EXPLORE AVAILABILITY IN REAL TIME
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Accessibility
If you have limited mobility or are travelling with someone who has limited mobility please let us know in advance. Some elements of the tour are not accessible for people with limited mobility however we would be pleased to discuss ways to enable participation on the tour.
If you have any medical conditions or allergies that we should be aware of prior to the tour please make us aware of them on our Registration Form on arrival.
Pre-Arrival
Please arrive promptly to make the most of your tour. Head to the Deli, where one of the team will register you.
Please dress appropriately for spending an hour outdoors in Scotland. A waterproof layer and Welly boots are essential!
Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. This experience is suitable for children 8 years old upwards. Younger children may join in but may be asked to remain outside animal enclosures with an adult for safety reasons.
Your experience!
You will be joining Becky Newman on her feed rounds, be prepared to help fill buckets, hold gates and carry hay!
If you would like to meet the animals but prefer not to go inside their enclosures you will be able to participate from the other side of a fence. We will be on the farm, there will be mud, mucky areas, slippy and uneven ground.
Please listen carefully to instructions and guidance provided by Becky.
Can I bring my dog?
Unfortunately, we cannot allow dogs, even well-behaved dogs on a lead, with us on the Farm Tour.
We are dog-friendly within Thyme Deli & Bistro, so you’ll be able to relax with a coffee inside whilst the other group members enjoy the Tour.
If you’re looking for a substitute activity, why not book a delicious Scottish Cheese or Scottish Charcuterie Tasting?
When should I book my breakfast?
You have two options if you’d like to combine a 10am Farm Tour with breakfast at Thyme Bistro.
1. Book at 9am, giving you an hour to enjoy it before you are collected for your Farm Tour experience. This is best if you have other places that you need to be later in the day.
2. Book at 11.30am, allowing your Farm Tour to finish and your group to wash hands etc. before heading to the Bistro for a leisurely brunch.
Please let the staff member who is taking your Bistro booking know that you’re booked on to the Farm Tour, or add it to your reservation notes if booking online.
Group Bookings/Travel Trade
We are delighted to welcome groups, and bookings via DMC’s, Travel Trade Operators, and other intermediaries, and our scenic elevated location lends itself particularly well to groups looking to experience the best of the Highlands.
Farm Tours can be themed along the lines best suited to your group’s agenda – family-friendly, gourmet/food and drink, agriculture/livestock, business diversification, wildlife/green/sustainability, etc. The Farm Tour pairs particularly well with our Scottish Cheese & Scottish Charcuterie Tastings, with many groups opting to combine these experiences into their visit.
Contact us to discuss group booking sizes, rates, bookings, the precise needs of your particular groups.
ERRICHEL ESTATE
Our Farm
We have a strong belief in supporting rare & native breed livestock, which are built to survive our altitude and climate. Our animals live free-range in a non-intensive farming environment. They are allowed to behave naturally, have normal social groups and are carefully looked after by our small team. On the 200 acres of hill surrounding Errichel House we keep:
Shetland Cattle – small, hardy and thrifty – these cows are quiet, intelligent and produce a top quality product for meat and dairy. We currently use our own Shetland Beef in Thyme at Errichel Restaurant and you can buy our beef for your own use at Errichel House. Chef Patron Paul has developed a range of cured beef products and his Shetland Beef Bilton has been awarded 2 Stars in the Guild of Fine Foods Great Taste Awards. This is a delicious, high protein snack – ideal for walking or enjoying with your favourite tipple. We are slowly learning and developing the skills needed for dairy production and hope in future to be able to add this to our product range.
Shetland Sheep – small, hardy and thrifty – these sheep have a beautiful fine fleece which is sought after for spinners and knitters. We use our own hogget in Thyme Bistro and you can buy lamb or hogget from Thyme Deli.
Large Black Pigs – large, great foragers and hardy – these pigs are incredibly docile and friendly, easy to keep and produce an excellent product. We use our pork in Thyme Bistro. Pork, ham and sausages are often available to purchase from Thyme Deli. Paul also uses our excellent pork in his selection of ready meals – Teriyaki Pork being a particularly delicious example.
Highland Ponies & Shetland Ponies – Wonderful natured, perfectly built for our environment, these ponies make excellent family friends. They enjoy their work, make good ridden ponies and do a great job of keeping the grass short! Occasionally we have some Highland Ponies for sale. Please email us for further details.
We have a Duck Pond with wild Mallards and our own geese. We keep a selection of interesting poultry breeds. We use duck, hen and goose eggs in Thyme Bistro, and often have boxes for sale at Thyme Deli.
OUR AMAZING LOCATION
Errichel Up Close
Perthshire is a beautiful part of the Scottish Highlands, providing a fantastic range of walking opportunities. At the heart of Scotland, Perthshire has lots of great hills, lovely glens, scenic viewpoints, old drove roads, hill forts, castles, hidden waterfalls, lochs, rivers and some of the tallest trees in the UK. The area offers the widest possible choice of walking, from gentle riverside strolls to challenging hills and mountains.
Errichel is a great base for exploring Perthshire and getting outdoors. The farm itself offers interesting opportunities to explore hill forts, ancient farming methods and local wildlife. Nearby are the famous Birks O’ Aberfeldy – closely associated with Robert Burns – and the equally impressive Falls of Acharn. The Rob Roy Way, running from Pitlochry to Drymen, passes Errichel. Many of the great hills of Perthshire, including Schiehallion, Ben Lawers, Beinn a’ Ghlo and Ben Vrackie, are less than 40 minutes away.
Perthshire Treks is based in Pitlochry and offers bespoke, high quality walking adventures in Perthshire and elsewhere in the Scottish Highlands. They can pull together ideas for a day’s walking or for a longer stay at Errichel, custom made for your interests and experience, and help you enjoy these. Perthshire Treks also run a number of scheduled walks through the summer, including Schiehallion and a lovely route between Grandtully and Pitlochry. You can find out more by visiting perthshiretreks.scot.