Conference Tours
Heart of Aberdeenshire Tour
BOUTIQUE FARM BOTHIES
Host – Jane Foad
Agritourism
Boutique Farm Bothies was established in 2014. Four unique and individually designed bothies hand built by Jane Foad’s family include Barley Bothy, The Sheep Shed, The Dairy and Denend and Denend Farmhouse. The Bothies stand out in the marketplace due to their agricultural character and colourful design. The farm hosts up to 18 guests every night.
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Each bothy is located in a secluded spot around the farm. All units feature wood-burning stoves, wood-fired hot tubs, and wood-fired pizza ovens to promote mindfulness and encourage guests to take time to stoke the fires.
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Over the past two years, Boutique Farm Bothies has seen a marked increase in international visitors, welcoming guests from Europe, North America, Australia, and beyond.
Farm
The farm was bought in December 2011 and by Jane and her former husband, James. They started the business as new entrant young farmers. Jane lives at Newton of Begshill with her 13 and 14 year old sons, Freddie and Hector.
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The farm is 100 acres which in itself is not financially viable, hence the decision to invest in accommodation and set up the agritourism venture. The farming enterprise includes growing malting barley, some land rented out for potato production, a small flock of sheep, strawberries to sell direct to guests and extensive areas of wildflowers and grasses to enhance biodiversity and wellbeing.
THORNEYBANK
Hosts – The Stephen Family
Agritourism
Established in the 1970's by Eric J Stephen, Thorneybank Farm Shop started out as a bench at the side of the road selling surplus veg to the local community. Over the years the range of farm produce has grown and the family started making home baking to sell fresh each day. The shop sells a range of food from other farmers and food producers from Aberdeenshire and the rest of Scotland.
In November 2018 Thorneybank invested in vending technology to enhance the customer’s shopping experience. The vending machines were the first of their kind in the UK, accepting cash and contactless payments.
Customers can also order food from Thorneybank online.
Farm
Farming has been in the Stephen family for 3 generations.
The farm specialises in growing a range of vegetables including potatoes, or “tatties” as they are known in Scotland.
FOREST FARM DAIRY
Hosts – The Willis Family
Agritourism
Forest Farm Dairy is owned and run by the Willis family. It is located on the edge of the City of Aberdeen next to one of the main road out of the City.
In 2017 the farm started selling milk directly from a vending machine. This vending machine was Scotland’s first milk vending machine. In 2018 gelato production started and in 2021 a takeaway café and gardens opened. In 2023 the farm started making and serving pizza. Over 250,000 people visit the farm each year to buy milk and other food and to enjoy the beautiful gardens and environment.
The agritourism venture employs 30 people, the farming operation employs 2 people excluding family labour.
Forest Farm Dairy is part of the Core Community Group for Scotland’s Agritourism Monitor Farm Programme.
Farm
Forest Farm was Scotland’s first organic dairy farm, set up and developed by Anthony and Anne Willis in 1998. The Willis family a few generations back, farmed in Wiltshire, England, and supplied milk into London in churns. In 2004 Anthony sadly passed away and today the farm is run by Anne and her sons William and Angus.
The farm is 390 acres and has 165 Friesian and Jersey dairy cows. The cows are milked twice per day. The farm is certified by the Soil Association and there is focus on the environment, biodiversity and soil health.
The farm has previously won “UK Dairy Farm of the Year” and William won “Young Farmer of the Year” for the UK in 2015.
