Jo Morris discovers the joys of a self-catering staycation in Scotland at a stylish new cottage upon a country estate in Clackmannanshire…
The location…
You know you’re in the countryside when the first things you spot are a selection of wellies waiting for you as you enter the house. Slackbrae on the Brucefield Estate, Alloa, less than
an hour’s drive from Edinburgh, is our holiday home for the weekend. Situated in the historic 700-year estate, this gorgeously renovated forester’s cottage surprises you with its comprehensive approach to luxury.
The interiors…
Owner Victoria Bruce-Winkler has brought her Scandi design influences and vision to the cottage and turned it into a light filled, modern home-from-home, complete with vaulted ceilings, day-long sunlight and stunning views of the fields and woodlands. With all the mod cons you can think of, everything has been designed with an eye on sustainability and local provenance from the kitchen worktop made form a fallen tree to the composting system which means any scraps of food find their way back to the ground.
Things to do…
We took a tour around the estate with the knowledgeable head forester and discovered a stunning forest walk, through sky high pines with sunlight glinting onto the forest floor. Woodland eco bothies will be launching on the estate in the spring and happily, the plan is to reinstate much of the original Scots pine forests meaning even more beautiful walks.
The verdict…
Visiting Slackbrae was a joyful weekend of reconnecting as a family as well as with nature. Between our son and our dog Coco, I’m not sure who loved our trip more but watching Coco enjoy it so much was a handy reminder for us too, because whilst it’s fine to potter politely around a park for an hour, the real joy is in running free and getting lost in the woods.
Slackbrae accommodates up to four adults. For reservations, contact Brucefield Estate on 01259 690013 or book online here
