Isle of Eriska – A Swim, a Sauna and Afternoon Tea
A few hours.
The route
The Isle of Eriska is a five-star hotel on its own island at the mouth of Loch Creran, and its pool, sauna, steam room and afternoon tea are open to visitors as well as guests.
The day
Isle of Eriska
A slow afternoon on the island: a swim first, then afternoon tea.
An afternoon, with tea after the swim
The Stables Spa, Isle of Eriska
Eriska is reached over the hotel's private bridge, and there's parking beside the hotel's Main House. The Stables Spa is in the island's former stables, a short walk away along a path through the spa garden. Its heated 17-metre pool looks out over the gardens, and beside it are a spa pool, a sauna and an aromatherapy steam room. The pool is open from 8am to 7pm, with the last swim half an hour before it closes. Entry is £15 for anyone 16 or over and £7.50 for children from 5 to 16, and under-5s are free.
About 2 min on foot
The Main House, Isle of Eriska
Afternoon tea
It's a short walk back to the Main House for afternoon tea, served in the drawing room and lounges from 12.30pm to 4.30pm. The Eriska cream tea is £15 a person, the classic afternoon tea £45 and the Champagne afternoon tea £65. Each is made fresh to order, so arriving without a booking can mean a wait of up to 45 minutes.
If it rains
The swim and the tea are both indoors.
On the way
- Tralee Beach
Tralee Bay, on the shore at Benderloch, is a long sandy beach with a stonier end, popular with local people and visitors for dog walks and a swim.
Make it a weekend
More days out near Oban.
Photographs by Isle of Eriska Hotel, Spa and Island, an SLH Hotel and Steve via Google