Elite Traveler HRS 2023

etr li at ve eler HOTELS, RESORTS & SPAS 2023 67

Water-based activities are a must

The Lobby Bar

Cameron House sits on the banks of Loch Lomond in Scotland

Cameron House is a 17th-century baronial mansion turned hotel. The Category B listed building is a gorgeously

Gothic castle with peaked gables and soaring turrets.

EXPLORE Naturally, water-based activities are a must. There is a 234-berth marina as well as a chic-and cozy boathouse (order the tru ffl e mac and cheese with king prawns). Board the hotel’s own yacht, Celtic Warrior , for a champagne cruise around the loch, where you’ll get a closer look at the islands, including one that is home to a nudist colony — a seriously brave endeavor in the chilly Scottish climate! For a faster pace, head out on a speedboat or Jet Ski or, for something a little less strenuous, try paddleboarding and freshwater fi shing. As the hotel is surrounded by some 400 acres of sublime Scottish countryside, pack your hiking boots or wellies (or, if you’ve forgotten them, a pair of Hunter wellies can be loaned for the duration of your stay) and explore at your own pace, or jump in a 4x4 and tackle some challenging terrain into the hills — your reward is the serene views across the loch and the islands. By Samantha Coles Cameron Suite from $4,250 per night. Contact Kayleigh Hawthorn, reservations supervisor, reservations@cameronhouse.co.uk, +44 138 931 2210, cameronhouse.co.uk

three centuries, during which time a number of prominent guests visited — Samuel Johnson, Empress Eugenie of France and Winston Churchill. Following a devastating and fatal fi re in 2017, a long and careful restoration project was undertaken before it reopened its doors in the fall of 2021. STAY Each suite is named after one of Loch Lomond’s islands — except for the namesake Cameron Suite. This penthouse, split over two fl oors, is the hotel’s largest; the bedroom (with an utterly enormous bed and marble-clad bathroom with freestanding tub) is on the lower fl oor. A grand staircase leads upstairs to the spacious living and dining area — an excellent spot to entertain guests. But the suite’s biggest draw is the two terraces: Each has such tremendous, soul-stirring views of the loch that you might fi nd yourself trans fi xed and forget all about your dinner plans. Luckily, guests of the suite receive complimentary pre-dinner canapes to snap them out of that trance. The decor is welcoming and stylish, and considered touches provide a sense of place: thistle throw pillows, tweed blankets, welcome bottles of whisky and Scottish shortbread, of course.

CAMERON HOUSE SCOTLAND

While Scotland is magical all year round, it holds a particular majesty in the winter months when it’s a veritable cornucopia of ethereal beauty, with deep green forests, snowcapped mountains and eerie, serene landscapes. Scotland is well-known the world over for its many, many lochs (there are some 30,000 in the country); the magical waters hold a captivating allure (and apparently some monsters...). Loch Lomond is a vast freshwater loch — 24 miles long — that crosses the Highland Boundary Fault (the boundary between the Lowlands of Central Scotland and the Highlands) and is often referred to as a gateway to the Highlands. Loch Lomond is surrounded by hills, including Ben Lomond on the eastern shore, which is 3,196 ft in height and the most southerly of the Scottish Munro peaks. Sitting prettily on the banks of the loch is Cameron House, a 17th-century baronial mansion turned hotel. The Category B listed building is a gorgeously Gothic castle with peaked gables and soaring turrets. It was owned by the Smollett family for