All about Mhor

All about Mhor

The Lewis family come from a long line of farmers. Rob and Jean Lewis sold their farm in Abergavenny and moved up to Scotland in 1983. When they saw Monachyle Mhor, Rob struck a deal there and then, signing on the back of a cigarette packet. Today the business is still family run but has expanded to include an award-winning hotel, the poshest fish and chip cafe in Scottland, a bakery and a library tea room. The farm is still important though and is looking for alternative ways of farming and, introducing traditional breeds of cattle and controlling the whole process from livestock to meat product.

Environmental policy

The new wood pellet (made from compressed wood and sawdust) burner system replaces dependancy on oil and electricity for heat and hot water. Around the farm there are plans to plant traditional hedges to add habitat while working with the CPS and RSS to better manage the native wetlands and moorland. Recycling is extensive and the pigs are happy to eat the green waste from the kitchens. The chickens provide all the eggs for the hotel while venison, beef, pork and plenty of veg come from the estate. What can't be grown or produced on site is usually sourced from within 30 miles.

Wildlife

Set in the heart of the Trossachs National Park you can rightly expect diverse and rich wildlife. There are red squirrels and sparrow hawks, while you can go out stalking red deer. If you are very lucky you may even catch a glimpse of a golden eagle but the glen is a great a spot for birdwatching whether you spot this beautiful rarity or not.

In & around The Lovestruck at Mhor

• A wood-burning stove (mainly used for heat)
• Gas cooker plus oven
• Kettle and crockery
• Pots, pans, bowls and plates
• Cool box

• Pillows
• Sheets
• Duvet
• Samburu blankets and towels

• Cards
• Board games

• Check in time is 4pm
• Check out time is 11am
• Kids over the age of twelve are welcome
• Pets are not allowed at The Lovestruck
• There is no electricity
• An initial stock of firewood will be provided. Please use economically

Getting there

Monachyle Mhor Hotel, Balquhidder, Lochearnhead, Perthshire FK19 8PQ

By Train

Dunblane Station is approximately 30 miles from Monachyle Mhor. Taxi transfers can be arranged and take about 35 minutes.

By Car

Monachyle Mhor is about 35 miles north of Stirling, just off the A84.
Follow the A84 North from Stirling towards Crianlarich. Drive through Doune, Callander and Strathyre and after a further 2 miles turn right at the Kingshouse Hotel. Drive through Balquhidder (2 miles) and on for a further 4 miles up the Balquhidder glen and along the shores of Loch Voil. About 200 yards after the end of the loch Monachyle is set up on the hill to your right.

If you are getting to the Cabin by train, bus or any other non-car means you can think of be sure to take a photo and enter our Go Greenly competition to win a 4 night stay at The Wagon or The Ark.

Local activities

Courses at Monachyle Mhor

Amoghavira Photography

Seafood demonstrations – learn what really fresh fish is all about and gain confidence in preparing and cooking all kinds of delicious ingredients from the sea.

Landscape photography – make the stunning surroundings come alive in your pictures with expert Paul Holloway from Amoghavira Photography, winner of the 2009 Landscape Photographer of The Year.

Highland Safaris – explore Balquhidder Glen to the full with a two-hour safari tour with chance of seeing red deer and golden eagles, along with many of the historic sites of the area.

Red deer stalking – as part of the annual cull join a professional stalker for some target practice and then hit the hills to bag a stag.

Clay pigeon shooting – tuition for complete beginners and more experienced shots is available.

MHOR than Yoga – designed to relax and inspire you, there are a range of courses offered by some of the UK's top teachers including Yoga, meditation, life coaching and body and emotional clearing therapies.

Or simply spend some time on the estate and unwind, play Petanque or read a book and cosy up in the Lovestruck.

Outdoor & active

Take to the mountains with a hike up Ben More just at the end of the glen and there are walks from every direction of the hotel.

There are interesting and largely traffic free cycle routes that encompass historic sites, waterfalls and a spectacular viaduct.

Clamber in to your waders for some fishing at the trout rich Lochs Voil and Doine.

Two beautiful 18-hole golf courses are nearby if you should fancy a round of golf.

Seaplane trips run from the shores of Loch Voil if you have have a bit of the aviator spirit in you or simply want to view the intoxicating panoramas.

Places to visit

Balquhidder Parish Church is the final resting place of the historical Rob Roy who lived farmed and died in the area.

Eating & drinking

Eating & Drinking at Monachyle Mhor

Tom Lewis is both the award winning head chef and owner of the rather chic Mhor restaurant. Gold winner in Eat Scotland in 2010, the food features a heavy emphasis on seasonal and local (extremely local when it's straight from the farm). Alternately, the bar is a great place to relax and plan your next trip after a day of climbing mountains with some top notch light meals.

Pubs & Restaurants

MHORFish, Callander (16 miles). Chippy and cafe that is piled high with fish, oysters, mussels and prawns from the north coast of Scotland caught fresh that day. Voted one of the 50 best cafes in the UK and it's also the local fishmonger.

MHORTea, Balquhidder (3.5 miles). The Lewis's bring the Mhor ethos to afternoon tea. Housed in an old library building, there is a wide selection of organic and herbal teas to go with the homemade cakes, scones and Scottish shortbread. There is also a selection of savouries.

All about Mhor

The Lewis family come from a long line of farmers. Rob and Jean Lewis sold their farm in Abergavenny and moved up to Scotland in 1983. When they saw Monachyle Mhor, Rob struck a deal there and then, signing on the back of a cigarette packet. Today the business is still family run but has expanded to include an award-winning hotel, the poshest fish and chip cafe in Scottland, a bakery and a library tea room. The farm is still important though and is looking for alternative ways of farming and, introducing traditional breeds of cattle and controlling the whole process from livestock to meat product.

Environmental policy

The new wood pellet (made from compressed wood and sawdust) burner system replaces dependancy on oil and electricity for heat and hot water. Around the farm there are plans to plant traditional hedges to add habitat while working with the CPS and RSS to better manage the native wetlands and moorland. Recycling is extensive and the pigs are happy to eat the green waste from the kitchens. The chickens provide all the eggs for the hotel while venison, beef, pork and plenty of veg come from the estate. What can't be grown or produced on site is usually sourced from within 30 miles.

Wildlife

Set in the heart of the Trossachs National Park you can rightly expect diverse and rich wildlife. There are red squirrels and sparrow hawks, while you can go out stalking red deer. If you are very lucky you may even catch a glimpse of a golden eagle but the glen is a great a spot for birdwatching whether you spot this beautiful rarity or not.

Booking terms for The Lovestruck at Mhor

Booking Conditions

Please note that Canopy & Stars is acting as an 'Agent' in the booking of The Lovestruck on behalf of Tom Lewis (hereafter referred to as the 'Owner'). The Owner of the property is responsible for your stay and is the 'Principal' in this agreement. Customers renting property through Canopy & Stars are referred to as the Guest. The rental arrangements are made by Canopy & Stars, on behalf of the Owners and the contractual relationship is directly between the Owners of the property and the Guest.

The Canopy & Stars booking line (01275 395 447) is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm except on public holidays. When using the online enquiry form, please allow 24 working hours for us to contact you by telephone to confirm the booking. If we are unable to reach you by phone we will attempt to contact you by email. We will contact you during Canopy & Stars working hours. Online enquiries will be dealt with in the order they are received, but please be aware that we cannot guarantee reservation of your selected dates until the receipt of suitable payment.

1. Booking and payments

1.1 The dates of your booking will be held upon payment of a non-refundable deposit of 25% or payment in full. Deposits are only payable when booking more than 10 weeks in advance of your check in date. Any booking less than 10 weeks in advance of your check in date must be paid in full immediately.

1.2 On receipt of the deposit, a booking confirmation will be sent to you within 24 hours in the case of email and seven working days in the case of post, containing the details of your stay and of payments made and due. If you have not received your booking confirmation within the specified time, please notify us as soon as possible. We're sorry for any inconvenience, but payments can only be made by credit and debit cards. A 2% surcharge will be applied to credit cards. We do not accept American Express, cheques or cash.

1.3 Where a deposit has been paid, full balance payment will be due 10 weeks in advance of your check in date and a reminder will be sent to you two weeks prior to this date, where applicable, by email. If you are unable to pay the balance before the stated due date, you will forfeit your deposit and your booking will be cancelled.

2. Cancellation

2.1 Cancellation by you at any time will result in your deposit being forfeited, as all deposits are non-refundable.

2.2 All monies paid for a holiday (deposit and balance) are non-refundable within 10 weeks before check in date.

2.3 Cancellation of any holiday after it has been paid in full and at a date 10 weeks or more in advance of your check in date, will result in forfeiture of your deposit (or an amount equivalent where one was not paid as the holiday was paid in full) and the balance being returned to you.

2.4 Cancellation insurance is available but will be a third party arrangement and not involve Canopy & Stars or the Owner in any way.

2.5 If the location of your booking is inaccessible due to adverse conditions your booking can be deferred to a later date subject to availability and at discretion of Canopy & Stars on behalf of the owner of the property.

3. Alteration

3.1 Alterations to your booking can only be made more than 10 weeks prior to the check in date, after which time alterations will be treated as cancellation. All alterations will incur a £30 administration fee and are subject to availability and at the discretion of Canopy & Stars on behalf of the Owner of the property.

3.2 Differences in the total amount payable resulting from alterations will be refunded to you in the case of a decrease in price and paid by you in the case of increases in price.

4. Complaints

In the event that you have any complaint about your stay, please notify the Owner of the property as soon as possible and they will use all reasonable endeavours to resolve the issue. Whether or not your complaint is dealt with satisfactorily, please also contact us as we appreciate all feedback.

5. Pricing

Prices on the website are not binding, but costs stated in any booking confirmation email you receive from Canopy & Stars will be honoured as shown and will include all VAT and any charges.

6. Information

Information on the website is correct to the best of our knowledge, but circumstances outside of our control may cause it to become inaccurate. We apologise for any inconvenience that may result from this.

7. Liability

7.1 Canopy & Stars accept no liability for accident, loss of property or personal injury whilst on your stay.

7.2 Canopy & Stars will not be liable for any act, neglect or default on the part of the Owners or any other person not within their employ or otherwise under their control, nor for any accident, damage, loss, injury, expense or inconvenience, whether to person or property, which the Guest or any other person may suffer or incur arising out of, or in any way connected with the rental unless Canopy & Stars is responsible. In addition, the Owners and Canopy & Stars accept no liability for loss of or damage to the Guest’s possessions on the Owners’ property or land.

7.3 Nothing in these conditions excludes or limits the liability of Canopy & Stars or the Owners:

a. for death or personal injury caused by Canopy & Stars or the Owners negligence.

b. for any matter which it would be illegal for Canopy & Stars or the Owners to exclude or attempt to exclude their liability.

7.4 The use of swimming pools, lakes, climbing trees, tractor rides and any other activity on the Owners land is the responsibility of the Guest and is done so at their own risk.

8. Pets

Pets are only permitted with the prior consent of Canopy & Stars and the Owners and where pets are permitted they are to be kept under control. Pets must not be left in the Property unsupervised as this could result in damage to the Property and distress to the animal(s). A weekly charge may be made for each pet.

9. VAT

Many of the Owners of properties in the Canopy & Stars portfolio are not registered for VAT in which case no tax is payable. Where VAT is payable the tax is included in the weekly rent.

10. The Holiday – Guest Conditions of occupancy and Conduct

10.1 The Guests have the right to occupy the Property for the paid for holiday period only (within the meaning of Schedule 1 Paragraph 9 of the Housing Act 1988).

10.2 Guests undertake to behave in a proper, appropriate and legal manner with due respect to the Owner, the Property and other guests and their property. If any guest behaves inappropriately or improperly (of which the Owner will be the final judge on their Property), or illegally, the Owner reserves the right to ask the guest and their party (at their discretion) to leave the Property before the end of the holiday period. Any refund for so doing will be at the entire discretion of the Owner in consultation with the Agents. In addition, the Owner reserves the right to sue the guest for any loss, damage or injury caused to the Owner, the Property or to other guests and/or their property.

11. Breach of Booking Conditions

11.1 If there is a breach of any of these conditions by the Guest or any of their party, the Owners or Canopy & Stars reserve the right to re-enter the Property and end the holiday and ask the Guest and their party to leave in addition to their other rights specified in these Booking Conditions.

11.2 Ending the Holiday by either the Owners or Canopy & Stars, or the Guests does not affect that party’s other rights and remedies.

12 Governing Law and Jurisdiction

Any dispute will be governed by the non-exclusive law and jurisdiction of the English or Scottish Courts depending on the location of the Property.

13. Authority to Sign

The person who signs the Booking Form certifies that:

1. he or she is authorised to agree the Booking Conditions on behalf of all persons included in the Booking Form, including those substituted or added at a later date;
2. the signatory is over eighteen years of age;
3. they agree to take responsibility for the party occupying the Property, and to notify Canopy & Stars if they are not a member of the holiday party.

14. Discrepancies

In case of a discrepancy between these Booking Conditions and any other Canopy & Stars literature, these Booking Conditions shall prevail.

15. Validity clause

In the event that a court finds that a condition in these Booking Conditions is illegal or void, the illegal or void provision will be severed from the remainder of the Booking Conditions, which will continue to be valid and have full force and effect.