Built as a Scottish Baronial manor in 1834, this authentic country house welcomes visitors with its roaring log fire in the library, chamber music recitals in the drawing room and refined games room.

In a remote place of quiet tranquility and almost surreal natural beauty, the intimate and romantic Ardanaiseig Hotel sits in deeply wooded gardens overlooking the mysterious islands and crannogs of western Scotland's Loch Awe. Adorned with gracious antiques and works of art, each bedroom is named after local mountains, glens, lochs and castles. The hotel's fine dining restaurant is touted as one of the best in the highlands serving a 5 course tasting dinner menu as standard and offering a selection of more than 50 malt whiskies.

Fine Food and Festive Celebrations in the Scottish Highlands -- Ardanaiseig Has Christmas and New Years All Wrapped Up:

Ardanaiseig is a unique and traditional Highland retreat in a wildly seductive setting overlooking Loch Awe and the Argyll glens. This festive season Ardanaiseig, which has sixteen individually themed bedrooms and one of the best restaurants in the Highlands, is hosting a week of fine food and festive celebration between 24 December and 3 January, available in 3- and 4-day packages.

The dramatic setting offers complete escapism, with the opportunity to explore the rivers, lochs, craggy peaks and isolated beaches of the Highlands on foot, by boat or by seaplane. The crackling log fires, traditional Christmas tree, and beautiful drawing room with original antique furnishings and a grand piano give the house the warm, welcoming feel of a country home, offering the perfect backdrop for celebrating the festive season. A stunning luxury boat shed conversion was completed last year which offers chic, contemporary accommodation on the waters edge, while the sixteen bedrooms in the house are all distinctively furnished with sumptuous fabrics and antiques, each of them with views either of the loch or the Lost Gardens.

Christmas celebrations start on Sunday 23 December with afternoon tea. Champagne and canapés will be served in the drawing room before dinner, which includes a five-course tasting menu on each night, and an exotic seafood buffet on Christmas night. There is a candlelit carol service at Kilchrenan's village church on Christmas Eve followed by mulled wine, and a Christmas service on Christmas Day at Dalavich Kirk. Boxing Day includes the opportunity to go clay pigeon shooting and to join the traditional Boxing Day treasure hunt, followed by a black tie dinner.

The traditional Highland home comes into its own for Hogmanay festivities, which include malt whisky tasting, a scavenger hunt and clay pigeon shooting for those who want it, as well as the traditional celebrations. Dance the New Year in with a Scottish ceilidh, followed by champagne and fireworks at midnight. Brunch will be served on New Year's Day, with Loch Fyne Oysters and Bloody Marys for the late risers.

There are beautiful walks close by and a variety of activities are available in the area, and plenty of opportunity to relax by the hearty log fire with a book or boardgame. The hotel even offers a dog-sitting service so no-one needs to be left behind.

Recommended for: Boating, Fishing/Hunting, Food+Wine, Horse Riding, Music, Romance, Weddings

ACCOMMODATIONS

Each of the 16 bedrooms is furnished with graceful antiques and named for local mountains, glens, lochs and castles:

The Boat Shed - A one bedroom suite
Master Rooms with Loch Views - Tervine, Ichrachan, Inishail, Cruachan, Ben Lui and Kilchurn
Master Bedrooms with Garden Views - Hayfield, Cuaig, Ben Neagh, Etive and Orchy
Double Bedrooms with Garden Views - Nant, Nevis, Awe, Starav and Tromlee
Rose Cottage - A two bedroom self-contained cottage, a quarter of a mile from the hotel (based on two people sharing)

LEISURE

The Ardanaiseig Open Air Theatre - A magical 120 seat amphitheatre nestles into the hillside by the water's edge. Each summer there is a series of events. Folk and classical music, storytelling sessions and performances of ballet by Ballet West are popular favourites throughout the season. The amphitheatre has also proved the perfect setting for wedding ceremonies.

Perhaps the most important activity at Ardanaiseig is contemplating the natural beauty which is all about, but there is also...

Walking - wonderful hill, forest and lochside walks.

Clay pigeon shoot is available by arrangement on the estate.

Snooker - There is a full sized billiard table in the games room.

Croquet - Afternoon tea can be served on the croquet lawn.

Deer Stalking - Can be arranged locally and is available all year round.

Fishing - there is a small trout lochan for fly casting. Salmon, pike, trout, char and perch abound.

Boating - In the bay below the hotel there is an old stone boat house. There are boats for fishing, or simply exploring the many islands, crannogs, ruined castles and holy places of Loch Awe, including Ardanaiseig's private island, Eilean a Chomlraidh.

Gliding and horse riding can be arranged nearby.

EXPLORE

The Grand Tour - Ardanaiseig is an excellent staging post for touring the Highlands and Islands -- Loch Ness, the Victorian port of Oban with its regular ferries to Skye, Mull, Iona and the Outer Islands, and Loch Lomond are all within easy reach. In winter when the snow is good, there is skiing at Glen Coe and Ben Nevis.

Private sightseeing tours can be arranged - The hotel has their own chauffeur and car.

Kilchurn Castle - On clear days, Kilchurn Castle can be seen from the jetty at Ardanaiseig. It is the original castle of the Glenurchy and Breadalbane Campbells. It stands upon a low plateau of rock amid marshy land at the northeastern end of Loch Awe where the River Orchy enters the loch. The main part of the castle was built between 1440 and 1460 with additions in the late 15th and early 16th centuries.

AIRPORT

Glasgow International Airport (GLA)

AIRPORT DISTANCE

2 hours

GETTING THERE

Ardanaiseig sits on a peninsula jutting out into Loch Awe, Scotland's longest fresh water loch. Arrive by helicopter, train, seaplane, car, bicycle or on foot...but perhaps the best approach is by steamboat.