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“Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond”
It was time for my last hotel break of 2017 and what better time than after the madness of Christmas! I really liked the idea of a cosy lodge hotel break in December and spotted one of our great luxury offers on at The Lodge on Loch Lomond in Luss. I decided to take my closest friend (Erin) away for a girly relaxing night away.
Located in central Scotland, the Lodge on Loch Lomond is very accessible via the main motorway links across the UK. The journey from Glasgow takes around 40 minutes via the M8 Erskine Bridge and A82. As we approached Luss, the views were particularly stunning with the snow covered mountain peaks in the distance and clear blue water.
We arrived at the hotel around 4.30pm. The drive was fairly easy and well signed posted to the hotel. As a classic Holly driving stunt however, I drove down the exit instead of the entrance to the car park! The car park did had plenty of spaces and managed to get one right outside the hotel entrance – once I found the way! The first thing we noticed about the hotel was the unique beachfront location and panoramic views over the UK’s largest Loch. We knew this was going to be a relaxing retreat!
The reception was at the front of the building so it was very easy to find. It was very cosy with the fireplace. We were greeted by the friendly receptionist called Natalie who gave us a warm welcome and explained all the hotel facilities. She had great customer service and really took an interest in where we had traveled from – which we found nice. She also asked if we needed a hand with all our luggage we had just for the one night, which was also very kind.
Natalie gave us our room key and explained you had to go through the restaurant. We did get a little lost however Francesca noticed this and directed us the right way! We were allocated Room 29 on the ground floor which was a Deluxe Corbett Twin Room.
As we opened the door we were immediately surprised there was a SAUNA in the room! It was very modern, spacious and had plenty of mod cons with the radio playing as we walked in. The room also had a dressing table which is always a bonus for getting ready! There was also a lovely balcony where you were able to view Loch Lomond in its winter glory. The room had tea/coffee facilities with delicious cookies, a room service menu, destination guides and a mini fridge with complimentary still and sparkling water.
The bathroom was open plan with LED mirrors and luxury Algotherm toiletries. The main feature of the lodge room (apart from the view) was the SAUNA! The Sauna was spacious and could easily fit both of us in it. They were instructions and rules for how to use this and it was easy to use. It does take a little longer to heat up however this did the job & was a great feature to the room!
At the time of booking, I reserved a table for 7.30 at the Colquhoun’s restaurant. I would always recommend pre booking a table for dinner at any hotel break! We were staying on a DBB offer which gave you a choice of A 3-course meal from The Market Menu . Luciano was our server who was very attentive and a real asset to the hotel.
For starter we both opted for the Sea bass served with cucumber, lemon puree & candied beets. We found this very delicious but wished there was more if it! For main course, I opted for the coconut chicken curry with pumpkin seeds, sweet potato which was served with rice & flatbread. Erin had The Lodge Classic Beef Burger with fries. Both mains were lovely! To finish we both had the vanilla set cream with berry compote which was a vanilla panacotta! This really was the highlight of our meal!
After our dessert, we decided to go through to the lounge/ bar area to check out the cocktail menu! The hotel had plenty of comfy seats with a cosy fire to sit by & floor to ceiling windows making this a perfect viewing spot! Cocktails were reasonably priced starting from £6.99. The cosmopolitans went down a treat!
After a few more Cosmos, we decided to hit the kip. The beds were very comfortable and we really appreciated the black out curtains! We had a great night sleep and woke up to this stunning view from our window and balcony!
We went down for breakfast at 9.30 located in the same restaurant as the night before. Erin and I were greeted by the lovely Jane who explained it was a buffet breakfast & took our tea and coffee order promptly. There were plenty of options including the usual full Scottish Breakfast or lighter continental option. You were also able to order additional items such as poached eggs etc which of course we took advantage of. Overall we were impressed by the breakfast.
After breakfast, we decided to use the leisure facilities. It is worth noting you are also able to use the facilities even after you have check out! You have to get a card key from the hotels main reception and sign in to use the facilities before you walk over to the other building. A leisurely stroll over from the hotel, we noticed people walking their dog, this is also a pet friendly hotel if you wish to bring your fluffy friend. We were lucky enough to have the pool to ourselves for a while. There was also a Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room and laconium (good alternative for anyone who finds a traditional sauna too hot)! This was a relaxing experience!
Check-out was very efficient and we were asked by Francesca if we enjoyed our stay which I always think is important. Overall we thought this was fantastic value for money and the luxury retreat we were in need of. The staff were most welcoming & I could not fault any of the food I had during our stay. I would highly recommend a night or two here at this luxury four star lodge hotel by Scotland’s renowned Loch!
Luss
Luss is only a 3 minute stroll from the hotel and has become a popular stopping off point for visitors exploring the Loch Lomond area. There is a visitor centre, village shop and cafe. Visitors are also able to walk to the end of the pier view point with views of Ben Lomond. I would really recommend this for great views which you can see below!
Loch Lomond Shores
We ventured to the Loch Lomond Shores in Balloch (only a 10 minute car journey away from the hotel). This is one of Scotland’s most popular tourist destinations. It offers a range of cafes, mini golf and shops such as Jenners. Outdoor activities including golf, canoeing, walking routes and much more! It also has the Sea Life Aquarium which was unfortunately closed when we were there, however I have been before & would highly recommend it – especially for a family day out! We had a bowl of soup, chips and a drink in the Jenners café which we were expecting to be expensive as a tourist hot spot however this was only £7 each which we thought was very reasonable! The views at Loch Lomond are truly astounding with the open lush landscapes – well worth a visit!
I would also like to take the time to thank Sandra, Luciano, Natalie, Francesca & Jane for looking after Erin and I during our time at the hotel.
