Highlands retreat pioneers sleep innovation
In the remote Scottish Highlands, where the wild beauty of Loch Torridon meets innovative luxury, The Torridon has launched a world-first collaboration with Ava Innes to elevate sleep tourism. The five-star family-run hotel, recently named one of Condé Nast Traveller’s Best Hotels in the UK for 2025, is now the first to offer Ava Innes’s patented Cashmere Guard duvets in select suites and its exclusive Boathouse.
The partnership blends Scottish craftsmanship with advanced sleep technology to create a sustainable, restorative guest experience.
Redefining rest through cashmere innovation
Ava Innes is the first in the world to produce a Cashmere Guard duvet, protected by UK and US patents. Unlike traditional feather or down duvets, this design uses cashmere guard hair, a naturally weighted, temperature-regulating, and hypoallergenic fibre previously discarded in cashmere production.
The result is a low-profile, weighty duvet that enhances sleep quality — with 93% of customers reporting longer, deeper, and less disturbed rest.
Joan Johnston, founder of Ava Innes, said: “There’s something profoundly restorative about sleeping beside water. The Boathouse captures this perfectly — a private sanctuary where the ancient presence of the loch meets cutting-edge sleep technology. Scotland’s natural elements are our inspiration, and water has this remarkable ability to calm the nervous system and deepen rest. When you combine our patented Cashmere Guard duvets with the hypnotic presence of Loch Torridon just beyond the window, you create something truly special. The Torridon is a complete withdrawal from the modern world, a place where sleep becomes part of the Highland experience itself.”
A sustainable sleep revolution
The Cashmere Guard duvet exemplifies circular luxury by transforming a previously wasted natural fibre into a premium sleep product. Each duvet is made in Britain using traditional mills and features:
- Patented innovation: The world’s only cashmere guard hair duvet.
- Natural performance: Temperature regulation and keratin-rich fibres for optimal comfort.
- Sustainable craftsmanship: Fully biodegradable within months, unlike synthetics.
- Signature S-stitch: Keeps layers in place while symbolising Scotland’s flowing rivers.
This eco-conscious design supports efforts to address the UK’s sleep crisis, with nine in ten adults reporting poor sleep, according to The Sleep Charity.
Scotland leads the ‘snoorie’ trend
The partnership aligns with Scotland’s emergence as a sleep tourism hub, locally dubbed the snoorie movement. According to VisitScotland’s Trends 2025 report, 59% of visitors say their trip improved their wellbeing, while 26% travel specifically to rest. Bookings for sleep-focused stays rose 35% in the first half of 2025.
Inspired by the traditional concept of coorie — meaning comfort and cosiness — the trend highlights the growing demand for restorative escapes supported by quality bedding and tranquil natural settings.
Rohaise Rose-Bristow, Co-Owner of The Torridon, explained: “The Boathouse has always been our most intimate offering, a place where guests can truly step away from the world and immerse themselves in the stillness of Loch Torridon. Partnering with Ava Innes allows us to take that experience even further. A key focus for our hotel is wellbeing, offering our guests a sleep experience that complements the serenity of the surroundings. This collaboration brings together Scottish craftsmanship, natural luxury, and the restorative power of nature.”
Sleep as the new luxury
Globally, wellness travel is shifting toward transformative rest as the ultimate indulgence. In March 2025, Estée Lauder appointed Dr Matthew Walker, sleep scientist and author of Why We Sleep, as its first Global Sleep Science Advisor — underscoring the link between sleep, health, and beauty.
At The Torridon, these global insights meet local innovation, creating a scientifically informed sleep retreat that integrates nature, sustainability, and wellbeing.
Award-winning recognition
Ava Innes has earned widespread acclaim for its pioneering work in sustainable luxury, including:
- Best Winter Duvet 2024 & 2025
- Scottish Edge Award 2024
- STV Growth Edge Award 2024
- Country & Town House Editor’s Pick for Autumn
The company has also been featured in The Telegraph, The Independent, Good Housekeeping, and Financial Times’ How To Spend It.
In December 2024, Ava Innes secured £140,000 in funding through the Scottish Edge and STV Growth Edge Awards, recognising its potential as a major export for sustainable luxury. The Independent twice named its duvet the Best Premium Summer Duvet, and The English Home awarded it Best Non-Feather Premium Duvet of 2025 for allergy sufferers.
Restorative escapes now open
Suites and The Boathouse featuring Ava Innes bedding are available for booking immediately, inviting travellers to experience how Scotland’s snoorie movement is redefining restful holidays through craftsmanship, innovation, and the serenity of the Highlands.
