A SELF-CATERING cottage on a historical Wee County estate has scored a five-star award from VisitScotland on its first assessment.

Slackbrae, on the Brucefield Estate near Forestmill, was given the top award by the national tourism organisation, 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.

On top of offering quality stays, the estate also offers guests guided tours and walks, tree-planting experiences and bat walks.

Neil Christison, VisitScotland regional director, said: “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 VisitScotland’s 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.”

Developed over the last four decades in partnership with the tourism industry and informed by visitor research, the Quality Assurance scheme has been refreshed in line with a changing landscape to provide a trusted, relevant and impartial source of information for both visitors and businesses.

Victoria Bruce-Winkler, who owns and manages the Brucefield Estate, said: “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.”