As consumer confidence in booking a short break in Scotland is growing, there is one special place that should be on your must-visit list and that’s Knockomie Inn in the Highlands.
Knockomie is on the outskirts of the town of Forres, not far from Elgin and 28 miles east of Inverness. The small Morayshire hotel has evolved over the years from a tea plantation owner’s house to becoming an inn and, with 15 bedrooms and set in mature grounds, it offers guests tranquillity from the hustle and bustle of life.
The Highland inn is delighted to be part of VisitScotland’s Good to Go scheme, an initiative that has been launched by the tourist board to reassure consumers that best practice is in place.
Now Knockomie is finally able to welcome guests back after many months. The team there is eagerly waiting to look after old friends and make some new ones as well as they make the most of what remains of the summer months.
Like the majority of businesses in the hospitality industry, Knockomie has been affected by the coronavirus pandemic and lockdown restrictions in a number of ways, as it has lost its local and international visitors who have postponed or cancelled their holidays.
However, Penny Ellis, who co-owns Knockomie with husband Gavin, is “always optimistic that consumer confidence will grow in the coming weeks and months”.
She added: “We will always offer warm, welcoming hospitality and we have been accredited with the Good to Go scheme to assure guests that we have done all we can to look after them.
“We have had to completely rethink how we are going to look after guests in the future. Social distancing will be here for quite a while and whilst we have always had high standards of housekeeping this is intensified further to do what we can to limit the spread of this dreadful virus.”
However, one thing remains the same at Knockomie – an inn with many period features, Scots pine panelling and a marble fireplace – and that is its warm and welcoming hospitality, and smiling faces behind the masks or visors!
Penny added: “We are doing everything we can to create a memorable experience, in a beautiful part of Scotland.
“Guests are welcomed with warmth and the inn offers a comfortable stay with good food and menus that focus on local produce. Scotland and Speyside have an amazing natural larder from superb beef, lamb and game to fish and shellfish. This region is also the home to some of the best known whisky distilleries and there is always a great choice of them in the Malt Library.”
Located in the picturesque surroundings of Moray and Speyside, there is so much on offer for visitors to Knockomie enjoying their Scottish escape from white sandy beaches to rugged hills and forest walks. Guests can also enjoy some retail therapy at local boutiques.
Knockomie was taken over by Gavin and Penny Ellis in 1987, Penny says since then: “Gavin and I have got a little older, the town of Forres has grown and spread towards the Inn and that has meant that we can welcome more local guests who pop in for a pint of craft beer, or to sample a local gin.
“There’s a great atmosphere and generally a real buzz about the Inn. We will miss our international guests this year, as we love hearing all the different languages and they also enjoy practicing their English with some interesting pronunciations! Good humour from all sides.”
So if you have abandoned your international travel plans this year or next and are instead looking for a relaxing getaway right here in Scotland, visit the cosy and welcoming Knockomie Inn where you are guaranteed to be looked after – you can even bring your pet as the inn is also dog-friendly.
SPECIAL OFFER:
Knockomie’s Summer Staycation Escape – 2 nights DBB with a chilled bottle of Prosecco in your room on arrival from £95.00 per person.
For more information, or to book your stay at Knockomie Inn, visit the website by clicking here.