The Lodge on Loch Lomond | A Stylish Escape that’s perfect for autumn

Loch Lomond & The Trossachs

A lochside stay at the beautiful Lodge on Loch Lomond Hotel; the perfect getaway this autumn.

There are few places better suited to a weekend of walking, wild swimming and long dinners than the shores of Loch Lomond. Add a cosy room, a little time in the thermal spa, and the prospect of dinner overlooking the water, and you've covered most of my requirements for a rural weekend escape.

Set on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, just outside the village of Luss, The Lodge on Loch Lomond makes a postcard-perfect base for exploring the Trossachs.

We arrived with walking boots and swimsuits in tow, ready to make the most of its beautiful national park setting, with a little indulgence thrown in for good measure.

Surrounded by mountains, woodland, and wide-open water, this part of Scotland lends itself naturally to slow weekends. And for us, the appeal of The Lodge on Loch Lomond is as much about its setting as the hotel itself: step outside, and you’re right on the water, with some of the Trossachs’ best scenery on the doorstep.

The hotel in autumn.

When to stay

We’ve stayed in both autumn and summer, and each season brings something different.

In autumn, the hills glowed amber, and the loch had that wonderfully misty, atmospheric vibe. In summer, we lingered over G&Ts on the private beach, soaking in warm days and pastel sunsets.

In other words, The Lodge on Loch Lomond makes a great escape any time of year.

The Hotel

Set right on the shores of Loch Lomond, The Lodge on Loch Lomond is the kind of hotel that makes it easy to combine time outdoors with a little indulgence. You can spend the morning walking the hills, head out onto the water in the afternoon, then return to a cosy room, the spa and dinner overlooking the loch.

Its setting is a big part of the appeal.

With the Trossachs National Park on the doorstep, there are plenty of ways to get outside, from paddleboarding and kayaking to boat trips and walks through the surrounding countryside. Luss is also just a short stroll away, making it easy to leave the car behind and explore the village and its lochside paths.

Inside, the hotel has a warm, contemporary take on traditional Highland style, with fires, comfortable seating and plenty of timber and natural textures. Large windows keep the loch and mountains firmly in view, so even when the weather closes in, you still feel connected to the landscape outside.

We also loved the hotel’s paddleboard and kayak rental, and the private beach made the perfect launching point.

There’s also a thermal spa and indoor pool, along with the hotel’s restaurant, making The Lodge a good option for those who like their outdoor adventures with some comfort at the end of the day.

The rooms

There are several room and suite categories at The Lodge on Loch Lomond, with the rooms named after Scotland’s mountains. We’ve stayed twice, in two different categories, which gave us a good feel for the accommodation.

On our first visit, we stayed in an Executive Munro, one of the hotel’s luxury rooms in the contemporary lodge. It was spacious and light, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a comfortable seating area and a calm, contemporary take on Highland-inspired décor. The private balcony was a lovely place to sit with a coffee and watch life on the loch go by.

More recently, we stayed in one of the Deluxe Corbett rooms, and this time the setting really was the star. Positioned directly overlooking Loch Lomond, the room opens onto its own private balcony with uninterrupted views across the water and the hotel’s private beach.

It’s the kind of outlook that makes you want to linger: coffee in the morning, a glass of wine in the evening, and plenty of time simply watching the weather move across the loch.

Inside, the room is comfortable and contemporary, with plenty of space to unpack and settle in. But for me, it’s the balcony and that front-row position on the loch that make these rooms particularly memorable.

After a day exploring the Trossachs, few places are better to return to than your own little corner overlooking the water.

Dinner at Colquhoun's Restaurant

Dinner at Colquhoun’s Restaurant is as much about the setting as it is about what’s on the plate. Our table looked out across Loch Lomond, and as we settled in for the evening, the last of the daylight slowly faded over the water.

Watching the sun set behind the mountains as dinner arrived was one of those simple hotel moments that make a stay feel rather special.

The restaurant itself has a contemporary feel, with warm, understated interiors that keep the focus firmly on the views outside. The menu follows a similar approach, combining modern cooking with plenty of local Scottish produce.

Dinner was delicious. We started with charred aubergine with a herby salad, followed by ribeye steak with Café de Paris butter and chips, and chermoula chicken with flatbread and sumac red onions. For dessert, there was a pretty pavlova with berries and a hibiscus panna cotta with blueberry compote.

Location

One of The Lodge on Loch Lomond's biggest advantages is its location. The hotel sits just outside the conservation village of Luss, so you can walk into the village in a few minutes, while hiking trails lead directly into the hills behind the hotel.

Luss is small, but there’s plenty to fill a morning or afternoon.

Wander the village and its lochside paths, stop for coffee and something sweet at Scoff & Patter, or browse the local shops before heading down to the pier. The Luss Distillery is another worthwhile stop, with its range of Scottish spirits and a chance to learn more about the distillery.

The pier is also the departure point for boat trips on Loch Lomond, including services that take you across the water towards Conic Hill, so you can combine a boat trip with one of the Trossachs’ classic walks.

For more on what to see, where to eat and the best walks around the village, take a look at our complete guide to Luss.