To many Zimbabweans the fireplace in the entrance hall that has been burning continuously since 1951 and Colonel Herbert MacIIwaine and his dog are enduring memories.  Although Troutbeck calls itself an Inn, a word that conjures up an image of “gentrified country club atmosphere”; but these days it has far more of the air of a Hotel and Resort and Conference Centre. The web site talks of a snug bar with glowing fire and books; cream scones and tea in the sun lounge, but somehow the reality does not quite match the marketing talk.

Guests have a choice of seventy-three rooms, with options from king-size beds, doubles or twin beds and a family suite with all rooms offering en-suite bathroom, hairdryer, tea / coffee-making facilities, satellite TV, oil heaters and air-conditioning, as well as telephone.

The Beck Restaurant offers dining for up to 160 guests and overlooks the gardens of the Troutbeck Inn and during the summer months in Nyanga, guests can enjoy their meals on the outside terrace overlooking the golf course.

The Hare and Hound is Troutbeck Inn’s snug bar with glowing log fire, ideal for a pre-dinner drink.

The Residence Sun Lounge offers a bar service and snack menu and cream scones and tea. However, it has a very corporate atmosphere at odds with the gardens and lake and surrounding hillsides.  Maybe this is because the Troutbeck Inn has become known as a conference and wedding venue of note with the capacity to accommodate up to 250 delegates and the garden can comfortably accommodate 350 guests for weddings.

However, this four star hotel has outstanding views over Troutbeck Lake which is stocked with rainbow trout which the kitchen will cook for you and there is an 18 hole golf course with its challenging drive across the dam. Only Leopard’s Rock enjoys the same remarkable scenery in Zimbabwe.