Luxury spa break in Scotland's Loch Lomond

I'm sitting on the top deck of luxury cabin cruiser The Celtic Warrior, a glass of champagne in my hand, my knees covered with a blanket. There's brisk breeze out here on the middle of Loch Lomond, but the water is clear and still around us. In the distance there's snow on the highest peak of Ben Lomond, the mountain that majestically overlooks this loch just 30 minutes drive from the busy streets of Glasgow - hard though that is to imagine ! There might be more relaxing ways to travel to a spa, but you know what, just now I can't think of any.

I've come  to try out the spa at one of Scotland's most luxurious five-star hotels, Cameron House. This 18^th century baronial mansion stands right on the  shores of the loch; it's been home to wealthy merchants and landed gentry in its time, but since 1986 has been part of the DeVere hotel group with  millions poured into its refurbishment. And, not even counting the spa, there are plenty of ways to pamper and relax or revive. You can take a cruise on the loch - scheduled trips run several times a day, champagne tours are available on request; or sample one of the 270 varieties of whiskey in the hotel's Whisky Room (yes they do spell it like that), or even throw detoxing and wellbeing to the wind and try a few. There's two golf courses - the 9-hole ‘wee demon' or the full monty Carrick course; as well as archery, tennis, mountain biking and water sports.

The Carrick spa

But it's the award-winning Carrick spa I'm here for - Scotland's ‘Best Hotel Spa' for two years in a row. It's just a few minutes by car from the hotel but we get dropped off at the spa's jetty by skipper Kenny after our trip around the loch. And this is easily a spa you can spend a day - or several days in; there's a large wet spa area with traditional and infra red saunas, aromatheraphy and hammam steam rooms, calderium and tediarium (like steam rooms but at varying temperatures) and a hydrotherapy pool. There's also a 20-metre swimming pool, jacuzzi and - the big selling point - an outdoor infinity pool, just a short run in the brisk Scottish air across the rooftop to the most amazing view you can imagine.

In fact the views are one of the main things that set the spa apart. It's not something you associate with spas, which are often tucked below ground, but this one makes the most of its loch-side location. As well as the fantastic views from the roof deck, there's a ladies-only sauna with two glass walls to the landscape beyond and the tepidarium (with lovely heated beds) also looks out onto the surrounding countryside, as do the swimming pool and Jacuzzi. It's a nice way to experience nature - tucked up in a robe on a comfy lounger or surrounded by bubbles in a steaming hot tub. Everything that's good,without the cold!

I try out the spa's massage therapy and get a good deep workout from the therapist. The spa uses Comfort Zone products, and I feel another award coming on - Best Spa Product in 2008. It's a busy place, with lots of groups of girls in for a pamper, the only drawback about all those great facilities is that it does attract the crowds - both hotel residents and locals on a day trip. While doing my manicure my therapist tells me they are busy week-long, and with 17 treatment rooms that's no mean feat.

Family breaks

If you fancy a relaxing break but don't want to leave the kids behind, the hotel is well placed to cater for families, with beautiful wooden self-catering lodges lining the road at the edge of the loch. Families can use the hotel bars, restaurants and facilities including a large leisure centre with several pools and water slide, games rooms and a Jacuzzi for the adults. You can sit in it and keep an eye on the kids. The lodges are close to the Boathouse restaurant, overlooking the marina, a New England-style building with an open-plan dining area and cosy bar and - what could be better on this chilly day - a welcoming open fire!

We have dinner that night in the Cameron grill and there's lots of fresh Scottish produce on offer; I have Orkney scallops on an artichoke purèe, Loch Fyne smoked salmon and the seasonal catch of the day which is swordfish. There are of course touches of tartan in the décor but the owners have given the whole building a modern twist on a traditional hunting lodge design; my bedroom in shades of aubergine and deep chocolate with plaid carpet and plaid walls somehow manages to be understated rather than screamingly Scottish.

Great Scots

But there is plenty of Scots in the humour - the traditional ‘make up this room' and ‘do not disturb' signs are replaced by ‘make my room bonny' and ‘sleepin' like a bairn'. And the vast Great Scots bar, with spectacular views onto the loch, is watched over from the walls by the likes of Sean Connery, Alex Ferguson, Ewan McGregor and Deborah Kerr, which is the first I knew that Deborah Kerr was Scottish.  I do know however that I'm having an ‘affair to remember' with Cameron House ...

More information and booking

Enjoy an exclusive offer for All About You readers with overnight accommodation, welcome bottle of champagne, full use of spa facilities and signature treat - click here for full details.

Contact Cameron House Hotel at 01389 755565, email

reservations@cameronhouse.co.uk or visit the website at www.cameronhouse.co.uk.

Read last month's spa review - mind and body healing at an ayurvedic retreat in Jersey

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