Leadership appointments by sector body boosts agritourism

Destination Leaders within Scottish Agritourism provide local support and representation for members while helping to develop agritourism throughout Scotland and bolster the organisation’s overall growth and development.

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Each appointment, which is voluntary, lasts for two years and on completion, the leaders have the opportunity to join the Scottish Agritourism board of directors or on the National Strategy Implementation Board. Having 16 Scottish Agritourism destination leaders throughout Scotland allows one for each regional area.

The new appointments replace seven members stepping down from the role after completing their two-year term. Eight current destination leaders will remain in the position for a further 12 months to retain experience and consistency.

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Scottish Agritourism's sector lead, Caroline Millar, said: “On behalf of the Scottish Agritourism board, a sincere thank you goes to the Destination Leaders stepping down from their roles and also to those staying on to serve for a further year.

“I would like to extend a huge welcome to our new leaders and I look forward to working closely with them all in the next 24 months. I’m particularly delighted that following a recent visit to Orkney, we have appointed Lara Hourie, of the Orkney Dairy, as our first Orkney Destination Leader.

“Destination Leaders are an important part of our sector leadership and are a massive support to the organisation as we work to grow agritourism in every part of rural Scotland. The agritourism sector in Scotland is a key contributor to the rural economy and in the coming months we will continue to deliver on our national strategy implementation plan to grow the sector and the opportunities it offers to farms, crofts and estates.

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"I’m delighted to have such a powerful group of board members and Destination Leaders supporting us to do so,” she added.

Established in 2020, sector body Scottish Agritourism, formally brings together a strong network of farmers and crofters and suppliers to the sector, to offer peer to peer business support, consumer marketing and representation. The organisation has a board chaired by Riddell Graham, formerly head of partnerships, Visit Scotland.

In three years, Scottish Agritourism has attracted 470 people across 257 businesses to work together to grow agritourism in Scotland.

Taking up new roles in their respective areas:

• Niall Bowser, Argaty Red Kites, Stirling and Forth Valley

• Wendy MacDougall, Kilmacolm Farm Tours, Glasgow and Clyde

• Lynne Jobes, Beirhope Alpacas, Scottish Borders

• Lara Hourie, The Orkney Dairy, Orkney

• Brian Cameron, Elchies Estate, Moray Speyside

• Balfour Stewart, The Bus Stop, Lothians

• Kat Gilmour, Bowhouse, Fife

• Fiona Maclennan, Glenorchy Farm, Argyll

Destination Leaders serving a second year are:

• David Smythe, Cloag Farm, Perthshire

• Patricia Picken, Solway View Caravan and Camping, Dumfries and Galloway

• Claire Fleming, Peel Farm, Perthshire

• Sarah Parker, Bowmuir Farm Holidays, Lanarkshire

• Liz Phillips, Cowden Farm Holidays, Aberdeenshire

• Lindsay Robertson, Long Island Retreats, Highlands and Islands

Serving a fourth year:

• Fiona Scott, Mill at Fearn Farm, Highlands and Islands

• Ailsa Currie, Bellevue Farm, Ayrshire and Arran

Leaving their post after two years were:

Nikki Storrar, Ardross Farm, Fife; Jo McNicoll, Drift, East Lothian; Alison Younger, Old Leckie, Stirling; Chris Scott-Park, Portnellan Farm, Loch Lomond and the Trossachs; Helen Smith, Byres Farm, Morayshire; and Elisabeth Kelly, Airhouses, Scottish Borders (after one year). Kay Wilson, Lennox of Lomond, had served as Destination Leader for Argyll and the Isles for three years in addition to representing members on the Scottish Agritourism board of directors.