Castle, glens and lochs – we couldn’t have asked for more on our Highlands trip

ON the southern shores of Loch Lochy in the Great Glen is an old shooting lodge owned by Black Sheep Hotels.

Whispering Pine Lodge blends its Indian ownership with the ambience of a traditional Scottish country house hotel, resulting in a compelling blend of east meets west, making for a relaxing, comfortable and delightful stay.

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It’s the perfect base from which to explore the western highlands.

No expense has been spared in developing the hotel with an extension nearly doubling the number of rooms, all with en suite bathrooms and superb facilities including a relaxing spa and an outdoor BBQ deck and bar.

My wife, Kate, and I enjoyed a three-night stay with our two dogs, Treacle and Juno, in one of the lochside cabins.

Well laid out and equipped with everything you might need, they boast huge windows overlooking the stunning loch.

We arrived well after the restaurant had closed but the staff could not have been more welcoming and helpful.

Before we knew it we had room service delivered, the most amazing tandoori prawn biryani (for me) and Asian noodle and prawn bowl for Kate. Both delightfully spiced, with a little extra zing in my biryani.

The next morning as we breakfasted in the waterfront restaurant we were dazzled by an incredible mountain view across the loch and couldn’t wait to get out and explore.

Following a lochside walk on the hotel’s pebble shoreside beach, we set off up into the hills, stopping frequently to marvel at yet another stunning view or watch red deer grazing in the glen below.

After an hour or so of meandering, we came to another of the Black Sheep hotels, Rokeby Manor.

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It has an altogether different feel, being smaller and more cosy, and yet is recognisably still based on the same heady combination of influences.

Prior to lunch, we took a walk with the dogs up into the hills behind the hotel. View after view unveiled itself as we climbed and by the time we got back to their restaurant, Emily’s Byre, we had worked up a full appetite.

My chicken stroganoff was superb. Tender chicken with a spicy after taste and Kate loved her crunchy lentil bites. Wonderful food and just what was needed.

Returning to Whispering Pines we took advantage of another of the hotel’s new additions.

The compact spa offers a superb treatment range. Both Kate and I had a full body massage – so relaxing that we floated into dinner an hour later.

The next day we ventured further afield. Heading towards Skye we got to Kyle of Lochalsh passing the iconic Eilean Donan – surely Scotland’s most famous castle, featured in many a film and just as impressive in real life.

Further up the coast is Plockton famous for its palm trees and being the location for the TV series Hamish MacBeth. It is a beautiful, wrapped around a series of bays, inlets and headlands, with an otherworldly feel. Think Brigadoon meets Local Hero.

On the way back we dropped in on the third hotel the group has in the area, The Cluanie Inn. Long a favourite with walkers and Munro baggers the Black Sheep group have widened it’s appeal and added a bakehouse for a quick pitstop if you are passing en route elsewhere.

After a filling and tasty lunch we pressed on back to our base for another blissful nights sleep.

After three stunning days in the Highlands we headed home through Glencoe. It was dark and dank and teaming with rain, which somehow just enhances the rugged beauty of this wondrous place

Visiting this part of Scotland always leaves us with a yearning to go back. And when we’ll definitely stay at the The Whispering Pines Lodge.

It’s not just a base to explore the area but also a relaxing, luxurious retreat to refuel and reflect on the majesty of the highlands.

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