GET DOWN ON FARM IN SCOTLAND

The time is right to get down on farm across Scotland as a range of rural attractions hold a mix of colourful events to get you up and close and personal with farmyard beasts and learn a little more about our nation’s proud agricultural past. Choose your day out in the Scottish countryside here…

The National Museum of Rural Life - this national gem in East Kilbride tells the tale of Scotland’s rural people, the land, the tools and the machines. The purpose built museum is home to combine harvesters, tractors, threshers and ploughs explaining how machines took the strain over the years. Then it’s the visitor’s turn to hop aboard the ‘Farm Explor-er’, a colourful tractor and trailer, for what’s described as a ‘rattling good ride’ up to the farm. Here the lives, breeding patterns and traits of Aberdeen Angus cattle, Tamworth pigs (and adorable piglets), Ayrshire cows, Blackface sheep, Clydesdale horses, Scots Dumpies and Black Rock hens are all explained by the able museum guides. It’s also possible to have a go at milking ‘Clover the Cow’ within the 1950s byre. Then take a step back 50 years inside the period farmhouse to sense what life was like down on the farm for our forefathers.

Coming Up - 11-12 June 2016 - don’t miss the annual Woolly Weekend - watch sheep being sheared, come face to face with some alpacas and discover more about how fleec-es are transformed into wool and garments.

www.nms.ac.uk/national-museum-of-rural-life/

VSA Easter Anguston Farm - located in Peterculter, Aberdeenshire this farm is part of the Aberdeen charity VSA, as such it trains and develops individuals with special needs in animal husbandry, horticulture and farm management. Guests experience Shetland ponies, the pigs Maggie and Patch, rabbits, various fowl, ferrets, goats, little lambs and ducks wandering around the duck pond. There’s also a large playground for children right next to the cafe.

Coming Up - As well as growing gooseberries and blackcurrants the farm is known for its strawberries and its annual Strawberry Fayre on 18 June 2016 promises fruit, fun, a pipe band and activities such as go-karting and face painting.

www.vsa.org.uk/easter-anguston-farm/

Robertson’s Children’s Farm - opening its doors for the summer is Robertson’s Chil-dren’s farm in Beauly. What sets this location apart is the fact that as well as meeting sheep, lambs, ducks, hens, rabbits, alpacas, pigs, donkeys and goats it’s also possible to feed most of the animals - you can’t get much closer than that. With a large play area, slide and sandpit little ones are thoroughly entertained.

Coming Up - the farm opens its doors on 17 June 2016 through till 19 August 2016.

www.robertsonsfarmshop.co.uk

Belwade Farm - For a farm with a slight difference Belwade in Aboyne, Deeside is run by World Horse Welfare. It’s a sanctuary for horses large and small, from dinky Shetland Ponies to towering Clydesdales. As a visitor it's an educational, fun and free day out where children can be gently introduced to horses and learn how animals should be treated; regardless of whether they are working animals or used in sport or kept as pets. Learn the stories of individual horses and visit them in the stables and the fields.

Coming Up - Belwade’s Dinosaur Adventure Day on 19 June 2016 includes pony rides, a dinosaur hunt and fossil digs as well as face-painting and a bouncy castle.

www.worldhorsewelfare.org/farm/belwade-farm

Charleton Fruit Farm - If you want pick your own fruit Charleton near Montrose is a one stop shop for strawberries, raspberries, currents, brambles, tayberries, gooseberries, blueberries and … asparagus. As well as fruit Charleton also has an eclectic restaurant with ample outdoor dining space if the sun shines. Their famous strawberry tarts and the Belgian waffle with fresh fruit, cream & chocolate sauce are sumptuous. Add to this a vast play zone that is every child’s dream and you’ve got a destination that works for all the family.

Coming Up - the time is NOW for asparagus picking, the strawberries will be ripe by the end of June and the raspberries are ready to be picked in July.

www.charleton-farm.co.uk