Neigh bother
Have you ever been tempted to jack it all in, and do something interesting with your life? Well, Algy, the owner of a converted vintage Bedford horsebox, has done just that, heading off to scour the world for glamorous film locations.
So this vintage vehicle has been put out on loan, parking up this summer in rural Perthshire. My girls and I were champing at the bit for an overnight stay.
The response of my irascible partner, Graham, was not quite the same. "That's it. I've heard everything now, I'm off to clean out the shed."
I explained that it wasn't a tin box on wheels, open to the elements, but fully furnished, eco-chic accommodation, complete with wood-burning stove.
The fact it is parked next to a hotel renowned for its fine dining swung it for the self-confessed foodie.
Monachyle Mhor is a family concern, run by Tom Lewis and his wife Lisa, as well as his brother and sister.
This ambitious crew have branched out with MHORBread, a bakery in nearby Callander, MHORFish, and even MHORTea a bijou tearoom in Balquhidder.
The journey put us in holiday mode - especially when we turned off the A84 and headed down the single-track road which hugs the banks of Loch Voil.
At the sight of the hotel's pink exterior and the horsebox parked next to the road, there were whoops of delight.
Lisa greets us, her blue eyes twinkling mischievously, as she shows us Lovestruck, for that's the trailer's name.
You clamber up some boulder stairs onto the raised tailgate decking, fenced in by silver birch posts, and take in the stunning views over Loch Doine. Inside is the most gorgeous interior imaginable.
Pale floral wallpaper, mismatched wooden cupboards, and even stained glass windows make for an eclectic mix.
The Belfast sink and gas stove are ingeniously hidden under the wooden worktop, while one of the beds is in the overhead space above the driver's seat, and the other is hidden under the sofa in the living space.
As Tom and Lisa are in the process of creating a bathroom next door to Lovestruck, we were allowed to use one of the hotel's swanky en suite rooms to wash and shower.
Hope took one look at the decadent designer luxury inside and announced she was staying put, instantly abandoning all thoughts of our rustic retreat.
Graham bravely volunteered to keep her company, leaving Eve and me in the great outdoors. Although you can easily cater for yourself, it would be a wasted opportunity not to sample the fine dining available at Monachyle Mhor.
Pre-dinner drinks in the drawing-room, accompanied by tasty, bite-sized nibbles, sent our taste buds wild with anticipation before we moved into the dining room proper for our meal.
Graham's hand-dived scallops from the Isle of Mull with oak-smoked roe and a hint of cock-a-leekie was a definite hit.
The girls, the fussiest of diners, were satisfied with their much simpler Pentland sole and beef dishes.
The view of the surrounding hills is enough of a talking point between courses but some naughty sheep had escaped and were making free with the succulent lawn so a chef was despatched to shoo them from the kitchen garden.
As a vegetarian, I was impressed by the care put into the presentation of the hen's egg and artichoke starter, which was bathed in lemon sorrel froth.
My main of pasta sheets placed on a scrape of bitter nettle purée interspersed with layers of leeks with fennel and artichoke was a buttery sensation.
Graham had melt-in-the-mouth Monachyle beef with shallots and purée of carrot and beetroot.
Eve and I wandered over to our sleeping quarters under a starry sky, the wood fire offering a crackling welcome. I fell asleep in an instant only to be woken briefly by the hooting of an owl.
The indoor crew had a peaceful night and nascent product fan Hope made the most of the Sedbergh Soap Company goodies in the bathroom.
After a wonderful breakfast, we spent the morning with Alan Sneddon from Hidden Glen Land Rover Safaris.
As the former Monachyle farm manager he is well placed to show off the countryside.
Heading to the hills, we were lucky to see both grazing red deer and soaring golden eagles.
He adeptly brings to life the story of Rob Roy, who was buried at the kirk in nearby Balquhidder.
As we left, Eve declared she wanted to stay here forever. We had only one night, but we all wanted Mhor.
THE FACTS The Lovestruck horsebox at Mhor is sadly no longer available to hire but you can stay at Monachyle Mhor, itself.
A 2.5-hour Discovery Safari by Land Rover further details www.hiddenglensafaris.co.uk
This article first appeared in Scotsman Magazine 25/06/2011
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