresco water fun. And what a hot tub it was. All four of us were accommodated comfortably and enjoyed the two jet settings as well as the ever-changing coloured lights. What a way to spend a chilly Friday evening in late April.
After our refreshing soak, the chill of the night was banished by the thick dressing gowns and underfloor heating – always a treat.
With the children finally in bed, the adults had the option of two televisions for entertainment – one in the living room and one in the bedroom. This is a great touch for parents with young children, in the interests of not disturbing their sleep – and getting some much-needed relaxation time for themselves.
Saturday morning began with, you guessed it, another dip in the tub, before we formulated a plan for the day. There is so much to do in the Loch Tay area, from golfing, Munro climbing, water sports and much more. Conveniently, if you are keen on fishing, you need go no farther than the balcony, as The Crannog has fishing rights for salmon for the river by the property. And, if you get lucky, you can cook your catch on the property’s own barbecue.
We were feeling a little more adventurous and decided to make the short journey to Auchingarrich Wildlife Centre, by Comrie. A firm favourite with the kids from past visits, Auchingarrich is a fantastic centre, where you can easily spend an entire day going between the animals, soft play, tractors, cafe and play park. We did just that, and the kids loved every aspect – from the zip-wire to the crazy golf and from feeding the lemurs to handling three-day-old chicks.
A first for me was actually seeing a chick hatch out of its egg in an incubator. What a sight as it finally pushed its way out of its shell and staggered into the world, bemused and dishevelled, like a professional footballer at the end of a night out. It was a thoroughly entertaining experience.
After a day in the fresh air and sunshine, we were ready for a feed, although, unlike the lemurs from Auchingarrich, we were after more than unripe bananas and carrots.
The Bridge of Lochay Hotel was the perfect venue for us, as it offers great food and is about 100 metres from the front door of The Crannog.
The Bridge of Lochay is a traditional Scottish hotel, with tartan carpets, wood-panelled walls and a friendly welcome. And its menu sums up what I absolutely love about the Scottish hospitality industry in 2015. You can be virtually anywhere in the country, be it a big city or the middle of nowhere, and still find a gem of an eatery that you just did not expect.
I was delighted with the offerings here, and I genuinely could not decide what to choose until my hand was forced by the arrival of the waitress. King prawn and west-coast crab fishcake with quail eggs, caper salad and aioli; duck two ways, black cherry and orange compote, or sea-salted Scottish scallops, spinach and chestnut salad, bacon julienne and champagne sauce. It was to be the fishcake, and it was delicious.
Not to be outdone, my wife mixed and matched from the two menus and was impressed with the vegetarian options, often so lacking in originality in many establishments. Her starter of wild mushroom, spinach and Strathdon cheese served on a toasted croute was given the seal of approval.
With it being in season, my main of pan-seared lamb rump, redcurrant and mint jus, fondant potatoes and vegetables was beautiful, and a reminder of what a glorious meat this is. I’m sure I’d have been equally pleased with any of the other choices, from oven-baked cod loin, shin of Scotch beef tower to grilled trout fillets.
Vegetarian option number two was gnocchi with butternut squash and a truffle sauce, and it was received as enthusiastically as the starter.
Needless to say, after the short walk back to The Crannog, it was hot tub time once more, but not before we had put the kids to bed and my wife and I could enjoy the bubbles all to ourselves. There’s nothing quite like sitting in a hot tub in the quiet of the countryside, looking up at the stars in the clear night sky after being well fed and watered.
The weekend came to an end all too quickly, and tearing my young son away from his beloved hot tub resulted in a 30-minute tantrum. Furthermore, the following morning, when we were back to the reality of home, my two-year-old daughter turned to me, tilted her head, and asked expectantly: “Hot tub time?”
Sadly not, but I certainly hope we’ll return to The Crannog in the near future for another weekend of good, clean fun.
TRAVEL FACTS
The Crannog, Bridge of Lochay, Killin, Stirlingshire FK21 8TN
Short breaks are available from £330 for two nights with three-night weekend breaks at £495. Weekly prices range from £675 in the low season to £900 in the summer season.
www.craggantoul.net
Telephone: 07977 485 866
E-mail: craggantoulproperties@gmail.com
www.bridgeoflochay.co.uk
www.auchingarrich.co.uk