Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
which have had £12 million worth of work to restore them to their mid-16th-century
glory. On the road to the castle is Argyll's Lodging, a well-preserved historic house.
Last entry is 45 minutes before closing.
Castle Wynd.
&
01786/450-000.
www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk. Admission to castle and Argyll's Lodging
£9 adults, £7.20 seniors and students, £5.40 children. AE, MC, V. Apr-Sept daily 10am-6pm; Oct-Mar
daily 10am-5pm.
Where to Stay & Dine
Cameron House on Loch Lomond
Posh, plush, and perched on the
shores of Loch Lomond, the five-star Cameron House hotel offers premier lodgings
with Egyptian cotton linens. The mid-range deluxe rooms face the water, while the
luxury suites are part of the original house and allow guests to have their meals in the
sitting rooms. Dining options include a restaurant under the direction of Edinburgh's
Michelin-starred chef Martin Wishart, with a six-course tasting menu at £65.
A82 north of Balloch, Dunbartonshire G83 8QZ.
&
01389/755-565.
Fax 01389/759-522. www.
cameronhouse.co.uk. 95 units. From £180 double with garden view; from £210 double with loch view.
Free parking.
Amenities:
4 restaurants; bars; babysitting; health club; Jacuzzi; room service; sauna; spa;
tennis courts; massage.
In room:
TV, DVD, hair dryer, Internet, MP3 dock.
Creagan House
FRENCH/SCOTTISH Cherry and Gordon Gunn have for
nearly 25 years run this charming inn housed in a 17th-century farmhouse north of
Callander, 25km (15 miles) from Stirling. In the evenings, Gordon cooks guests
sumptuous French-influenced meals, using mostly local ingredients. This place is
well situated for country walks. A clutch of rooms, including one that has a four-
poster bed, start around £120, including full breakfast. If you're coming for dinner,
you must have a reservation.
A84, north of Strathyre.
&
01877/384-638.
www.creaganhouse.co.uk. Reservations required. Fixed-
price dinner £30. AE, MC, V. Fri-Tues 7:30-8:30pm. Closed mid-Jan to mid-Mar.
The Cross Keys
MODERN SCOTTISH One of the oldest inns in the region
west of Stirling, the Cross Keys' fortunes have been revived over the past few years
thanks to new owners. Debby McGregor and her husband/chef Brian provide mod-
ern Scottish pub grub—from breast of Guinea fowl to Moroccan lamb stew or a
simple but always hand-battered fish with real chips. There are three contemporary
rooms for overnight stays, each with their own bathroom.
Main St., Kippen.
&
01786/870-293.
www.kippencrosskeys.com. Main courses £12. Tues-Fri noon-
3pm, 5-9pm; Sat noon-9pm; Sun noon-8pm. No food on Mon. AE, M, V. 3 units. £60-£80 per double
with breakfast.
Drover's Inn
The stuffed, snarling, and slightly worn animals near the entrance
give a pretty good hint as to the nature of this rustic tavern with restaurant and
overnight rooms, located in a building that was established in 1705. The atmo-
spheric pub usually has an open fire going, barmen in kilts, and plenty of travelers
nursing their drinks. The pub food is okay, but it's the ambience of the place that
makes Drover's a worthwhile stop. There are 10 overnight units in the original house
built in 1705, and another 16 rooms have been added in a new building (£58-£78
for a standard double depending on the season).
A82 at Inverarnan by Ardlui.
&
01301/704-234.
www.thedroversinn.co.uk. Main courses £9-£21. MC,
V. Daily 10am-midnight.
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