LIFESTYLETRAVEL

LIFESTYLETRAVEL

Warm
highland
welcomes
and
delightful
dinners

Kincraig Castle Hotel, near Invergordon

Golf 20/20

Northern Woman took to the

road this summer following the
Scottish scenic route to the
Highlands. First stop was at old
coaching inn, Taynuilt Hotel,
near Oban.

Not just perfect vision, but a statement

of how many golf courses are within a
20 mile radius of Kincraig. Whatever
your handicap, there is a course within
20 miles that will suit you.

n a road trip through Argyll along the

west coast of Scotland we received
a warm welcome at Taynuilt Hotel
after a long day in the car, and enjoyed a
wonderful dinner in the restaurant. The
food was totally amazing, made with locally
sourced produce and was so well presented.
The 25-year old head chef /proprietor
John McNulty is passionate, driven, and
committed to raising food to high standard
gastro pub style. A lot of care and effort
goes into ensuring his food has big flavours,
generous portions and is appropriately
priced. The menu includes fish and seafood
favourites the scallops with Prosciutto
ham were amazing including a main
course of slow-cooked venison served
with wholegrain mustard mash. The chefs
homemade sour dough bread was a real
treat.
The staff were really professional, friendly
and helpful, eager to make us comfortable
throughout our stay, and keen to promote
their excellent choices of food, whiskey and
gin with friendly advice.
Our room was the Loch Etive Suite, and
it was very comfortable. The bedrooms
in the 3-star traditional coaching inn are
all named after local lochs and ours (Loch

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NW

www.taynuilthotel.co.uk
www.kincraig-castle-hotel.co.uk
www.kincraig-castle-hotel.co.uk/hotel/
golf-courses.php
www.poferries.com/eu/larne-troon

s were amazing.
Locally sourced scallop

Taynuilt Hotel, old coaching inn

Etive) was decorated in rustic French

antique furniture and had a nautical theme.
It included a giant TV screen.
The rooms are well presented but in a
process of updating - but the rest is so good
it doesnt matter. David Lapsley, General
Manager said, Our rooms are tied to the
nature and age of the building, but we
do have a refurbishment plan and we are
working to it.
If youre near Oban, I urge you to
dine here, you will not be disappointed.
In a brilliant location in between many
interesting sights, castles, beaches and more,
its also a great base to explore Loch Awe
and Cruachan and its only a 20-minute
drive or train trip into the busy centre of
Oban.

By yon bonnie loch...

We ate our delicious full Scottish breakfasts

in a bright and sunny room the next day,

and set off, following other scenic lochs
northward, Loch Linnhe, Loch Leven, past
Ben Nevis and on to Loch Ness. Just north
of Inverness we arrived at the turreted
19th century manor overlooking the
Cromarty Firth which was once the home
of the MacKenzie clan.
Kincraig Castle is approached by an
impressive drive through its immaculate
mature gardens. Although the exterior
remains largely unchanged since the early
1800s the interior has been extensively
refurbished and beautifully decorated.
Husband and wife team, Ray and
Amy Grant, take the time to offer a very
personal welcome to guests, may of whom
return again and again. Charming and
generous, the proprietors and their staff
were all extraordinarily friendly. The
young people employed were attentive,
friendly and polite, and have been welltrained in offering hospitality to guests.
There is no lift, but the receptionist
insisted on getting someone to take our
cases upstairs.
The bedrooms in this quality 4-star
hotel ooze warmth, comfort, with elegant
furniture throughout. Our room was very

A lovely little seating area in the turret overlooks the lawns.

spacious, with a lovely little seating area

in the turret overlooking the lawns, and a
large en suite.
The enormous lounge with blazing log
fire, wood panelling and comfortable
leather chesterfield seating is welcoming
and adds to the tranquil charm of this
historic country house. Dinner in the hotel
was delightful asparagus spears served
with poached duck egg and hollandaise
sauce and pan-fried scallops with black
pudding and curried tomato coulis.

Hidden Wonders

Food and presentation was excellent and

the surroundings quiet and relaxing.
The restaurant dishes use the best
seasonal produce from the highlands of
Scotland and their AA rosette award is
testament to the superb quality. Breakfast
was also good and cooked fresh as you
order it. Kincraig castle is perfectly situated
for exploring the northern highlands and
the friendly town of Inverness, half an
hour away.

Near Taynuilt is one of the countrys most amazing engineering achievements hidden
deep within the mountain of Ben Cruachan on the shores of Loch Awe, Cruachan
Power Station. Discover one of the hidden wonders of the Highlands, a power station
buried one kilometre below the ground. At its centre lies a massive cavern, high enough
to house the Tower of London where enormous turbines convert the power of water
into electricity.

P&O Ferries operate the shortest, fastest,

most frequent crossings between Northern
Ireland and Scotland.
With the choice of two routes, either from
Larne to Cairnryan, with up to seven sailings
a day and a journey time of just two hours, or
from Larne to Troon, with a journey time of
two hours fifteen minutes, makes getting to
Scotland even more convenient.
The Express sails between Larne and Troon
until September 30th, 2015.
P&Os great value fares start from 89 from
Larne to Cairnryan. Or take the most direct
route from Northern Ireland to Central Scotland
for an additional 15, when compared to the
equivalent Larne to Cairnryan sailing, and get
to the good stuff even faster.
With the completion of the newly improved
A8, the main route network linking Belfast and
other major gateways to the Port of Larne,
makes it even easier for passengers sailing
across the Irish Sea to Scotland.
For further
information on all
sailings and the
latest P&O Ferries
offers please visit
POFerries.com

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