In the heart of the Hocking Hills of southern Ohio sits Glenlaurel, a Scottish-style Bed and Breakfast. For those seeking a comfortable getaway in the woodlands, you will be quite pleased with the Glenlaurel. But it is those who appreciate a sense of culture and mystery who will get the most out of a visit there.
The inn is the creation of Michael Daniels, who may not be a Scot himself but who is enchanted with the spirit and heritage of the Scotland. From his visits to Scotland he gained a sense of the rich culture and traditional hospitality. Combining his drive to own and operate a business with his devotion to the profession of service, he created his own Scottish bed and breakfast.
After many months of searching, Michael found land that he knew was right for his inn. He saw a beautiful woodland that cradled a dramatic gorge, a rift from the distant past. Reflecting on a book he had read some years earlier, Michael named the gorge “Camusfearna,” which he translates as “It is no will o’the wisp that I have followed here.” The gorge has remained the focus of his work, the inn being a staging area for people to experience the gorge for themselves.
Along with the spirituality that Michael sees in the gorge and the forest, he feels that the Glenlaurel is the embodiment of a legend, a legend not yet written but waiting to be uncovered, waiting to be written by those visit the inn.
Today, the inn includes a three-suite manor house, a two-suite carriage house, and four private cabins. Each has been modeled on a different clan, including Campbell, MacDonald, MacDougall, MacGregor, MacKenzie, Robertson, Sinclair, and Stewart. Scottish touches alight in the rooms, from bits of tartan to crests on the doors.
Modern amenities include a pub room with darts and satellite TV, and comfortable sitting rooms with books on Celtic culture and Scottish history. You could also spend time exploring the common rooms. From the ground up, the inn was designed to affect all of your senses, from the look of the rooms to the spirited Celtic music coming from the housewide music system, from the feel of the furniture to the smells of the food.
The kitchen is located in the center of the main house, allowing the aromas of the delicious meals to drift into your room. The resident chef treats guests with creations in the tradition of French cuisine and Michael presents them with an invocation. He explains that everyone there has now joined the legend and as you eat on the spacious deck, you can see into forest surroundings and let the spirit of the land wash over you.
Glenlaurel is located in the middle of the Hocking Hills Region, which embraces several National Historic Places, antique and artisan shops, museums, the Hocking Valley Scenic Railway, and natural wonders such as Old Man’s Cave and the longest natural rock bridge in Ohio.
Only a few years old, the Glenlaurel has achieved much of Michael’s dreams. As with most artists, he finds himself continuing to dream. Perhaps a spa with pool and massage services, or a small restaurant in the field by Mount Olive Road, designed to accommodate weddings and casual dining with a perfect view of the sunsets.
But more than these, the growth of the Glenlaurel will come from the people who visit there. They make up the threads that weave the inn’s tapestry and they will grow the legend.
For reservations and further information, call 1-800-809-7378.