LTR is delighted to be featured this month in Global Blackbook promoting Aldourie Castle for their ‘Glorious 12th’ feature. Aldourie is an award winning newly refurbished Victorian castle overlooking Loch Ness where guests can stay in great comfort and be looked after by the wonderful Lavinia and her husband Richard, who runs the kitchen. This is true highland elegance in the most civilized of surroundings.
Gordon Macgeachy who founded Global Blackbook will be known to most of you from his days running Mint Lifestyle in LA with his brother Steven. LTR was lucky enough to look after a few Mint clients and they were amongst the best we have ever had. Gordon left in 2009 to set up ‘A Rare World’ and now focuses his efforts on the online Global Black Book which for a hundred bucks a year subscription fee is incredibly good value. A great source of luxury travel info!
After 12 years of operating well below the radar, LTR recently hosted it’s first ever press trip round the Highlands. With 7 travel writers and 1 photographer we stayed in three of our top castles and had a very jolly 3 days, going in ribs across Loch Ness and the north sea, clay pigeon shooting, mountain biking around Loch Essian and riding icelandic ponies. The evenings were filled with amazing dinners, highland dancing, piano playing and fireside chat. We were most generously hosted by Ackergill Tower, Aldourie Castle and Corrour Lodge, which although very different in architectural style and geography, shared a common skill at knowing how to entertain in true highland style.
Obviously with no prior experience we did not know what to expect and were anxious that our VIP guests had a wonderful time in Scotland. The feedback was amazing and in a way our old school approach and laid back style seemed to fit in well with the mood of the group who enjoyed the homely qualities that our castles offer and the genuine warmth of the Highland people. In a world filled with very slick hotels, a bit of old fashioned charm, combined with comfortable four poster beds and excellent food, is still hard to beat. Anyway Emma Cripwell lined up a lovely team of people and we are now looking forward to our next press trip to Ireland in 2012.
A very interesting and long overdue visit to Lime Wood hotel in the New Forest yesterday. Having heard much about this exciting new hotel, I was glad to finally see it. The setting of the house perched overlooking the forest is immediately impressive and as you swing into the drive way, you know something pretty special awaits. The orginal house has been added onto and is surrounded by the new spa centre and various lodges, which are very attractive and although everything looks very new at the moment, as the stone ages, the buildings will settle into the landscape. The interior is a mix of traditional and contemporary with very well thought out bedrooms and commodious bathrooms. Having had a few glitches on the F&B side, all I can say is that our lunch was delicious and the service excellent, so obviously these issues have been resolved. Traffic around Lyndhurst must be a nightmare in the summer but another access route is available avoiding the town. This is the perfect bolt hole from London for a spoiling country weekend. Lots to do and see in the area or just chill out at Lime Wood and enjoy the hotel and it’s facilities. The whole place is pretty chic and glamorous, with an obvious attention to detail.
Uncategorized | Andrew | 
August 12, 2011 3:45 pm | 
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