Mallard Lodge

“Waterfront lodges right on the Lake of Menteith”

Our three Waterfront Lodges – Widgeon, Teal and Mallard – have all been extended towards the lake with huge glass sliding doors showing of the spectacular view over the lake toward Ben Lomond and the Menteith Hills.

Mallard is one of our 3 Waterfront Lodges (along with Teal and Widgeon & The Nest), which each sleep 6 guests in 3 bedrooms. As well as being extended towards the lake, they have been given a stylish, contemporary makeover. Flooded by light, they feature cool, open-plan Scandi-minimalist interiors, softened by huge corner sofas, sheepskin bar stools, Chris’s handcrafted wooden tables and squishy rugs. Artsy touches – birch branch hangers, hand-made lights, colourful cushions – add a touch of fun; vast floor-to-ceiling windows bring the stunning lake landscape in.

These 2-storey lodges each have their own Bannockburn-Whin stone patio right by the lake, separated with greenery and featuring larch picnic tables handcrafted by my husband, Chris – ideal for drinking up the views on long summer evenings.

Mallard is semi-detached, on the end of the three Waterfront Lodges. Its all-new cowboy bath offers the chance for a heated outdoor soak with a beer, with the best view around.

Mallard’s main bedroom has handmade oyster-catcher themed bedside lamps, in honour of the beautiful orange-beaked birds which nest at Lochend each summer. The lighting in the dining area is hung from wood carved by Chris from an old beech tree which my brothers, cousins and I carved our names in as children – you can still see the initials, some of which date back to 1956.

Mallard’s patio is a great spot for watching the sun set behind The Menteith Hills. You’re just a couple of meters from the water’s edge where our clan of friendly ducks quack away happily. We can supply duck food if you want to make friends with them.

You’ll also find a Nespresso machine and all mod cons in the kitchen, and a rejuvenating whirlpool Jacuzzi-style bath and shower in the downstairs bathroom, plus shower and loo upstairs. For a truly refreshing experience, however, feel free to dive into the lake!

Mallard lodge has a brand-new modern kitchen, as part of the open-plan design of the lodge – so you’re connected with the wonderful view at all times. It features sheepskin-covered bar stools beside the swish kitchen island, and unit handles crafted by Chris from a beech tree that once stood by the lake.

A funky toaster, kettle, Nespresso machine, cafetiere, scales and hand blender are all provided. A large fridge/freezer, hide-away recycling, dishwasher, oven and microwave are all integrated and the hob has an extractor fan. You’ll find all the utensils and pots and pans you need for your group of up to 6.

The washing machine and Victorian pulley are hidden away in a wee laundry cupboard/drying room.

Click here to view and download a full kitchen inventory

Mallard lodge, and all 3 Waterfront Lodges, now have a luxurious open-plan space for living and dining, overlooking the lake through large panoramic windows. There’s a corner sofa, large wall mounted flat-screen TV, and UE Bluetooth speaker for use inside.

It’s the perfect relaxing space for a group of up to 6, with plenty of spots to sit and enjoy the view – whether at the sheepskin-covered stools at the kitchen island, or the comfy sofa by the windows, or the wee 2-seater reading sofa, set back by the stairs.

Mallard lodge has 3 bedrooms: a downstairs twin, an upstairs Kingsize double, and another upstairs double with super-Kingsize ‘zip and link’ bed, which can be changed to two full-sized singles if requested.

The downstairs twin features modern tartan carpets and wee splashes of art that have caught my eye. Upstairs, the woodland-view back bedroom has an en-suite shower and loo; the front bedroom has a large flat-screen TV and long views over the water to Ben Lomond.

Beds are all made up with fresh high-quality Egyptian cotton linen for your arrival.

All three Waterfront Lodges have a downstairs bathroom with Jacuzzi bath, plus an en-suite shower room upstairs.

There is space for 1-2 cars at the back of each Waterfront Lodge, if you are arriving in more cars, please let us know in advance.

Bed linen, towels, tea towels, eco cleaning products, and all heating and electricity is included in the price of your stay. Also on arrival, you will find fair-trade tea, coffee, some coffee pods for machine and sugar in your accommodation, as well as salt, pepper, milk and Tunnock’s treat.

An optional ‘End of Stay Clean’ for a Waterfront Lodge costs £60 in ‘Teal and Mallard’ and in ‘Widgeon’ it costs £70. However this is not available during our pandemic cleaning protocols.

1 Superking zip and link bed, 1 Kingsize bed, 1 twin room; 1 en-suite shower, 1 Jacuzzi; dishwasher, washer/dryer; Flat screen TV with integrated DVD-player; UE Bluetooth speaker, free Wifi; usb ports; patio furniture; Nespresso machine. All biomass heating, electricity, bed linen, towels included; limited cots and high-chairs free on request.