Travel: Relaxation is a shore thing at Balloch Park's Kenmore Lodges

Situated on the former grounds of a castle, it’s a lodging fit for a king – or an earl to be more precise.

Centuries ago, the land on which Balloch Park sits was one of the gateways to Taymouth Castle, built by the Earl of Breadalbane.

Now its home to a development of plush lodges, perched on the picturesque river bank.

And they’re as much of a vision inside as the rolling hills they look onto.

From the hot tub and huge comfy beds to the Sky TV and sink-in sofa, it seems as if everything in the three-bedroom luxury lodge has been handpicked to ensure your stay is relaxing.

There’s a log-burning stove for the colder climes and even an effortless bottle opener to save you any stress when cracking open that bottle of red at the end of the day.

And just as well, because relaxing is exactly what we plan to do.

Just a few nights away at this bolthole will leave you feeling just as refreshed as a two-week break abroad.

Set on the banks of Loch Tay amidst the majestic mountains of Highland Perthshire, Kenmore is a stunning spot with an air of timeless beauty.

We decide to take a closer look at the hills. Rather than scale Schiehallion the munro, we opt for a more leisurely ascent up a neighbouring hill in one of Highland Safari’s Land Rovers.

The company’s base is located in the tiny village of Dull but, despite what the name suggests, a day out here is anything but.

Our kilted guide Cameron and his 4×4 take on the rugged terrain with ease, but it does make for a bumpy ride.

It’s worth it for the breathtaking views at the top.

And, while we didn’t need it as the sun was scorching, a wee dram in one of the poshest bothies at the top would warm the cockles on a chillier day.

Cameron, a fan of wild camping, shows us marsh grass you can peel and eat, and use as a candle wick.

And moss with antiseptic properties that can be used to treat a wound – or wash dishes or as makeshift toilet roll on a camping trip!

Sadly there were no red deer to be seen on the hills, but we saw some in droves at The Red Deer Centre back at base camp.

We feed the herd – and the stag clearly knows its time for lunch because he’s first to the fence.

He laps up the pellets, tickling our hands with his tongue.

My 20-month-old son lets out an infectious giggle, and so do the older couple beside us.

There’s something about getting up close with animals that appeals to all ages.

In the afternoon, we make the most of the weather and head for the gorgeous Kenmore beach, perfect for paddling, building sand castles, or just sitting looking at the scenery. At the nearby Scottish Crannog Centre, hailed one of the country’s top heritage sites, you can discover what life was like 2,500 years ago.

The reconstructed thatched wooden house is built on stilts over the water, with a gangway that would have been lifted up in the event of danger.

After a busy day, we head back to our digs, just a short walk away. Balloch Park is owned by the Mains of Taymouth Estate just a mile down the road.

The onsite bar and restaurant, The Courtyard, is the perfect spot for dinner. We pull up a pew at the outdoor tables, keen to catch the last of the rays before the sun goes down.

The chicken and haggis goes down a treat and the salmon is superb.

The perfect end to the perfect day is a dip in the lodge’s hot tub while watching the cool night sky.

Next day we try our hand at Mains of Taymouth’s onsite golf course, which is a sprawling layout flanked by majestic Perthshire hills.

There’s plenty of variation through the nine holes which make this walk in the countryside well worth the effort.

The tight, tricky par-four third is a highlight that requires accuracy from tee to green and the closing dog-leg provides a fitting finale.

You can whizz round in 90 minutes and when it’s this enjoyable it would be rude not to play it twice.

That’s the thing about Kenmore…it’s so refreshing you’ll want to come back time and time again. It’s a real breath of fresh heir.

Make sure you stop off at Scotland’s oldest inn, the Kenmore Hotel. It’s where Queen Victoria and Prince Albert spent their honeymoon. And inspired national bard Rabbie Burns.