We’ve just had a cracking weekend in the Trossachs, staying at Monachyle Mhor Hotel. This is a rather special hideaway a long way down the glen at Balquhidder.

Best things about the hotel:

• 4-course dinner:
• appetiser: oyster
• starter: John Dory (John), partridge with bacon, cabbage and oatmeal(Jacqueline)
• main: loin of venison on a bed of pak choi with a fig tarte tatin
• pud: apple tarte tatin (John), chocolate baby cake (Jacqueline)
• Breakfast – a Full Scottish with bacon, haggis (yes, indeed!), mushrooms, tomato, fried egg and toast,
• The room – large, comfortable, with a gas stove in one corner, a walk-in shower anda bath (with multi-coloured lights) in the bathroom, and the most enormous bed. Next time we come, we must remember some CDs and DVDs for the DVD player.

Good walks too – up Beinn an t’Sithean on Sat, up Inverlochlarig Glen on Sun.