Established in 1978

With a small indoor swimming pool (salt water and not heated) a mini ice rink for curling and a fully working musical organ in the grand hall it was a hotel full of character.

Well known as a great host, Roi would often pick up guests from Arrochar and Tarbet train station in his Bentley wearing full kilt regalia. With their son Stuart piping guests into dinner, Ardmay House gained quite a reputation as a special destination for both locals and overseas visitors.

The fleet of dinghies grew to three passenger boats for fishing cod and mackerel that were in abundance in Loch Long and a passenger boat which operated from the pier at Dunoon carrying sightseers ‘doon the water’.

The fleet also included tugs and the smallest registered cargo vessel in the UK which carried open cast gelignite. The gelignite was used for blasting and building rig work in Shetland.

The location proved to be invaluable in the longer term, strategically placed on the main route for passing tourist coach groups as well as being at the heart of the National Park. Cruise Loch Lomond Ltd initially operated one-hour cruises with
one vessel, The Southern Star.

As well as welcoming visitors to Loch Lomond on board, the boats have hosted many weddings, birthday celebrations, private parties and corporate events. They have been used as the support vessels for charity events based at Loch Lomond, such as swimmers who have raised money by swimming the length of the Loch.

 They have gained celebrity status by ferrying international film stars to locations around the Loch (Scarlett Johannsson in the film “Under the Skin”)

 Today it is still very much a family business with Fred and Stuart (Jnr) at the helm of this flourishing and award winning visitor attraction.