luxury holiday lodges Mull self catering Scotland self catering Mull luxury holiday lodges

Luxury holiday lodges Mull - each sleeps 2 adults

Three lovely wooden cabins in a beautiful, secluded spot near the coast on the Isle of Mull in the Scottish Hebrides

Three lovely log cabins sit in a quiet, secluded spot in private woodland near the shore of Loch Na Keal on the western side of Mull, a perfect setting for a relaxing, romantic holiday. The windows and verandas look out from the bright, cosy lodges and through the trees to the water; wildlife abounds and sunsets are glorious to watch.

A friendly greeting together with coffee, tea and very tasty homemade shortbread are much appreciated and then we settle in to enjoy our holiday. Getting our bearings first, we step out onto the veranda to enjoy the view, then wander down past the trees and the river to the edge of the loch to stretch our legs, accompanied by a myriad of intermingling birdsongs. What a beautiful, peaceful spot for a romantic retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. The only sounds are those of nature; sunlight sparkles on the water and the air feels fresh and energising. We'll come down here often during our stay to soak it all in and to watch out for the wildlife that can be seen, especially early and late in the day. If you're up early you might spot otters and the white tailed sea eagle and around dusk the short eared owls; deer can be seen silently grazing, moving with gentle grace. Our new binoculars have been put to very good use!

Back at our lodge, we love the cheery colour schemes: we have a calm, fresh turquoisy living area and bold blue bedroom, contrasting stylishly with comfortable, neutral furniture. The cabin is spotless and it's hard to believe we're not the first guests to stay here, but the visitors' book says otherwise - it's full of positive comments and tips of places to see or eat and it's clear that once they've been here once, guests come back again year after year. We also find a wealth of maps and books to help us plan our agenda.

One of the most unlikely sounding recommendations was the 'burger van' which sits opposite the campsite at Killiechronan, by the side of the loch. Officially called Loch Na Keal Meals, this is no ordinary fast food van but a source of delicious, locally sourced food which is cooked to order while you wait - vension, pork, beef or lamb burgers, fresh scallops and mussels to die for, homemade salads, vegetarian options, freshly baked cakes...and all with the most fantastic view and excellent value for money.

Other highlights of our visit include the stone circle at Lochbuie, as the low sun turned the stones copper, casting long, eerie shadows and for me the jewel in the crown of this fantastic break - a visit to one of Scotland's oldest distilleries at Tobermory. When I last visited here in the 1990s it was closed down, although I was able to buy a bottle of very good malt from old stock. Now the distillery is fully operational and I am the proud owner of a bottle of the wonderfully rich, smooth, sweet but spicy Tobermory 20!