Luxurious Scottish private island escape
My family and I are lucky enough to have been able to do this frequently by visiting the fabulous Isle of Eriska Hotel - a member of the Relais & Chateaux collection of luxury hotels and gourmet restaurants.
My kids love jumping out of the car before we get to the rickety wooden bridge which leads to the 300 acre island - they run ahead and then scream as the car rattles behind them! Then it's a short drive towards the welcoming red sandstone 19th Century Baronial "Big House". This is the hub of the island, with hotel reception, and the main bedrooms, as well as the Michelin star Restaurant for breakfast and dinner.
The modern Deck restaurant is above the Spa - with fabulous views over to Lismore and the hills of Ardnamurchan, as well as the island's own 6 hole golf course. There's plenty of opportunity to indulge in the best food around - but also lots of activities to burn off the calories too, including an indoor sports hall which the friendly staff will set up for tennis or football. Traditional pursuits such as croquet on the lawn or pitch and putt are good fun, but the hotel can arrange a wide range of activities with local providers, such as kayaking, sailing, fishing, archery, etc.
Once we've settled in (and enjoyed afternoon tea in the newly refurbished Piano Lounge or beside the roaring fire in the Hallway), I always want to walk down to the pier, at the opposite end of the island and look for seals or otters. The kids want to jump in the swimming pool, and before long it's time to get ready for dinner. In the winter time we have been lucky enough to see badgers coming right up to the door of the conservatory where they are fed every night. With long, light evenings in the summer, when it's not yet dark at 11.30pm, the sightings are less frequent but the staff say that the badgers do still come, although there is also a pine marten who likes the peanuts on offer!
This year the hotel has invested in 6 new "Hilltop Reserves" and the sales manager showed us round one - they are the ultimate escape, as you have complete privacy, but can obviously still use the facilities of the hotel. Each one bedroomed self catering property comes with its own sunken hot tub on the deck, with the best views in the world. Meals are available in the hotel, or you can order hampers and ready cooked meals to enjoy in the state of the art kitchen.
Eriska is a true favourite of my family, and it feels like home to us. I'd love to help you enjoy this peaceful escape, so if you want to build in a few nights to a longer Scottish itinerary, or if you just need a couple of nights escape from reality, please do get in touch!