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Page 38
Majestic Ben Cruachan towers over Loch Awe, Kilchurn Castle and Ardanaseig
Romance in the
shadow of big Ben
THE only hollow feature about a
visit to Ardanaiseig is the beautiful
Ben Cruachan horseshoe across the still
waters of Loch Awe.
Ardanaiseig nestling in 120 acres of
landscaped woodland grounds in the
heart of Argyll was voted Scotlands
Top Country House Hotel for 2015-16 and
it isnt difficult to see why,
Across the peaceful waters from its
lochside location sits Ben Cruachan, its
insides scooped out 50 years ago in a
magnificent feat of engineering to
provide electricity via an ambitious
hydro scheme.
The mighty Ben stands brooding and
quiet, despite the industry inside,
reflecting the relaxed and leisurely vibe
of Ardanaiseig itself.
The country pile sits near the village
of Taynuilt, 12 miles from Oban, and we
took an easy
XXXXXX drive from the central belt
xxxxxx
withXxxx
a stop for coffee at the Green Welly
restaurant, cafe and shop in Tyndrum.
We arrived mid-afternoon in the crisp,
glorious browns of early winter to the
mature grounds of the hotel with the site
of Ardanaiseig itself, framed by the loch
in the background, inducing a warmth as
we took the short walk from the car park.
A roaring log fire at reception crackled
a cheery hello as a pile of wellies of all
sizes free for guest use were lined up
either side of the front door like a
welcome committee.
Theres a shabby elegance to it all,
reflected in the careful clutter of
hand-picked pieces of furniture, antique
bric-a-brac and old oil paintings adorning
the walls of deep red and green.
We were shown upstairs along quirky
corridors to our room, which was the size
of a small flat with a queen-size bed and
plump velvet chairs either side of a bay
window that looked miles down the
sheet glass of the lochs calm surface,
reflecting the nearby forests and hills like
a mirror.
We settled at our leisure before
heading out to explore a mapped winter
walk (those wellies came in handy),
meandering past rippling streams,
waterfalls and even stumbling into a
secret walled garden.
Later, we joined other guests in the
bar, again in front of a cosy open fire, for
GARY RALSTON
g.ralston@dailyrecord.co.uk
drinks before dinner in Ardanaiseigs
fine restaurant, which boasts two
AA Rosettes.
The worries of city life faded away as
we relaxed in the moment
and its little wonder the
venue has been named by
the editors of the UKs
Late deals
Good Hotel Guide as
their favourite romantic
and country house hotel
for 2017.
The atmosphere of
relaxed elegance
continued afterwards as
we chatted with fellow
guests back in the bar but
eventually the nightcap,
plump sofa and warmth
from the fire combined to
send us packing to bed.
We rose early the next
morning, enjoying the
quiet before a handsome
breakfast sent us on the
road home happy.
perfect getaway Ardanaiseig
Facts
During March, Ardanaiseig are
offering a special rate of bed and
breakfast for two from 150 a night
for a minimum two-night stay.
To make a reservation, call
01866833333 or email
hello@ardanaiseig.com. For more
info, visit www.ardanaiseig.com
with sally mclean s.mclean@dailyrecord.co.uk
WOOED BY JEWEL OF INDIA
Its easy to fall for
Keralas charms
from spicy food
and thrilling views
to exotic colours
and a very saucy
temptress
Neil Batey
reporters@dailyrecord.co.uk
ID only been in Kerala for
less than a day and already a
voluptuous Indian stunner in
fancy make-up, elaborate
clobber and blingy jewellery
was giving me the glad eye.
However, she was actually a
male actor performing an ancient
classical Indian dance called
Kathakali.
For hours prior to the show, he
had been painstakingly applying
Minukku a colourful cosmetic
used to represent a beautiful young
seductress called
Lalitha.
Rather than casting
me flirty looks, the
From Glasgow, May, dancer was drawing
14 nights in Orlando,
flight only, from 329pp. from an incredible
From Glasgow, repertoire of Navarasam
September 1, 14 nights stylised facial
in 5* AI Turyaa Kalutara
Hotel, Sri Lanka,
expressions used to
convey emotions such
1359pp. as love, tranquillity
September 13, seven-
and awe.
night northern Europe Lalitha won me over,
cruise on MSC Preziosa.
shes quite the catch.
All-inclusive with inside
cabin, 699pp. No wonder the ruler of
heaven, Jayantha, is so
From Glasgow,
October 5, seven nights spellbound.
at 3* RO Golden Gate Staged in a temple
Hotel & Casino,
theatre in K eralas
Las Vegas, 599.
second-largest city
Go to www.holiday
andflightcentre.com or Kochi also known
as Cochin the
call 01698 425 444.
Kathakali show was a
kaleidoscopic spectacle
of colourful outfits, music and
mythical melodrama.
A big hit with visiting tourists,
it is exotic, intoxicating, surreal
and disarming adjectives you
could also use to describe this
gorgeous southern Indian state,
which is the setting for the new
ITV Sunday night medical drama
The Good Karma Hospital,
starring Amanda Redman and
Neil Morrissey (although it was
filmed in Sri Lanka).
I was in the region nicknamed
Gods Own Country with Globe
Travel Centre specialist tour
operators who offer personalised
holiday experiences in India, Sri
Lanka, Vietnam, Cambodia and
more. Globe provide local mobile
phones, cars, English-speaking
drivers, guides and experts based in
the arrival destinations.
We flew with Emirates, via
Daily Record Saturday, February 18, 2017
Big Wheel Neil at helm on his riverboat trip
Wheel deals The spice market at Kochi
SPECTACLE Kathakali dancers in action
Dubai, to Kochi. A short relay via
minibus took us to our first hotel,
Brunton Boatyard in Fort Cochin
the cultural hub of this port city.
An oasis of calm, Brunton takes
guests back to the days of the
British Raj, with a charming
old-world ambience.
My room had a gloriously comfy
four-poster bed and great views
overlooking the harbour mouth.
Kochi the so-called Queen of
the Arabian Sea was the centre of
the spice trade for centuries and
was colonised by several European
countries including Holland,
Portugal and Britain.
All those influences were there
MORE AT DailyRecord.CO.
as we took in the Dutch Palace, the
spice market, the Portuguese-built
Santa Cruz Basilica, St Francis
Church and the Jewish Synagogue.
The next day, after a delicious
breakfast of fresh fruit and dosa a
hot pancake served with sambar
and chutney we hopped back
into the van for the 30-mile drive to
Mararikulam.
Here, we checked into Marari
Beach Resort. Set in 25 acres of
coconut palm groves, it has 62
guest cottages including 13 with
their own private pool and garden.
The perfect place to get in touch
with your spiritual side, the Marari
offers yoga and meditation sessions
Daily Record Saturday, February 18, 2017
plus Ayurveda treatments Indias
science of herbal healing, which
dates back at least 3000 years.
For dinner, we gorged on a fresh
seafood banquet of king prawns and
lobster at the Beach Grill restaurant.
Kerala was named as one of the 10
paradises of the world by National
Geographic Traveller magazine and
its not hard to see why once you
venture into the backwaters a vast
expanse of placid waters which
branch off into countless canals,
coves, creeks, lakes and lagoons.
We headed over to Alappuzha,
where we boarded our amazing
home for the next two days a
houseboat called a kettuvallam.
Push the
boat out
Drift among
the beautiful
backwaters.
Picture: Getty
These curved converted rice barges
are made from bamboo, coir
(coconut fibre), tree bark and other
organic materials. Our vessel had
three bedrooms with en suite
bathrooms and was manned by a
captain, personal chef and assistant.
Sailing down this rural riverine
expanse is a unique experience. I
gazed out across the water at paddy
fields, brightly-clad women washing
their clothes, traders rowing by in
canoes and gardens of cashew trees.
Snake birds, herons and
kingfishers flew overhead while a
warm breeze carried the sound of
chanting from a nearby temple.
The next morning, we disembarked
Latedeals
From Glasgow on May 25, three nights B&B
at 4* Ibis Barcelona Mollet. Was 349, now
297pp. Day trips to Portaventura from 49pp.
From Glasgow on May 23, five nights half-
board at 4* Montemar Maritim Hotel in Santa
Susanna, Costa Brava. Was 406, now 347pp.
Free upgrade to half-board included.
From Edinburgh on May 16, 11 nights half-
board at 4* Flamboyan Caribe in Magaluf,
Majorca. Was 699, now 557pp.
Call 0141 222 2223 or visit
www.barrheadtravel.co.uk
Latedeals
From Glasgow on
February 27, four nights
B&B at 4* Hotel Roma,
Prague, 189.
From Glasgow on
March 1, seven nights
half-board at 4* Kefalos
Beach Village in Pathos,
Cyprus, 265.
From Glasgow, March
7 to 25, seven nights
all-inclusive at 4*
Barcelo Jandia Playa,
Fuerteventura, 479.
From Glasgow on
March 12, seven nights
half-board at 4* Hotel
Angela, Fuengirola,
Costa del Sol, 299.
Go to www.stewart
travel.co.uk or call
0800 091 2757.
Info
Globe Travel Centre have nine-night
escorted tours of Kerala from May to
September, prices from 855pp.
Includes two nights at Fort
Heritage hotel in Kochi, overnight
houseboat cruise, two nights at
Backwater Ripples resort in Alleppey,
two nights at Wildernest resort in
Periyar and two nights at the Estuary
Island beach resort in Kovalam.
Meals on B&B at all resorts, full
board on houseboat. Includes
transfers in chauffeur-driven car,
English-speaking guides, excursions
and entrance fees.
For more information, go to
globetravelcentre.com
Flights from the UK via Dubai with
Emirates not included supplement
550pp with Globe Travel Centre.
and travelled to Kumarakom, where headed out to the butterfly garden,
Coconut Lagoon is reachable only by swimming pool, Ayurvedic and yoga
taxi boat. centres, then drifted across the lake
Nestled along the eastern shore on a sunset cruise.
of the huge Vembanad Lake. This We devoured possibly our best
resort was rated among the 25 best meal in Kerala at the resorts
getaways in the world by Conde Nast Tharavadu restaurant enjoying red
Traveler magazine.
We were welcomed with a
rice, vegetarian spreads and a
variety of lip-smacking curries from
refreshing coconut drink, given a the buffet.
bindi dot on our foreheads and The next morning it was time to
picked up the keys to our Heritage bid a tearful farewell to Kerala after a
Mansion accommodation. once-in-a-lifetime trip.
It featured an outdoor open-roofed Globe Travel Centre plant a tree
bathroom so guests can shower every time a new client visits one of
under the stars, plus an upper storey the destinations. I might have to pop
with views of the lake. back soon to make sure its being
We were eager to explore so watered properly...
Page 39
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