Scotland's Most Romantic Xmas

The Ardanaiseig, on the west coast of Scotland, was voted Most Romantic Hotel in Scotland in 2006. Rooms are available for a romantic Christmas in the Scottish Highlands

It sounds like the Christmas of your childhood dreams – log fires, Christmas trees, crisp winter walks, a Christmas carol service in the local church, mulled wine, music and far too much wonderful food and drink. The Ardanaiseig hotel in Kilchrenan, by Oban in Argyll, on the west coast of Scotland, will be having all that and more for guests lucky enough to book into one of its 16 rooms over the Christmas holiday period.

As well as winning the Most Romantic Hotel in Scotland Award this year at the Scottish Hotel Awards, the Ardanaiseig and its Chef de Cuisine Gary Goldie have recently been placed top in a survey of the best five Hotel Restaurants in Scotland published in the Glasgow Herald newspaper.

The owner of the Ardanaiseig is Bennie Gray, the founder of Gray's Antique Markets in London. They'll be familiar to anyone who's been a regular London visitor. It does mean that the hotel has some splendid antique furniture around, in keeping with its history. It was built in 1834 for Colonel Archibald Campbell of Clan Campbell, and stands by Loch Awe in the Scottish Highlands.

Right on the shores of Loch Awe is, not surprisingly, the Boat Shed. This has now been turned into luxury self-contained accommodation, with its own sitting room and small kitchen. Am elevated king-size bed also gives breathtaking panoramic views across the loch – quite a sight to wake up to on Christmas morning. Other Christmas treats include a gourmet five-course dinner on Christmas Eve, a traditional Christmas lunch followed by a seafood buffet in the evening. Then on Boxing Day you can walk by the loch or into the Highlands, to work up an appetite for the Black Tie dinner on Boxing Day evening. There's also dancing at a ceilidh too.

And the price? It's from £160 (US$300) per person per night for full board, based on two sharing for a minimum of four nights. But you can get a 20% discount by booking before December 1st. Click here.

To read about Glasgow's cheap hotel room rates, click here.