Visit Scotland | Alba
Article published 24/02/2023

Reaching for the stars

Self-catering cottage Slackbrae, on the Brucefield Estate near Forestmill, has scored a Five Star Quality Assurance Award on its first assessment, becoming the only accommodation of its standard in Clackmannanshire.

Originally a forester’s cottage and the gatehouse to the estate dating back to the 1700s, Slackbrae has been completely renovated using a conservation approach with sustainable materials to achieve an energy efficient house.

As well as offering a top-quality stay, the estate, which sits close to Falkirk, Perth & Kinross, Fife and Stirlingshire, offers guests guided tours and walks, tree-planting experience, and bat walks.

Our Quality Assurance visit determined that the accommodation offers an outstanding quality of guest accommodation, and the demonstration of exceptional standards in hospitality and cleanliness. 

Developed over the last four decades in partnership with the tourism industry and informed by visitor research, our Quality Assurance Schemes are world leading.

They have been refreshed in line with the changing landscape, and in consultation with industry, to continue to provide a trusted, relevant and impartial source of information for visitors, as well as the businesses taking part.  

Four people standing outside Brucefield Estate, a self catering cottage in Clackmannanshire.Pictured: Dawid Nowak – Brucefield Estate Reservations and Housekeeping Specialist, Neil Christison – VisitScotland Regional Director, Victoria Bruce-Winkler – Brucefield Estate Owner and Manager, Graham Hodgson – Brucefield Estate Land Officer, outside of Slackbrae.

It’s an incredible achievement to receive a Five-Star Quality Assurance rating on a first assessment. This is a clear sign of Brucefield Estate’s dedication to creating an outstanding accommodation despite the challenges the tourism industry continues to face.

This award is a testament to all of the hard work and dedication of the Brucefield Estate team. They have worked tirelessly on the sustainability, biodiversity and accessibility of the estate, which is in line with our own responsible tourism goals.

By committing to creating a recognised quality experience, businesses are contributing to Clackmannanshire’s and Scotland’s overall reputation as a must-visit destination. We know that the impact of tourism spreads far beyond the industry itself – it benefits our economy, our community and our wellbeing.

Neil Christison, VisitScotland Regional Director

The whole team are ecstatic about the news. We have worked incredibly hard for many years to reach this point and it’s a fantastic achievement for us and of course we have our work cut out to maintain the standards.

The quality of the build and the atmosphere inside are difficult to quantify but they are tremendously important to a guest. An exceptionally high standard of accommodation is expected, and we believe we offer an exceptional guest journey.

Our hopes are to build on our luxury ecotourism offering with our recently introduced Schenbothies in the woodlands and consolidate our wildlife and heritage offering for our guests.

Victoria Bruce-Winkler, Owner of Brucefield Estate

Find out more about our Quality Assurance Scheme and how your business can apply.

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