The tranquil shores of Loch Lomond have long enticed poets and painters, hill climbers, golfers and travellers in search of a natural experience. With forests, mountain springs, tiny islands and the dramatic peak of Ben Lomond, this celebrated landscape was designated Scotland’s first national park just a few years ago. It is a beautiful location for the ambitious De Vere leisure group’s Cameron House Hotel, one long renowned for its romantic setting, first class hospitality and extensive leisure facilities. News: this year has seen a £60 million investment programme reach completion in many areas, creating a world-class golf and spa resort, one benefiting from a full-scale refurbishment of bars, restaurants and bedrooms. A smart new accommodation wing is currently in development.

For three centuries the Cameron House Estate was owned by merchants and shipbuilders from Dumbarton and later by wealthy landed gentry. At one point Dumbarton exported more paddle steamers than anywhere else in the world. More recently, it was in 1986 that Cameron House was first developed into a luxury hotel.

If you've previously visited then you're in for a treat when you return and enter the Lobby. The former, traditional 'hotel' décor has given way to a 'modern Highland shooting lodge' makeover... and looks terrific. This area is now finished in dark wood panelling and features a fabulously quirky collection of sculpted animal heads by artist David Farrer, hung both here and in the corridors. There's a basket of old walking sticks, red leather armchairs, a couple of tweed sofas and, at the centre, a black armour plated reception desk with giant vase of fresh flowers. Welcome indeed to a brand new Cameron House. The hotel also has a new general manager, former Scottish Hotel Manager of the Year, Philip Mahoney, who is known for high standards and staff motivation.

Moving on, the Library to the right of the front door has a magnificent billiard table and a unique wall of mirrors. Next door is the refurbished modern gothic Drawing Room, all red and gold velvet with giant church candles, leading through to the smart Whisky Bar (with 230 bottles). Upstairs is the brand new Lomonds Restaurant, formerly the award-winning Georgian Room – more on this below in the Food section. A rejuvenating facelift has also been undertaken in what was previously Smollets Restaurant – soon to be re-launched as the Cameron Grill – while an old bar is now the excellent Great Scots Bar, with its heroic gallery of photographs of famous Scots, past and present.

The Carrick Golf Course and the Cameron House Spa are located just a mile up the road, right on the lochside. Here too, dotted around beautiful parkland as an alternative to hotel accommodation, there are currently 29 luxury self-catering Lodges and Mansion House Apartments available for time share, fractional ownership and 3-day / weekly rental. Further lodges and second Mansion House are in development. Guests may drive themselves the short distance between Cameron House and the Carrick or take the complimentary shuttle car. Alternatively, book yourself on the hotel's water taxi, a 1937 Belle Époque launch, for a leisurely cruise, perhaps with a glass of bubbly.

There are 89 Bedrooms and 7 Suites in the original old house and modern extensions, many enjoying fine loch views. As part of the refurbishment programme, many bedrooms are being given a fashionably chic and glamorous new look with charcoal grey / black wallpaper and contemporary plaid fabrics and bed throws. A new accommodation wing of 35 individually styled bedrooms, some with private balconies, will open in autumn 2008. We’ll keep you updated with progress.

Tip: rooms 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, 12, 91 and 100 are good rooms to reserve. The luxurious Suites include Fyne, Katrine and Tower – the latter offering comfort and privacy located high up in one of the old turrets at the side of the hotel. The Fyne Suite has a vast four poster bed plus a separate lounge with a dining table and chairs at the window, ideal for a leisurely breakfast taken while gazing out at the loch and hills. With period-style furniture and rich fabrics, the décor carefully blends classic elegance with 21st century lifestyle… radio / mini-disc / CD player, satellite TV and a selection of movies. Rooms have tea / coffee facilities, a fully stocked mini-bar plus decanters of whisky and sherry. Bathrooms provide quality Molton Brown toiletries, warm soft white towels and a zingy power shower. The wi-fi internet access is broadband and happily it's free.

As an alternative to a hotel bedroom or suite, why not experience the privacy of your own holiday lodge or apartment located beside the Carrick Golf Course? You can rent a Lodge or Apartment for either 3 or 7 days. HotelReviewScotland.com recently stayed in a luxury apartment within the majestic, classically designed Colquhoun Mansion House. The open plan living area (lounge, dining room and kitchen) is beautifully designed and furnished – elegant yet homely with superb visual / audio entertainment system, quality leather and tweed fabrics, fully fitted kitchens and two (bathtub and shower unit) bedrooms. The balcony had uninterrupted views over the 15th fairway. For families or groups of friends, there’s also a choice of 2 – 4 bedroom modern Highland Lodges, designed in local stone, timber and slate. These provide comfortable, stylish accommodation and have a cosy, country cottage ambience. And of course you need not cook all meals! You can easily wine and dine in any of the bars and restaurants across the resort, or even arrange for a chef to cook a private dinner, chez-vous.

With the recent opening of the oh-so-sophisticated, smart and sexy Lomonds Restaurant this is a true destination in Scotland for foodies. But it’s not just the cuisine which is fabulous, it’s the new plush mink suede banquette seating, low lighting and artwork all providing a mood-enhancing, relaxing ambience. Food and beverage director, Colin Bussey, formerly at Gleneagles, is in charge of major changes across all the hotel restaurants. At Lomonds the head chef is Benjamin Batterbury and running this top-class restaurant with impeccable flair is maitre d’ Stephane Damezin, who arrived from One Devonshire Gardens, Glasgow.

The dinner experience begins when you are greeted in the sumptuous Drawing Room and offered an aperitif or glass of chilled Champagne with the menus. The cuisine emphasises the very best local and Scottish meat, game, fish and vegetables. From the à la carte menu: Hand Dived Scallops with Artichoke and Truffle; or Isle of Skye Langoustines; Scotch Beef with Foie Gras; Roast Partridge; and White Peach Parfait. The 7-course 'chef’s tasting menu' is simply heavenly, featuring tiny dishes to sample a wide range of superb food, and with it, Batterbury’s culinary talents. The sommelier will select wines to complement each course. Lomonds (and no, we don't know either why it's plural) secures our top dining merit award, PlatinumPlate™, for 2008.

Over at the Carrick Golf Club and Spa guests may dine at the Claret Jug, a smart casual brasserie with a leisurely, laid back Colonial clubhouse feel. This serves all meals from breakfast to dinner, coffees, snacks and bar drinks and offers a very good modern Scottish menu of popular favourites such as Cullen Skink, oysters, mussels, salmon, red deer, Ballindalloch beef, an exemplary tuna Niçoise and great chunky chips. The new Great Scots Bar serves gourmet pub grub in leisurely surroundings – it's absolutely ideal for lunch. In December 2007 the new Cameron Grill Restaurant will open, specialising in beef and seafood; more on this here shortly; and spring 2008 will see the renovation of the former Marina Restaurant, renamed The Boathouse, for Mediterranean cuisine.

We will add this section shortly as most guests will breakfast in the Cameron Grill Restaurant which opens in December 2007, and has yet to be reviewed. More here shortly!

The resort offers an exceptional range of sports and leisure activities for all ages. It has its famous 9-hole Wee Demon golf course, tennis, archery, mountain biking and watersports – with a boating Marina within the grounds. But now the hotel can boast a brand new 18-hole championship golf course – the Carrick, designed by Canadian Scot, Doug Carrick. His Celtic surname coincidentally means ‘rocky place’ which aptly suits the environment of this heathland course, bordered by gorse, heather and woodland. This par 71 course follows an inspiring route around meadows, rolling hills, lagoons and a specially created nature reserve to protect the habitat of water voles, otters, kingfishers and buzzards. And at every turn, catch those spectacular Highland scenes of mountain and loch. His signature (and seriously challenging!) 14th hole stretches from the summit of a hill down to a green on the very shore.

The superb timber, stainless steel and glass Carrick Country Club incorporates golf shop, bar, restaurant and luxurious world-class Spa. The latter is an oasis of calm for the mind, body and spirit. Guests could spend several days relaxing around the outdoor infinity hydro pool, fully glazed saunas and caldarium (overlooking the 18th), the thermal suite, 18 metre swimming pool, fitness gym and no less than 17 treatment rooms. For the ultimate, intimate treatment for a couple, they can indulge in their own private suite with spa pool and balcony with loungers. Top design incorporates soft halo lighting and waterfall features. Beauty treatments use the pure natural organic products of Kerstin Florian, such as the Caviar facials, rainshower, body wraps golfers’ massage and aromatherapy experience for two. The Spa’s expert therapists also offer Carita ‘pro-lift’ face and warm stone therapy treatments. Let us assure you that this is an absolutely outstanding development.

The hotel complex offers exemplary facilities for conferences, meetings, weddings, private and corporate hospitality events within its flexible Function and Banqueting Suites. With the wide range of sports and leisure facilities on hand, the resort can arrange tailor-made corporate entertainment, team building, management training and group incentive events.

Vivien Devlin says…
“”I have visited Cameron House on several occasions over the past 7 years and always find the hotel’s classic elegance and the lochside setting to be restful and seductive. On this return visit to stay in the Mansion House Apartment and dine at Lomond’s, I was stunned – totally in awe of the fabulous, fresh new artistic design – achieved without losing a sense of classic grandeur. Combining the quintessential ambience of a grand Scottish country house, contemporary luxury lifestyle and a world-class leisure resort, this is a golfer’s paradise and romantic Highland retreat in one, on the very banks of Loch Lomond – less than an hour from Glasgow.”

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REVIEW STATUS & MERIT AWARDS This establishment has now been fully reviewed by the Guide and any HotelReviewScotland.com™ Merit Awards will show above, beneath the address details. We also list the latest ratings and gradings for this business from other guides and organisations. One or more of our experienced reviewer team has stayed at this establishment, spent time with the management, and the Guide is receiving reader and industry input from one or all of: online Reader’s Reviews; Comment Postcards; and Voting in The Scottish Hotels of the Year Awards. All entries are carefully monitored. The lead star grading has been awarded by the Scottish Tourist Board / VisitScotland. As the hotel is a Full Member of HotelReview™ Scotland the Look & Book Box™ links are LIVE.

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