Portavadie, Loch Fyne, Argyll
Reviewed by Harriet Simpson and Lori Cockburn from Appleby
On arrival, after a scenic drive around the lochs, one of the lovely receptionists greeted us to clearly explain the layout of the site and how to find our home for the weekend. The accommodation on offer at Portavadie comprises a range of detached bungalows, apartments, luxury apartments and luxury lodges.
We set off from reception and were lucky enough to find ourselves outside a large, luxury, detached property on the marina. The property was beautiful, with high-quality fixtures and fittings and superb views over the water from the balcony. We had a slight glitch with the sliding doors to the balcony but a member of staff came immediately to show us where we had been going wrong.
It was a contemporary, two-bedroom lodge with a huge, open-plan, first-floor living area and kitchen, and even a private sauna. Everything you could possibly need was in the lodge and although it is self-catering accommodation, lovely local toiletries, fluffy towels and a small welcome pack were provided.
We ate in the Marina restaurant on both evenings, choosing to have a break from cooking whilst on holiday. We enjoyed juicy scallops and a stunning venison fillet, which was so good we ordered it on both nights. The menu changes seasonally and offered excellent options with a reasonably priced wine and cocktail menu.
After a leisurely breakfast on the Saturday, with a good range of local produce, we enjoyed the fantastic spa facilities, which were opened by Danny McAskill in 2016 and include a hydropool, sauna, steam room, relaxation area and indoor and outdoor pools. Sadly it was a bit wet and wild to try the outdoor infinity pool on this visit.
Our spa treatment was booked in for the Sunday morning. There was a huge choice on the list of options and my friend and I both ended up going for the Ishga hot stone massage, which was so relaxing, and something I would highly recommend. The staff were excellent, with special mentions to Gareth in the restaurant, Valentin the waiter and Mary my spa therapist. We would love to return again. Prices from £99 per lodge room for two sharing with breakfast and leisure experience.