Staycation Time

Well with all the new restrictions and travel bans for going abroad, it’s time to start thinking about having a staycation at home, once all the latest travelling restrictions are lifted and we can go further afield to cast a line or two.

Below is two l would highly recommend as I’ve stayed at both locations and with the Lake of Menteith on your doorstep you’re not too far to travel to cast a fly or two on the water.

Lochend Chalets

Port of Menteith Stirling FK8 3JZ SCOTLAND – UK

TEL: +44(0)1877 385 268 FAX: +44(0)1877 385 240 EMAIL: info@lochend-chalets.com

Lochend is a beautiful, 38-acre estate at the heart of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, an area steeped in history and striking natural beauty. Hidden away on a tranquil corner of the Lake of Menteith, with spectacular views across the water to Ben Lomond, our waterfront self-catering chalets, log cabins, lodges and cottage have free WiFi throughout.

A perfect place to relax and unwind, Lochend also has a tennis court and games room, a bike park and rowing boats, and is home to the Nick Nairn Cook School as well as wildlife in abundance, sorry we don’t take pets. Only an hour from Glasgow and Edinburgh, we lie almost right in the middle of Scotland, so it’s a great base if you’re looking to tour the wonderful Scottish countryside or to fish the various lochs and rivers within the area, with the Highlands and Islands, St Andrew’s and Cairngorms all just a daytrip away.

They have two boats (and tackle) at Lochend that can be booked in advance through Chris (07712 596604), or you can rent boats and tackle just a mile up the road at Menteith Fisheries.

Unfortunately shore-fishing is prohibited on the Lake of Menteith, but wannabe Tom Sawyers can fish in the Goodie burn, which snakes around the back of the chalets close to the Cook School and bike park.

The Lake of Menteith Hotel

Port of Menteith Perthshire Scotland FK8 3RA

T:01877 385258 F:01877 385671 Email: enquiries@lake-hotel.com

The Lake of Menteith is a unique and special place, Scotland’s only natural Lake and an environmental oasis. On the banks is the delightful hamlet of Port of Menteith, so named as for centuries boats have made their way between the Lakeside and the Priory on the Isle of Inchmahome carrying Mary Queen of Scots, esteemed Priory visitors, munitions and in more recent years generations of visiting families. In the Port and on the banks, you will find The Lake of Menteith Hotel, once the manse for the church and now a fine and popular hotel in the style of a New England Waterfront Inn.

No matter the weather nature plays out ever changing and exciting scenes: fishermen attempt to outwit wily trout, Osprey dive from great heights onto unsuspecting fish, Herons patrol the lakeside and in the late evening you can hear the splashing of the otters playing in the shallows and geese returning to roost.

In such a wonderful setting this hotel is very much of the place as well as in it, unobtrusive, complimentary and unassuming. The food is honest, tasty and plentiful. Sourced as locally as possible and served without fuss and pretension.