EVENING TIMES Thursday December 19 2013 420,284 WEEKLY AUDIENCE IN PRINT AND ONLINE 43 TRAVEL Norry Wilson finds west is best for peace, quiet and fabulous food

The Loch Melfort Hotel, just 19 miles from , sits at the head of its own bay and offers some of TAKE THE the finest views in HIGH ROAD

By NORRY WILSON must be one of the most stunning HE west coast of TRAVEL FACTS restaurant views in Scotland Scotland often A nightcap back in the lounge, reveals its finest face l Norry Wilson stayed as a where a once roaring log fire had once most of the guest of the Loch Melfort Hotel. died back to a cosy glow, sent us summer tourists have l For further details and special to our beds feeling like well-fed Tlong departed. offers, visit www.lochmelfort. clan chiefs. co.uk or call 01852 200 233. This is nowhere more true than The next morning, with the l Garden: www.nts. at the award-winning Loch coming of the dawn, the view org.uk/property/arduaine- Melfort Hotel, 19 miles south of from our balcony was even more garden Oban, where an out of season eye-popping, with the sun’s rosy break provides the perfect glow sending orange fingers of opportunity to relax and recharge light over the offshore islands. If your batteries. Owned by Calum and Rachel Scotland’s famous Arduaine mouth-watering menu. The local you want to see things in more Built in 1898 as a private house, Ross, Scotland’s Hoteliers of the Garden, a haven for rare plant Clachan Seil oysters and freshly detail, the hotel owners thought- this pet-friendly hotel is as Year 2013, their front of house and tree specimens. We found a landed langoustine make diners fully stock each bedroom with its sophisticated as it is laid back, staff can offer a wealth of advice walk around the gardens an ideal selfish with their shellfish. own set on binoculars. and offers some of the finest sea on good local walking routes and way to work up an appetite for Breakfast, back in the Asknish and island views in Scotland. nearby attractions. The historic dinner. And what a meal it was. E madE short work of Restaurant, provided a formida- On our one-night visit we Glen, with its famous We chose to eat in the hotel’s two the cracking crustaceans ble ‘full Scottish’, although stayed in a balcony room, in the collection of standing stones, is AA Rosette-starred Asknish Bay before tucking into a kippers, cereal and other, lighter, just a short ramble away, as is the Restaurant. Less formal but Wfabulous plate of lamb, more healthy options were also main house. And even though it came equipped with a flat screen Craobh Haven marina. But the equally fine food is available in from the local airds Farm, and a available. TV, it was that view which kept real attraction is the serenity and the cosy Chartroom Bistro. fat and unctuous serving of While just one night couldn’t on drawing us back to the solitude of the hotel itself. Making the most of its surf and monkfish. reveal the full magic of this place, window; an ever-changing vista Set within 17 acres of its own turf location, the hotel’s chefs And if you time dinner right, it was certainly enough to make of sea and sky, all framed with garden grounds, the hotel source the freshest local seafood, all the while you are eating, you sure we will soon take the high warm autumn colours. neighbours the National Trust for meat and game to offer up a truly can watch the sun set over what road back to Loch Melfort.