Scottish Agritourism

30/08/2026

Interested in improving your wedding and corporate event profitability?

Join us via Zoom on Tuesday 15th September at 11:00am for the new Weddings & Corporate Events Profitability Forum: A new member benefit for our agritourism and associate member businesses, offering confidential facilitated discussions on challenges and solutions for operating more profitably.

Share challenges, pick up proven strategies, and discover ways to manage costs, negotiate better supplier deals, and improve event delivery efficiency from fellow sector professionals.

This forum is a key benefit of Scottish Agritourism membership, transforming WhatsApp group discussions into action-oriented, practical lessons to make your agritourism business more profitable.

Free for members, but registration is required.

Find out more & register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/scottish-agritourism-profitability-forum-weddings-and-corporate-events-tickets-1998206835435?aff=erelpanelorg

Not a Scottish Agritourism member but want to attend one of these events? Message us to learn more about joining our network.

28/08/2026

Scottish Agritourism is proud to support the Diversified Farm of the Year category at the Scottish Agricultural Awards. Manager Laura Paterson has been out judging alongside Hugh Nielsen of Park Farm Dairy and Nikki Lake of Thorabella Farm.

“The standard of entries in the Scottish Agricultural Awards and in particular, this category is incredibly high,” says Laura. “It is a hotly contested category with a whole range of diversifications in the mix, and it is a really interesting process to visit the farms and meet the families behind them to really understand the passion, innovation, and forward thinking that has gone into each of them. I am excited to visit the third finalist next week.”

At the 2025 awards, Thorabella Farm took home Diversified Farm of the Year, while was named Sheep Farmer of the Year and Champion of Champions, the judges' overall winner at the event. The Unsung Hero Award went to Flora Corbett of .

The winner will be announced on October 22nd in Glasgow.

NFU Scotland The Scottish Farmer

27/08/2026

Today, Gillian Martin for Aberdeenshire East, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs, visited Jacksons At Jedburgh after hearing Jasmine Jackson speak at June’s Global Agritourism Conference in Aberdeen, which brought together 550+ agritourism leaders from over 50 countries.

The visit gave Ms Martin the opportunity to meet the Jacksons and learn about their business, the innovations driving their success, and the impact of Scotland's Agritourism Monitor Farm Project.

During the visit, the Cabinet Secretary also met with Scottish Agritourism Manager Laura Paterson to discuss sector growth, particularly challenges for new entrants.

Scottish Agritourism continues to engage with the Scottish Government in order to support agritourism businesses and drive profitability across the sector.

The Scottish Government Scottish Enterprise South of Scotland Enterprise South of Scotland Destination Alliance

25/08/2026

Two months have passed since the Global Agritourism Conference, where Scottish Agritourism members highlighted the remarkable diversity and vibrancy of Scottish agritourism on a global stage.

A heartfelt thank you to the 100+ Scottish Agritourism members who volunteered, baked, guided, spoke, supplied produce, and warmly hosted delegates and scholars at their farms.

Your efforts provided more than 550 delegates from over 50 countries with an authentic experience of the leadership and sense of community that define our network.

21/08/2026

Scottish Agritourism Sector Lead, Caroline Millar MBE, will represent Scotland's agritourism sector at the Westminster Food & Nutrition Forum Policy Conference: Next Steps for Agricultural Policy in the UK, on Thursday, 10th September.

Caroline's contribution will showcase the successes, opportunities, and challenges facing Scottish farmers and crofters, bringing national attention to the sector. Her experience and vision will help shape vital discussions on rural diversification, sustainable growth, and innovation in on-farm businesses.

Tickets and on-demand pre-orders are now available: https://www.westminsterforumprojects.co.uk/conference/Agri-Policy-26

19/08/2026

Introducing Scottish Agritourism Profitability Forums, a new member benefit for our agritourism and associate member businesses, featuring facilitated discussions on challenges and solutions for operating more profitably.

A confidential space for Scottish Agritourism members to share experiences, learn from each other, and gain actionable ideas to improve their bottom line.

Topics covered will include:

* Reducing costs and identifying savings
* Sharing trusted suppliers and finding better deals
* Streamlining processes and working more efficiently
* Sharing information, ideas and knowledge
* Learning from what others are doing successfully

These 90-minute online meetings will be held twice a year and tailored to specific sectors, including:

* Weddings and corporate events
* Farm retail
* Accommodation
* Cafes and restaurants
* Tours, experiences and seasonal events

Members can learn more and register: https://scottishagritourism.co.uk/events/

If you are not a Scottish Agritourism member but you’d like to attend one of these events, drop us a message to find out more about joining our network.

18/08/2026

Thank you to Gensource for their support. Trade members are instrumental to the success of our sector, and we sincerely appreciate their involvement.

We're delighted to have joined Scottish Agritourism as a Trade Member.

Scotland's agritourism sector is filled with ambitious, innovative businesses that play an important role in supporting rural communities and strengthening the Scottish economy. We're looking forward to becoming part of that community, making new connections and supporting the continued growth of the sector.

A huge thank you to the team at Scottish Agritourism for the warm welcome. We're excited to get involved and meet fellow members over the coming months. 🌱

14/08/2026

Congratulations to the five Scottish Agritourism members shortlisted in Scottish Land & Estates, Helping it Happen Awards.

Agritourism Monitor Farmer, John Scott, is shortlisted for the Rural Champion Award. John has been integral in the launch and development of Farmstrong Scotland into a trusted wellbeing movement for farmers and crofters. Through events, resources and podcasts, John has encouraged open conversations and engaged with more than 4,100 farmers and crofters. John, and his wife, Fiona, have recently opened Shore Hotel Balintore, close to Fearn Farm, Tain, where they also operate self catering accommodation, The Mill at Fearn Farm.

Lauren Houstoun, Glenkilrie Larder, Perthshire, is up for Rising Star. Driven by an incredible passion to promote and explain the rural way of life, Glenkilrie Larder donates a tonne of venison into Scottish schools each year which gives Lauren the ability to tell the story of deer management and teach children how to cook with venison.

Isle of Mull Cheese and Lower Mill of Tynet Farm are both shortlisted in the Innovation in Farming category:

Isle of Mull Cheese for using the whey by-product from their cheese to make alcohol, producing a new range of spirits & liqueurs. The project, which embodies a circular economy, was driven by a desire to find a higher-value use for whey and maximise the value of every litre of milk.

Lower Mill of Tynet, near Fochabers, has successfully innovated to develop and grow their egg business which has allowed them to diversify into dairy. Vending machines on the farm sell milk, ice cream and meat and many innovations throughout support sustainability, regeneration and energy savings.

Fair Feast CIC, a social enterprise run by Helen Stewart, Knockbarry Farm, Perthshire, processes deer from areas of extreme overpopulation and environmental damage into venison parcels for those in food scarcity. Fair Feast donations are funded by sales to the public which are matched in food bank donations. Fair Feast CIC is shortlisted in the Enhancing Our Environment through Land Management Award.

Best of luck to all the finalists. Winners will be announced at the awards event on 1 October.

13/08/2026

Congratulations to Scottish Agritourism member Forest Farm - The Organic Dairy on being awarded UK Ice-cream Parlour of the Year by The Ice Cream Alliance (UK & Ireland).

On behalf of Scottish Agritourism, we extend our heartfelt congratulations to the Willis family and the entire Forest Farm Dairy team.

Their journey from an organic milk refill station in 2017 to becoming a nationally recognised business is a shining example of the power and potential of agritourism to transform Scotland’s farms, strengthen rural communities, and showcase the very best our country has to offer.

13/08/2026

Scottish Agritourism Sector Lead, Caroline Millar, welcomed newly elected Angus South MSP, Lloyd Melville MSP to her own agritourism business, THE HIDEAWAY Experience, on the outskirts of Dundee this week.

Since taking up post, Mr Melville has visited several other businesses in the area, including Scottish Agritourism members, Lunan Bay Farm and The Gin Bothy, to meet with rural business owners face to face and understand the support they need from central government.

Mr Melville also retains his remit as a local SNP Councillor for Angus’ Monifieth and Sidlaw Ward and was keen to discuss local level challenges for agritourism including the Visitor Levy and Short Term Let licensing.

Caroline said; “It was a pleasure to welcome Lloyd to Balkello Farm and The Hideaway Experience and to discuss our farm business, agritourism and some of the challenges facing the wider agritourism sector. It’s encouraging to see him starting his term as an MSP by engaging so directly with local businesses, and I look forward to continuing our conversations in the months ahead.”