Sarah Foster and husband Mark took their two boys, Ollie the Collie and Bumble the springador, away from their busy working lives for a few days
Glamping Pods
You would be forgiven for thinking this tree-strewn mountainous backdrop and glacial water that reflects the ever-changing skies was perhaps in Scandinavia, but you’d be wrong. This is Loch Tay Highland Lodges & Glamping Park, in the south-west highlands of Scotland. A stunning location that is ideal for a relaxing break in one of the wood lodges, timber en suite glamping pods or camping domes. For larger groups, you can even rent one of the three houses on site and, if hot- tubs are your thing, many of the accommodations have these available, including the camping and glamping pods. For the more adventurous, there are activities available including paddle boarding, fishing boat hire, archery, disc golf and more. We left our home in the relatively flat landscape of Lincolnshire with an itinerary planned to allow for a couple of stops along the way. Our first was at Appleby-in-Westmorland, where we visited the Royal Oak Inn for a spot of lunch. This charming inn has seating both indoors and out, and your dogs are welcome in either. Their menu offers both light bites, including sandwiches or coffee and cake, or a full cooked meal. It was also a great opportunity to stretch our legs. At our next stop, The Tea House on the Loch at Johnston Loch, Gartcosh, we received a heartfelt Scottish welcome. Ollie and Bumble were treated like royalty by the staff with cuddles a-plenty, several biscuits and a puppuccino each. This is a pretty place with floral decorations, polka dot table cloths and some tempting gifts for sale. We had a nice cup of tea and a cheeky slice of cake to keep us going for the last couple of hours of our drive. As we rounded a bend, we got a glimpse of Loch Tay and we were excited to see our home for the next four nights. It was a little after 5pm when we arrived and, as the main reception is closed at this time, we picked up our key and site map from a small room tacked onto the side of the main reception lodge. Finding the name of our cabin, Acharn Rocks on the map, we followed the narrow road around a hairpin bend down to where the lodges are sited. There are several different-sized lodges in this area, spaced so as not to encroach on neighbours, each with a parking space for one car and all with stunning views towards the loch.
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