NEW

NEW
DATES
FOR 20177!

GRAND TOUR OF THE OUTER HEBRIDES

VARIOUS DEPARTURES BETWEEN COACH TOUR WITH

MARCH & SEPTEMBER 2017 LOCAL PICK UP POINTS
6 DAYS FROM

655 PP

This extended tour of the Hebrides has

proved extremely popular, as it offers
readers a unique opportunity to travel the
length and breadth of the Western Isles.
Our grand tour takes in all the beauty and
diversity of this very special environment
with nine different islands and up to ve
ferry trips included!
ISLANDS VISITED INCLUDE: Lewis, Harris,
North Uist, South Uist, Benbecula, Eriskay,
Vatersay, Barra & Skye

PRICE INCLUDES
Return coach travel coach travel from Glasgow,
Edinburgh, Dunfermline, Kinross, Perth or Dundee
(subject to numbers) - a departure from Aberdeen or
Inverness also available in April, please call for details
5 nights accommodation on dinner, bed and full
breakfast basis
All coaching and ferry transfers
Visits to the Standing Stones of Callanish, the
Gearannan Black Houses, Shawbost Norse Mill, St
Clements Church, Kisimul Castle and Cockleshell
Beach
Services of a tour manager

FOR BROCHURE, CALL 01224 338004

quoting SP723 or email brochures@sundayposttravel.com

TO BOOK, CALL 01334 657155

quoting SUNDAY POST

OR VISIT
www.sundayposttravel.com

Organised by Brightwater Holidays ABTOT 5001; ATOL 4498. Single room supplements apply.
Subject to availability. DC Thomson and its group of companies would like to contact you
about new offers and services we think may be of interest to you. By providing your contact
details and email address we assume that we can contact you by post and email

By Tracey Bryce

F you really want to get

away from it all, Ardanaiseig
is the place to go.
Discreetly tucked away at
the end of a 10-mile single
road, this four-star country
hotel is off the beaten track.
In fact, its about as remote
as you can get.
But when you step out of
the car and catch that first
glance of the breathtaking
view, youll realise it was
definitely worth the trip.
The charming 14th
Century stately home in
Taynuilt sits on the bonnie
banks of Loch Awe, against
a backdrop of stunning
Scottish mountain scenery.
Its truly magical. In fact,
one of the most beautiful
secluded spots of natural
beauty I think Ive ever seen.
Im blown away and
thats before weve even set
a foot inside.
Ardanaiseig (pronounced
ar-den-ass-ay) is the
epitome of old Scots, but
with a bit of a twist.
Think of a scene from
Harry Potter, add a little
Laurence Llewelyn Bowen
flair and youre almost
there.
Outside, its very
traditional a big grey stone
house with turrets and sash
windows.
But as soon as you step
over the threshold, it all gets
a bit old baronial meets
rock and roll.
When owner Bennie Gray
bought the listed building,
he set out to create
something a little different.
And the boldly coloured
walls coupled with old
antiques, many from Grays
own personal collection,
certainly conjure up a
unique charm.
Vintage vases and lamps
from long, long ago sit
alongside the art dealers
paintings, which include
reworked oil paintings of
Bianca Jagger and Lauren
Bacall.
But the piece de
resistance in paintings is
one in the restaurant.
The famous faces of Rod
Stewart, Mick Jagger, Frank
Sinatra and Ringo Starr look
down on diners from an
original Victorian
masterpiece. Its definitely
different, but in a good way.
The picture was acquired
by a restaurant owner in
London in the 1960s. Not
knowing who the people in
the picture were, he had the
faces painted over with
those of his favourite
politicians, rock stars and
businessmen.
Bennie loved the unusual

Dream a

Ardanaiseig charm? Its

piece so much that he
bought it at an auction in
the early 90s and decided to
share it with guests at his
hotel.
Our room, Ben Lui, is a
master suite, commanding
views over the loch.
Its spacious with a big
comfy bed and rustic roll
top bath and a cupboard
full of blankets and hot
water bottles for those cold
Scottish winter nights.
Thankfully during our
stay it hadnt quite hit minus
temperatures yet, so we
made the most of the
favourable weather, pulled
on some wellies (the hotel
has its own supply for
guests) and went out to
explore.
Ardanaiseig might be a
good few miles from
civilisation, but theres no
shortage of things to do.
From fishing to clay pigeon

shooting and even archery,

there are on-site instructors
to show you the ropes in a
whole host of country
pursuits.
We settled for a much less
strenuous walk around the
240 acre grounds, where
theres enough wild
woodland and gardens to
lose yourself in.
We also found our sea legs
by taking one of the hotels
boats out for a sail on the
serene island-studded loch.
Legend has it that the
enchanted basin and, in
fact, the third largest
freshwater loch in Scotland
was created when a
goddess forgot to replace
the plug on a sacred spring
situated high up mighty Ben
Cruachan and looking out
at the alluring vista, its an
easy myth to believe.
You can even take a dip in
it if its warm enough.