sheep farm tour scotland

Go Rural Sheep Farming Tours

Lambathon: coming soon! Visit the farms and meet the cast.

These are just a few of the farm tours that give you a truly remarkable and unforgettable experience in Scotland’s countryside.

1. Down on the Farm, Aberdeenshire

The Short family farm the land right down to the sea and tours here include the story both of farming and fishing communities. Get up close with cattle and views of the sea on a “Coast and Coos” trailer tour, watch sheep being sheared then enjoy home baking and coffee in a new purpose built converted farm bothy.

There’s also the chance to stay overnight in unusual Hobbit houses. Lambing is always a popular time to visit and the sheep here are Poll Dorsets and unusually give birth in August rather than in the spring.

Visit Down on the Farm

2. Newton Farm Holidays & Tours, Angus

Based near Forfar, Graeme and Louise have won awards for their farm tours, which are especially popular with children. As well as sheep, they also have Highland cows, pigs, friendly alpacas and a goat that enjoys accompanying the farm tours. Self-catering and bed and breakfast guests will enjoy eggs laid by the farm’s hens and ducks.  Visitors can bring a picnic (or order one from the farm) to eat at the picnic tables, or even take an alpaca for a delightful walk.

Visit Newton Farm Holidays

3. Lennox of Lomond, Argyll

Join 1,500 Blackface sheep on this 4,000-acre hill farm and savour the stunning views over Loch Lomond. Established in 1750 and traditionally farmed with no fences, the flock here use knowledge gained over the generations to find their way to grazing spots. You can tour the farm in a unique trailer with first-hand insights from farmers Bobby and Kay, with the option of afternoon tea afterwards. Those looking for a more immersive experience can try their hand at the Day in the Life of a Farmer experience, with activities that include feeding and handling the animals, sheep dog and shearing demonstrations and repairing drystone walls. Stylish hot tub glamping barns and cosy cottages are available for those staying longer.

Visit Lennox of Lomond

4. Bellevue Farm Cottages, Isle of Arran

Donald and Ailsa Currie farm on Arran’s breath-taking west coast, by Blackwaterfoot. As well as self-catering cottages, farm tours are available for visitors. Families in particular enjoy the range of animals: Highland cows, donkeys, a miniature Shetland pony, pigs, hens, ducks, rabbits and alpacas rub shoulders with the sheep. Visitors have the option to get involved in daily chores, see farm machinery and youngsters will enjoy sitting in the big tractors. A new farm tour event space provides a cosy space to enjoy home baking and seasonal barbeques serving farm produce.

Visit Bellevue Farm Cottages

5. Kitchen Coos & Ewes, Dumfries & Galloway

Airyolland Farm is set within the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, which has been recognised internationally as a world-class environment for wildlife. Neale and Janet McQuistin use a sustainable farming system to rear their herd of Highland cattle and Beltex sheep. You can tour the farm and stay warm and dry from a purpose built trailer without even needing to put your wellies on! Find out about how they tend to their animals, watch sheep dogs in action and finish the tour with fresh home baking in the farmhouse kitchen

Visit Kitchen Coos & Ewes

6. Jacksons at Jedburgh, Scottish Borders

With 1000 sheep and 300 cows, Kersheugh Farm is set among the rolling hills near Jedburgh. The farm, which is also home to pigs, goats, hens, and a team of border collies, is unmissable for families in the area. There’s the option of guided tours or to explore at your own pace with a specially designed map. Youngsters enjoy the opportunity to play in the woods and build dens, while families of all ages relish the chance to spend time in nature. The Jacksons also run regular crafting and outdoor sessions for toddlers.

Visit Jacksons of Jedburgh

7. Old Leckie Farm, Stirlingshire

In the family for over a hundred years, Alison and Fergus’s Gargunnock farm has a strong emphasis on sustainability with a sizeable flock of free range hens, as well as 60 cows, pigs and, of course, their flock of 400 Texel/ Llyen sheep. The farm can be toured on foot or by quad bike and trailer, and as well as meeting the animals, you can have a go at collecting and packing eggs and sample some of the garden produce.

Visitors can also book at stay at the 18th century steading and order farm produce from their online shop.

Visit Old Leckie Farm

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Welcome to Kitchen Coos & Ewes

Please remember, visits must be booked in advance of arrival so we know to expect you!

We offer Highland cow experiences where you can see Highland cows and Beltex sheep in their natural, farm environment in beautiful south west Scotland.

Our tours are designed to help you get close to the Highland cattle from the safety and comfort of a purpose built trailer – it’s basically a farmer-led Highland cow safari!  Wind and water tight - and with padded seats – our farm tour trailer means you can experience a working Scottish farm and meet our Highlanders without even the need for wellies!  Your tour will finish with a cuppa and some home baking fresh from the farmhouse kitchen - it's all included in the price.

Please Note: We are closed from the 20th February until the end of March and for the whole of November. 

We created Kitchen Coos & Ewes as a way to share our passion for these amazing animals. Highland cattle are iconic and beautiful to look at, and the way they graze is really good for the environment too. Your farm tour will include information about how Highland cows help wildlife, and there will be plenty of opportunities to photograph them.

We are also able to provide digital Gift Certificates , which make it quick and easy to gift a farm tour or Highland cow encounter.  So if you have a friend or family member who loves Highland cows, a gift voucher from Kitchen Coos & Ewes might be the perfect thing!

There’s a selection of different farm visit experience to choose from. Generally speaking each tour is available to book once a week throughout the year, but we can be flexible at certain times of the year.  If you would like to arrange other dates that suit your party then please do get in touch.

This farm experience is all about our Highland cows!  It gets you quickly out on to the hill in our weather-proof farm tour trailer where you'll have plenty of time to take photos and learn all about the fold, before you return to some traditional baking fresh from the farmhouse kitchen.

During this in-depth farm tour you’ll meet our record breaking flock of Beltex sheep, before getting in among the Highland cows on the hill.  There will be plenty of opportunity to take photos of the Highland cows and the sheep from the safety and comfort of the farm tour trailer. You’ll return to the farm for a sheep dog demonstration, and then enjoy a cream tea with your hosts. 

A walking tour of our beautiful farm, accompanied by a knowledgeable guide.  You’ll visit a small group of our Highland cows and be able to take photos of them.  You’ll see the remains of a Bronze Age hut circle, learn about dry-stone dykes and finish with some traditional farmhouse baking. The route is 1.5 miles. To take part in this tour you should wear clothes and footwear appropriate to weather conditions and be able to walk over uneven grassland.

This tour is all about going on safari and getting that fantastic hands-on highland cow experience.

Head out into the fields, in our safari trailer, along with other highland coo fans.  There you will get a chance to groom some of our younger coos from the safety of our outdoor highland coo play-pen.  Then, head out onto the hill to see the main herd being fed before returning to the farmyard for a cuppa and a trio of traybakes. 

N.B. Dress for the weather.   Part of this experience is outside of our safari trailer and the grass may be wet. You must be able to negotiate 4 steps off and back onto our safari trailer.

The full Luxury Kitchen Coos and Ewes experience!

This is a bespoke Highland cow experience that can be tailored to suit you or your group's expectations.

You can visit our Highland cows on the hill and get up close to capture those very memorable pictures. If you would like to groom a Highland coo we can also make that dream come true.  

For up to six people 

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10 Reasons Why You Should Visit a Working Sheepdog Farm in Scotland

April 23, 2018 //  by  Gwen Engler //   2 Comments

When you think of traveling to Scotland, no doubt images of majestic castles and wild, lonely moors spring to mind. Maybe you’re picturing a tartan-clad chap playing a tune on a set of bagpipes, or a quaint little village full of stone houses all in a row. I know that’s what I imagined when I started planning our trip to Scotland . Soon, however, I realized that I was missing something as integral to Scotland as castles, moors, and bagpipes: sheepdogs! Read on to see why visiting a working sheepdog farm ended up being one of the highlights of our time in the British Isles.

In September of 2016, M and I set off across the pond for two weeks in Scotland and Ireland with my in-laws. Early in our marriage, we had agreed that we wanted to prioritize taking at least one international trip with each of our sets of parents, and Mama and Papa M ended up being our first victims lucky traveling companions.

After deciding on our destination, M and I got to work crafting the perfect trip . It would be everyone’s first time in the British Isles, and my first time planning a vacation for a multi-generational group . Luckily, M’s parents are wonderful, easygoing people, and they were all too happy to sit back and let us take the reins in planning our two weeks together. When we asked their preferences, they only had three requests: they wanted to experience history, visit castles, and see some sheepdogs in Scotland.

M’s dad grew up with border collies and is a big dog guy. He has always been fascinated by working dogs and loves our Shetland sheepdog, Riley, almost as much as we do. (He might even protest, if he reads this, that he loves him more.) M’s mom isn’t much different, and I figured that if we could somehow work puppies into the mix she would be beside herself. I knew that they would both be delighted if we could visit a working sheepdog farm.

Luckily, a little internet research brought us to Leault Farm and their daily* sheepdog demonstration in the Scottish Highlands.

(May 2022: Leault Farm stopped doing their sheepdog demonstrations in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. They now have a new website and have indicated that demonstrations will be starting back up in “spring 2022,” but make sure to double-check before making plans.)

At first glance, Leault Farm is a fairly unassuming place, one of hundreds of Scottish farmsteads in the Highlands and sprinkled with a hodgepodge of buildings and equipment. After spending an hour watching a shepherd show off his dozen impeccably-trained border collies, however, we left thinking the place was anything but ordinary.

We arrived to find a field dotted with fluffy, grazing sheep as far as the eye could see. After paying our admission, we took our place in a group at the edge of the grass overlooking the field. The shepherd, Neil, spent some time setting the scene for the demonstration we were about to experience before giving the first whistled signal. Immediately, the eager dogs tore off across the grass to round up the herd.

From his position in front of the spectators, and with explanatory commentary in between, Neil guided his dogs with a series of whistles and calls that were unique to each dog and directive. The border collies’ responses were perfectly attuned, and they worked together with a fluidity and a grace that was amazing to witness. Soon, where once there had only been a scattered mess of widely-dispersed sheep, a herd began to take shape as the dogs began to direct their charges over the rolling landscape toward their master.  When an unruly sheep would attempt to break from the pack, she was quickly and efficiently redirected.

The precision and coordination of the dogs’ movements were astonishing and almost clinical. We watched in amazement as the dogs drove the sheep toward us, separated them into groups that were directed to different areas, and contained a little sub-herd (I’m sure that’s the technical term) for additional demonstrations. Although we were standing for about forty-five minutes watching the dogs work, we were far from restless or bored.

In the end, we – and especially M’s parents – counted our experience at Leault Farm as a highlight of our time in Scotland. Here are the top ten reasons that you shouldn’t miss an opportunity to visit a working sheepdog farm in the Highlands.

1.) The farm setting is beautiful.

Even though the day was dreary and gray, the farm itself was very prettily situated among the hills. The rolling fields were dotted with carefree sheep, and everything was lush and green. It was the perfect backdrop for the spectacle we were about to witness.

2.) You will learn a lot about Highland farming history and culture.

Neil, who conducted our demonstration, was a fourth generation shepherd with a tremendous depth of knowledge about training dogs and raising sheep in the Scottish Highlands. He also was quite a character, which made his presentation all the more entertaining. It was impressive how he was able to expertly direct his dogs while interspersing quick bursts of information about what he was doing and why to his assembled guests. We learned a lot about the dogs’ training and maneuvers and gained insight into farming life in the Highlands and the economics of raising sheep.

3.) You might get to see puppies!

To my and my mother-in-law’s delight, we arrived to find three rambunctious puppies running around and greeting guests as they parked. They were the best welcoming committee we could have asked for! Each of these little guys was in training to become a bonafide sheepdog, and it was adorable to see how intently they watched their elders at work and tried to get in on the action. I can’t guarantee that there will be puppies when you visit, as it all depends on the needs of the farm in that particular season, but it’s definitely a plus if you luck into some puppy time!

4.) It’s inexpensive.

When we visited Leault Farm, the cost per person to view the demonstration was £6, or about $8.50 US. We were there for about an hour, and between the excitement of watching the dogs at work and the information we received we felt it was well worth the money. We also were pleased knowing that the cost of our admission helped to care for the dogs and preserve this disappearing way of life.

5.) You can ask lots of questions.

Not only did Neil provide us with great information, but he also was very willing to answer any questions from the crowd. Many of us took advantage of this opportunity, and some people even asked for tips about training their own dogs. The fact that the experience was interactive made it all the more enjoyable.

6.) You can try your hand at sheep shearing.

Once the sheep were rounded up and separated into smaller groups, Neil selected a particularly wooly specimen from the herd and laid him down so that any volunteers could learn how to shear off the extra wool. Papa M was quick to give it a go under a multitude of watchful and protective eyes!

7.) You may be able to bottle-feed lambs.

After our woolly friend had been sufficiently sheared and the sheep were all in their assigned locations for the evening, we got the opportunity to feed a few of the lambs who are being raised around the farm rather than out in the fields and moors. Neil passed around bottles of milk and within minutes the eager young sheep were our new best friends.

8.) It’s great for kids. 

Watching a sheepdog demonstration would make a great family activity. Between the inexpensive price tag, the excitement of watching the dogs in action, the opportunity to pet and interact with dogs and sheep, feeding the lambs, and even learning to shear, you’ve got a recipe for a fun-filled hour with the kids!

9.) The dogs love it as much as you will. 

From the moment they came bounding into view, the dogs’ excitement was contagious. You can tell that these animals are well cared for and love to do their work. At Neil’s first signal they were off like a shot, herding their charges with seemingly endless energy and enthusiasm. It’s great to see dogs doing work that they were born and bred to do and enjoy, as opposed to watching wild animals that have been trained purely for human amusement.

And the best reason to attend a sheepdog demonstration is that…

10.) Watching the dogs do their work is awe-inspiring.

The skill, intelligence, and athleticism of the border collies we saw was absolutely incredible, and we were so happy with our decision to stop and take in the demonstration. It’s a thing of beauty to watch a master at his or her craft, and these dogs were certainly masterful. Long after we left the Cairngorms, M’s parents were still talking about our time at Leault Farms, how much they enjoyed the experience, and their amazement at the training and perfect execution they witnessed. It was truly an unforgettable stop.

Important Information:

• *Demonstrations are offered at 4:00 PM every day of the week except Saturdays between the first of June and the thirty-first of October. There may be other demonstrations available in April and May, but you should email in advance to check. No advance reservations are required.
• The farm is located in Kincraig, about eleven miles south of Aviemore. Aviemore is a great place to base yourself for exploring the Highlands, and I recommend The Old Bridge Inn for some dinner after your demonstration.
• Please note that there may be some differences between my experience and yours based on the season (ex: there may not be lambs that need to be bottle-fed), but you’ll still have a great time!

Tips for Visiting the Sheepdog Farm:

• Arrive about fifteen to twenty minutes early for the demonstration to allow yourself time to park and pay your admission before it begins.
• Payment is accepted in cash only. Smaller bills and/or exact change are helpful.
• You will be standing outside for the entire duration, so make sure to wear good footwear and be prepared for the weather. Bring a folding or camp chair if standing for about an hour would be difficult.

So there you have it – one of our surprise favorite activities from our trip to Scotland ! I hope you take a couple of hours out of your time in the Highlands to check out Leault Farm or another working sheepdog demonstration in Scotland. You won’t regret it!

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This article about visiting sheepdogs in Scotland was originally posted on April 23, 2018 and last updated on April 24, 2021.

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Reader Interactions

April 23, 2018 at 12:09 PM

I love this off the beaten path adventure! What a great way to experience a different way of life!

April 23, 2018 at 3:08 PM

Thanks, Condylia! It was such fun. I hope you get to experience it sometime!

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Accommodation: [email protected] The Farm: [email protected]

Tel: 01786 860 768 mob: 07825 241 196, book online check dates and book, shop online order farm produce, old leckie farm tours, discover the heart of scottish farming.

• Meet our Highland cattle, sheep, outdoor reared pigs and free range hens
• Learn about sustainable farming in Scotland and local food production
• Add a farm tasting to sample our award winning seasonal range of farm produce: free range eggs, highland beef, outdoor reared pork, lamb and Leckie Leaves and Tatties 
• Enjoy the views over rural Stirlingshire and discover ancient bridges and waterfalls. 
• Walk in the footsteps of Bonnie Prince Charlie as you learn about the 16th Century architecture of Grade A listed Old Leckie house and the connections it has to some of the great characters of Scottish History.
• See our 5 star rated tour reviews here

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Booking your tour, all you need to know, visitor comments.

"Always lots to see and learn. It is very relaxed and amazing what can be fitted into just a one hour visit"

"happy healthy animals, living in beautiful surroundings, taken care of by people who love them...".

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"We spent a lovely morning at this farm. My husband grew up working summers on dairy farms in Vermost so we were interested to see how a farm in Scotland operates... "

Get in touch, tel: 01786 860 768 mob: 07825 241 196 accommodation: [email protected] the farm: [email protected] produce: [email protected], old leckie farm gargunnock, stirling, fk8 3bn.

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Take a trailer-tour of the farm, discover our unspoilt coastline, meet our animals and learn about sheep and cattle farming in North East Scotland.

Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty, our 200-acre farm extends right down to the Moray Firth coast and we love sharing it with visitors and guests. We offer three tours, and no two tours are ever the same, depending on what nature and the weather throw at us on a given day!

All tours end in the ‘chaumer’ (farm bothy) with hot drinks and farmhouse baking. Read on to find out more about each tour.

If you don’t see a date available that suits you, give us a call on 07954 989737

Trailer Tours

Lambing tours, sheep shearing tours, photoshoots, trailer tours: may – september.

Trailer tours begin at the main farm buildings, then head through fields to the sea cliffs. You’ll hear about our cattle on the way; what breeds we keep, what we feed them and the joys of managing a suckler herd. From the cliff tops, we guide you on foot to the foreshore, a little-known part of Aberdeenshire’s coastline, being accessible only by foot from the nearby village of Rosehearty. As we wander along the shore, we’ll share our extensive local knowledge on the area’s culture, rich history and natural heritage. We’re always on the look out for marine wildlife too, from dolphins to seabirds, so be sure to bring your cameras and binoculars!

Finally, a warm welcome awaits you in our 150-year-old ‘chaumer’ (farming bothy), where hot drinks and farmhouse baking await.

This experience must be booked in advance. Numbers are limited to 6 adults or 8 if guests consist of both adults and children. If you would like to join us for a Cow and Coast tour, please get in touch with the dates and numbers you have in mind by emailing [email protected] and we’ll help get you booked in.

May – September

Minimum charge £100 for up to 4 people, thereafter: Adult (13 yrs+) £22 Children (0-12 yrs) £12 1 Adult and 2 children (0-12 yrs) £40 Family, 2 Adults and 2 children (0-12 yrs) £62

Lambing Tours: Summer and Winter

You might be visiting during our lambing seasons – as breeders of Dorset Horn sheep we lamb twice a year. In Summer and Winter, you can join us in the lambing shed to help bottle-feed our new-borns, or maybe even see one being born. Young children love meeting our hens and peacocks, and can enjoy a play on farmer Matthew’s custom built tractor.

This experience must be booked in advance and numbers are limited to 15 people.

Duration – Approximately 1.5 hours

Lambing in 2022 is now complete. We will be running Lambing Tours again in 2023. Please keep an eye on our social media channels where we will announce when dates go live. -->

We’ve teamed up with Summerhouse Drinks and Walter Gregors Tonics to bring you this truly unique experience on the North East Coast.

Trailer tours begin at the main farm buildings, then head through fields to the sea cliffs.  You’ll hear about our cattle on the way; what breeds we keep, what we feed them and the joys of managing a suckler herd.  From the cliff tops, we guide you on foot to the foreshore, a little-known part of Aberdeenshire’s coastline, being accessible only by foot from the nearby village of Rosehearty.

Here you will enjoy a sampling session from Walter Gregor’s Tonic Waters and Sodas.  Walter Gregor was the Victorian Minister in this parish, at the time when the gin and tonic cocktail was first invented in the 19 th century.  Enjoy sampling 5 flavours of hand crafted, all natural drinks ‘on the rocks’ – sitting down on the seashore.  As you’re sipping your drinks, we’ll share our extensive local knowledge on the area’s culture, rich history and natural heritage.  We’ll tell you about Lord Pitsligo, what he got up to after the Battle of Culloden and the connection this coastline has with the Jacobite Movement.

This experience must be booked in advance. Book by using the link below

Sheep Shearing Tours Sheep Shearing is over again for another year. We will be running shearing tours again in May 2023. Please keep an eye on our social media channels where we will announce when dates go live. -->

Every year in May our sheep are shorn. This is done because the thick woolly coats they grow to keep them warm in the winter, are no longer needed during the summer.

Come and join us in the sheep shed and watch us shear our sheep. We will explain why shearing is so crucial to sheep’s welfare, show you how the clippers work, and give demonstrations on how to roll and store the fleeces to keep them in prime condition.

May £15 Adults Ages 13+ £7.50 Children Ages 0 to 12 £25 Family Tickets Option One 1 Adult and 2 Children £40 Family Tickets Option Two 2 Adults and 2 Children

Photo Shoots

We team up with Emily from Pink Lemonade Photography to bring you photo shoots with our new-born lambs. This is a great opportunity to create special memories in the countryside with your family, and give you much loved portraits for you to display around your home.

You will meet Emily Down on the Farm and be taken to our secluded paddock where you will be introduced to our lambs. They love a cuddle, so handling them and playing with them will be part of the experience. Your natural, professional family photographs will be taken in this fun and informal environment. You will receive edited digital images delivered via an individual online gallery, with full rights to download and print. High quality prints can also be ordered from Pink Lemonade Photography.

Places are limited and can be booked with Emily directly on 07769940358

Cost of Experience

• £75 30 minutes 4 digital edited images with full downloadable rights
• £100 30 minutes 10 digital edited images with full downloadable rights
• £175 30 minutes All images with full downloadable rights
• Saturday 12th June
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• Saturday 26th June
• Sunday 27th June

Thank you so much for the tour! We had a ball! The information given was interesting but still well pitched for the kids. Was a great experience holding, feeding and petting the animals. Would definitely recommend it to others!

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Find Your Tour

Sheepdog demonstrations.

When you live in Scotland you tend to get a bit bored about seeing sheep and sheepdogs, but we have to admit that the sheepdog demonstrations at Leault Farm were something that we thoroughly enjoyed.

The sheepdog demonstration lasts for ~45 minutes and during this time you get to meet the dogs, learn about their training and gain an understanding about the commands used to control them. Neil Ross, the shepherd, uses a team of ~10 sheepdogs and each dog has its own set of whistle commands so that they can be individually directed. It is quite a mind-boggling bit of multi-tasking.

If you want to get a bit more hands-on, you can take a shot at hand shearing a sheep the old-fashioned way with a large pair of shears. Depending on the season, you can also have some fun with hand-feeding the new lambs from baby bottles. This is an entertaining spectacle as the lambs nudge and jostle with the sheepdog pups to get their share of the milk.

We were particularly lucky with the timing of our visit in early June because we were there in time to see the sheepdog pups having their first outing with Mum & Dad on the job. The pups are so cute that you will find it hard to resist taking them home and it is great fun to watch the interaction between the spring lambs and the pups.

For more details, email  [email protected]  

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Aberdeenshire sheepdogs.

Meikle Tillyeve, Udny, Aberdeenshire, AB41 6SJ

Located on a farm near the town of Ellon, just 15 minutes from Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire Sheepdogs offers you the opportunity to experience sheepdogs at work during this interactive demonstration. Michelle and Gary Bruce will share their experiences working, training and trialling with their 5 Border Collies and share stories about life on a Scottish sheep farm. You will be invited to meet the dogs and will have the opportunity to try working the dogs themselves. Aberdeenshire Sheepdogs offer experiences suitable for groups of all sizes. Pre booked groups only.

The “Dog House” log cabin, equipped with a wood burning stove, provides a self catering accommodation, with kitchen/living area, bathroom with shower and toilet facilities.

• Opening Times June - March, Friday, Saturday & Sunday. Other dates may be available on request. Pre-booked groups only.
• Coach parking
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• Induction loop
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• Refrigerator
• Freeview TV
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• Private Bathroom
• Drying Facilities
• Accessible Rooms
• Assistance For Walking

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Croft Tour on the Isle of Skye

We will meet on the Croft, beside the workshop. Your tour will begin by introducing you to our animals, sheep, Highland cows, donkeys and of course our black rock chickens who delight in meeting our guests too. You will receive a warm Highland welcome and will gain insight into the daily routines of crofting and the life of our sheep and how we produce ethical wool.

We will then enter my workshop where you will gain a brief history of fleece preparation, hand spinning, the reasons and history behind our uniquely hand knitted designs including our famous bespoke fisherman’s Gansey.

You will have an opportunity to see our products and understand about Croft sustainability here on the Isle of Skye.

A humorous story telling experience for everyone.

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Edinbane Lodge Restaurant

Edinbane inn, edinbane pottery, loch bay restaurant by michael smith, go to st kilda, macleod’s tables, waternish farm, loch bay restaurant, travellers journeys nearby, wild conditions at the allt dearg cottage., the last skye before lockdown., a weekend drive through torridon and applecross, beinn eighe mountain trail, wester ross road trip, local inspiration, flora macdonald – a jacobite heroine, meet niall munro, owner of birch cafe in skye, duntulm castle – skye’s most haunted location, the best cafes in skye, legends from the old man of storr, the fairy flag of dunvegan castle, isle of skye, reaching loch coruisk by foot, the magical waters by the sligachan bridge, the forming of the quiraing, thing’s to do on the isle of skye, meet jennifer pearson jewellery maker and founder of òr, lagan glas, isle of skye.

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Scotland Tour: Sheepdogs Put on a Great Show

There’s nothing like a good sheepdog show…and I just saw my favorite ever, with Neil Ross at Leault Working Sheepdogs .

Our tour bus pulled up a long, rutted driveway to a remote farm. As we stepped out of our bus, a dozen eager border collies of all ages scampered to greet us. Then came the shepherd, whom the dogs clearly loved and followed like a messiah. He proceeded to sit us down in a natural little amphitheater in the turf and explain all about his work. With shouts and whistles, each dog followed individual commands and showed an impressive mastery over the sheep.

It’s hard to find vivid farm experiences in Europe. Do you have any favorites?

5 Replies to “Scotland Tour: Sheepdogs Put on a Great Show”

Looks like an entertaining and educational sheep farm visit. So I wonder, when everyone gets back home to the USA, will they check “Yes” on the customs entry form that asks if they visited a farm overseas? Unless your trip was strictly within some capitol city or you stayed inside a car on the Autoroute/Motorway/Autobahn, a visit to Europe will likely include being at, or very near, farmland. Even an on-site tasting at a vineyard in France, checking out a Stone Age fort in Western Ireland, or bicycling along a lane in Flanders involves visiting farmland or stepping over or riding around sheep and cattle droppings out in the country. The deal is, checking “Yes” subjects you to intense scrutiny from the US Customs people at the airport at home, as if you must be smuggling contraband produce or you’re transporting pathogens or noxious seeds or spores on your clothes, shoes, and baggage that will kill or overrun native American species. After our last unpleasant experience upon landing home following a bike tour thru West Ireland, my wife has insisted I check “no” in the future, even if we’ve stayed for a week at an agriturismo. I wonder if we lived in California if it would be even worse, where the one thing that can’t make it past the state border is outside fruits/vegetables? US customs officials are far meaner than any I’ve encountered in Europe or Asia. I wonder how they treat visitors to the US, and if it’s just travelling Americans who get such rude treatment when arriving home?

I stayed on a farm in the north of England in the late 90’s that was right out of a James Herriot story complete with gates and dogs. In the morning I woke up to sheep everywhere. They had come down from the fell and were quite the noisy bunch.

I am not sure I agree with the farmer’s condemnation of national parks. I’ve walked in areas with sheep in Scotland and areas without. There’s a difference and we probably need parts of Scotland for both.

I have followed you for years and frankly it upsets me that you go where you go, do what you do and, most important, earn a living form such a magnificent idea know as your profession. Of course, everything I say here is from pure jealousy and admiration.

Just read your piece on beer…what a great read. Made me envious all over again.

Keep up the good work and let me know when you hop over to the Rhone Valley in France…that will, no doubt, really tick me off:-)

It is thanks to people like Scott that we have invasive species, outbreaks of mad cow and hoof and mouth disease and other nuisances. The rules are only for the idiots who follow them, right?

Well, Nancy, I’ve never smuggled in plants or beef (diseased or otherwise), so I guess we’re both idiots for following the rules. Having walked a short distance in a sheep pasture to visit a Stone Age fort with a Rick-Steves-recommended guide, thus “visiting a farm” in Ireland, I checked on my US re-entry form that I’d been to a farm, although 2 weeks had passed and my bags and shoes had been on and off buses and planes, and back in urban areas. Our wonderful customs personnel greeted me rudely and subjected me, my shoes, and my bag to intense scrutiny, apparently testing for traces of some substance – and found NOTHING. If the exterior of my luggage (which did not accompany me onto the farm) was so potentially dangerous, then every other bag in the plane’s baggage compartment should’ve been quarantined in case my suitcase had infested them, too. Glad you’re so perfect that you can make assumptions about me, but YOU may have had a more negative effect on the condition of this earth than YOU realize. And, regardless, that still leaves the USA with comparitively rude, surly customs agents — I wonder if they’re reacting to having encountered you sometime?

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Working Sheep Farm Tours from Edinburgh? - Edinburgh Forum

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Working Sheep Farm Tours from Edinburgh?

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4 replies to this topic

I think you'd need to come to Aberdeen/Aberdeenshire, Angus or the Highlands for that.

The only farm I was aware of nr Stirling seems to have gone quiet post-COVID.

https://nethhillbordercollies.co.uk/demonstrations.html

Have a look on air bnb experiences

https://www.airbnb.co.uk/s/experiences?c=.pi0.pk9835339438_113255333253&gclid=Cj0KCQjwwvilBhCFARIsADvYi7Jp1G4b5zbyis2qReb0xUrxGYXcp0_ni5ss8S1ixHLHToObq1jG9p4aApe6EALw_wcB&_set_bev_on_new_domain=1682490941_NmQ3ODQ3M2U2YWRm

You can have afternoon tea with naughty sheep in Gartmore, which gets rave reviews.

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SCOTTISH FARM AND ESTATES TOUR

Join us as we explore Scotlands diverse agricultural and rural way of life....

This 4-day driver guided tour will take you off the beaten track to some of Scotland’s most beautiful and unexplored landscapes. Archie, being from a rural background and having worked in land management as a rural surveyor, is keen to introduce people to the extraordinary diversity of rural Scotland. This tour is perfect for those interested in finding out more about the various aspects of land management in Scotland including visits to a mixture of lowland arable and livestock farms and Highland Sporting Estates.

The tour gives an insight into rural life in Scotland with exclusive visits to Monzie Castle, a private tour of Alvie Estate and Glen Tanner estate as well as visiting a range of farms to see their diverse produce and livestock, rounded off with a trip to Cairn O Mhor Winery. Clients are given the opportunity to meet the characters and their teams that run these impressive historical estates.

Your accommodation starts with exclusive access the wonderfully secluded “Gardeners Cottage” on the beautiful Monzie Estate in Highland Perthshire, which was listed in The Times “Top 50 Cottages in the UK” for 2016. The cottage is located by a small river close to the 17th Century Monzie Castle. You will then have a night at an exclusive 4 Star Culloden House hotel located near Culloden Battlefield to the East of Inverness, once lived in by “Bonnie Prince Charlie” himself. Your last night will be spent at the cosy Boat Inn on the banks of the River Dee in Royal Deeside.

From £1278 per adult

Departure days.

• W Wednesday

January — December

Contact details

• +44 (01786) 821816
• View tour details
• [email protected]

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• Driver guide

Tour prices

From £1278 Per Adult

Prices are subject to change depending on season

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Uniquely scotland.

Uniquely Scotland is a bespoke tour operator specialising in tailor-made holiday packages around Scotland for small groups of people. With our motto 'explore, embrace, learn, live', we strive to give our clients the opportunity to get to know the real Scotland and to embrace our history and culture, providing an exciting balance between the traditional and the contemporary. Our aim is to give you the holiday of a lifetime. Our services include tailor-made private driver guided tours for up to 6 people, tailor-made self-drive itineraries, tailor-made train itineraries.

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Opening times

9 am - 5 pm

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