LOVE IS IN THE AIR
Make the most of the Scottish winter and indulge in a bit of romantic Còsagach with the one you love in honour of Saint Valentine
SF’s subscribers get in the mood for love with romantic breaks
The Boat House at Fingask Castle, Rait Reviewed by Gary Gilday and Colin Pegrum from Glasgow
The Boat House is on the Fingask Castle estate in a secluded spot on the edge of a small loch, well away from other accommodation. We arrived on a freezing day, but found the Boat House to be very warm and cosy, with a delightful, welcoming feel. It’s newly-built from pine and cedar with all sorts of interesting nooks and crannies. In candle-light it looks especially fabulous. It’s on two levels – the upper floor has an intimate dining area for two, opening out on to a balcony that looks west over the loch, with fine views of the sunset. There’s also a sauna upstairs, which we made good use of, and a walk-in shower. Downstairs is the bedroom and a small but well-equipped kitchen.
We took a walk or two around the castle grounds, which are in a secluded forested glen. The vintage topiary near the castle is not to be missed. There is a games room behind the castle for all to use, with a fullsized snooker table, plus table tennis and table football. In summer, an open-air heated swimming pool and tennis courts are available. Of course, no boat house is complete without a boat, and this has one complete with life jackets. The boat can be accessed from within the house, though because the loch was frozen we were unable to venture on to the water. We were left to pity the swans slithering around on the ice.
Fingask is located a few miles off the A90, midway between Perth and Dundee, overlooking the Tay estuary. So it’s an ideal location for exploring these two cities, including Scone Palace. But we were very content to relax indoors most of the time, enjoying good food and a glass of wine. Our verdict: it ticks all the boxes for a romantic break away from it all for two.
Prices from £130 a night for the first night and £60 per night thereafter.