We’ve just returned from a trip to wonderful Auchrannie.

The resort is essentially made up of two parts – the main hotel – with a limited number of rooms, restaurants (one of which is just for dog owners) and bars and pool and hair salon – so great for couples and friends. And in a separate new complex are more rooms, the lodges, pool and spa – great for families.

We stayed in room 5 in the main house – which is Victorian with a few more contemporary bolt ons that have all be sympathetically added.

Check in was friendly and efficient – we found consistently all of the staff very helpful throughout the hotel.

Our room was lovely – quite small – but decorated in the island style and with everything you need – including iron and iron board (wish more hotels would do this! and the bed was really comfortable.

The only (slight) negative was the incredibly creaky floorboards coming from the room above which really overshadowed the room.

We ate dinner at Brambles which was excellent – make sure you try the scallops (hand dived and picked locally) and oysters – and had a great selection of wine and gin.

Breakfast is also taken in Brambles which was plentiful- offering continental meats and cheese and locally inspired cooked options – as well as smoothies and drinks.

We visited Aspa for a couple of treatments which were lovely and I would recommend the reflexology which was particularly relaxing.

A really lovely introduction to the island and we would love to return – we also visited Coast for coffee and cake, Kildonan Hotel for crab rolls and climbed Glenashdale Falls – which was beautiful.

Make sure you pack for changeable weather!