35SATURDAY JULY 19 2014

n Claire Spreadbury stayed at the Royal Westmoreland ( www.royalwestmoreland.com; 01524 889 341) which offers seven nights in a three-bedroom Royal Villa on a self-catering basis from 674 per person, based on a family of four sharing. Prices valid until December 14, 2014.

n Thomas Cook Airlines (www.flythomascook.com) runs flights from Manchester to Barbados from 404 return, including taxes, baggage and meals.

n The Atlantis Submarine (www.barbados.atlantissubmarines.com) experience starts from around 48 per adult, 25 per child.

n Entrance to the Barbados Wildlife Reserve is priced 7 per adult, 4 per child.

n There are numerous operators across the island offering catamaran cruises. A daytime snorkel with lunch cruise is priced around 53 per adult.

n For further information on Barbadosgo to Visitbarbados.org

Factfile

Hotel offers Mar than most

LIKE so many holiday destinations, Scotland is a country where you can only scrape the surface when visiting for a few days. Glasgow and Edinburgh are world-class destinations in their own right, the Highlands and islands offer limitless options, while attempting to stop off at every whisky distillery or to take in every loch Scotland has to offer would take forever. But if you want to pack a good bit in to a short trip to Scotland, a great idea would be to stay at the exquisite Mar Hall Golf & Spa Resort outside Glasgow.It has a lot to offer. As well as being afive-star resort on a 240-acre site overlooking the Clyde and looking out towards the Kilpatrick Hills, it is a 20-minute drive from central Glasgow,25 minutes from Loch Lomond and handily placed for arriving by ferry (Troon is 45 minutes away) or plane (Glasgow Airport is a 10-minute drive).The eye-catching building (completed in 1845, with historical links to the Earls of Mar) is a gothic-style baronial mansion designed to resemble an Elizabethan stately home and features 53 individually designed bedrooms and suites.The Great Hall as you pass through reception is stunning, while the Cristal Restaurant offers fine dining. Its a wonder people leave the hotel grounds at all, considering it has a 20-metre swimming pool, a gym, a Decleor Spa offering a wide range of treatments and the Earl of Mar championship golf course.Mar Hall is the official hotel of the Scottish football team and has its own full-sized pitch, so this is perhaps why the Italian national team, Barcelona, AC Milan, Arsenal and Liverpool have all availed of the facilities.Stars such as Brad Pitt, One Direction, Kylie Minogue, Take That and Depeche Mode have all spent the night here and on our stay in May we had good reason to believe that a certain Ms Miley Cyrus and her entourage were staying at the hotel but dont let that put you off.

Our suite had a lovely view out on to the courtyard and we enjoyed walks around the grounds and along the Clyde Walkway.As well as heading into Glasgow, we also drove up to Loch Lomond and took in the lovely loch-side village of Luss and had lunch (with a view) at the Lodge on Loch Lomond Hotel.The road signs as you leave most Scottish towns read Haste Ye Back and Mar Hall is definitely somewhere youd not get tired of going back to.n Room prices at the five-star Mar Hall (Bishopton, Glasgow, PA7 5NW) start at 113 per night. To book, phone0141 812 9999, email info@marhall.com or visit MarHall.com.n Perfect for visiting Scotland by car, P&O Ferries runs its Express service between Larne and Troon (until October 6), with up to four sailings daily. The journey time is two hours and fifteen minutes. Glasgow is 45 minutes from Troon. P&O also operates up to seven sailings daily between Larne and Cairnryan. Prices start from 79 to Cairnryan (for car and driver) and from 99 to Troon. For more information, visit POferries.com.

Brian Campbell

a couple of courses of food doesnt float your boat, you can always opt for a Tiami Catamaran cruise.The rum punch flows as you take in the sites of Barbados, have fun with the crew and snorkel for turtles.Barbados is full of colour. There are vibrant flowers, wonderful wooden shack

houses, and shops proudly presenting their pristinely painted fronts, looking like glorified beach huts. Driving past a local school, even the colour of the uniform is bright orange.It might just be the ultimate family holiday. And its certainly a great place to blow the mind of a four-year-old.

n COLOUR CODED: far left, Mullins Beach;

middle, Atlantis Submarine; and

Barbados Wildlife Reserve in Barbados