Strathyre Forest Lodges
Strathyre Ticking all the many boxes for a marvellous stay
IT’S not often the Frasers go away en masse, all seven adults, a toddler and a dog. We need somewhere that is dog-friendly, isn’t too noisy for our autistic son to cope with and is smart, comfortable and well-maintained.
The self-catering Strathyre Forest Lodges tick all these boxes. We’d stayed in similar places, but found these, nestling under the imposing slopes of Ben Ledi and only a few minutes’ drive from Callander, worthy of a “must-visit-again” tag.
With Bonnie the beagle accompanying us, we needed two lodges, one of which was dog-friendly, but the accommodation of one double en suite and one twin room in each was ideal. As the lodges were only a few yards apart, we could pop to and fro with regularity.
You can’t fault the amenities these lodges offer. A bright, spacious kitchen-diner-cumlounge with flat-screen TV made any self-catering we did far from a chore.
As you’d expect, cutlery and cooking utensils were spotless, with ample storage for groceries. A good-sized fridge-freezer and dishwasher completed the line-up. A nice touch was the little welcome pack of dishwasher tablets and washing-up liquid.
These facilities downstairs were shared with a small but functional twin-room with shower room and bathroom adjacent.
A short staircase takes you up to what is probably the most striking feature of the lodges – the en suite double bedroom, fashioned in oak. This is much, much more than an attic bedroom as it was both snug and stylish.
Strathyre is the place to go if you want either an activity-packed weekend or a relaxing get-away-from-it-all few days. Bikes can be hired and if you want to stretch your legs further, the path to Ben Ledi (879m or 2884ft) is only a few minutes from the lodge complex. There are picnic opportunities on the banks of Loch Lubnaig.
A Forest Ranger is on hand to show you the delights of the local woodland, and there are plenty of dog-walking routes along the banks of the loch or down the path to the Falls of Leny and Callander. Other activities include archery and canoeing.
We chose the chill-out option, whether it was relaxing in the hot-tub, reading a book in the lodge – or enjoying a coffee or a snack in the Forest Retreat.
This is an excellent accessory to the Strathyre Lodges. It can supply essentials for your stay