Scotland’s first Agritourism Monitor Farm opened its doors this week attracting over 35 potential members, some completely new to the sector and others already running successful businesses.
The Scottish Enterprise-funded venture will see a further eight meetings held in coming months as the monitor farm group gets to grips with on-farm tourism.
The activity will be based around Peel Farm at Lintrathen near Kirriemuir.
The diversified side of this family-run mixed farm at the foot of the Angus Glens is far from new with Frances Fleming expanding her role as farmer’s wife to create a farm shop 34 years ago.
Since then the business has grown and is now run by her daughter Claire who oversees the whole operation including recently created self-catering apartments.
The farm shop and the retail element of the Peel Farm complex is leased out to Kim Gall who will be a major contributor to the monitor farm programme.
Introducing the farm to group facilitator Caroline Millar, herself a provider of on-farm accommodation, she said the business was ideal because it included so many elements.
The shop and caf has been continuously developed but the self-catering accommodation is brand new.
It involved a £320,000 investment, supported by a 50% SRDP grant, and saw part of the traditional stone-built steading converted into two units, one sleeping eight people and the other sleeping four.
Another interesting new development is a workshop and industrial kitchen area created from an old bothy.
This will be available for hire to local food and drink businesses on a daily or weekly rate allowing them to manufacture their products without having to face a major investment in equipment.
Over the coming months the monitor farm group will examine every aspect of the business as part of the process of understanding how farm-based tourism can be made viable.
Round table discussions at the opening day identified issues such as making the farm more appealing to children while maintaining it as a safe environment.
Website design was also seen as important with a number of first-time visitors saying there was much more to do and see at Peel Farm than the website suggested.
Signs guiding visitors to the attraction were also seen as vital.
Caroline Millar said: “I am really delighted to have such a mixture of experienced operators, newcomers and professional advisers here.”
Like many rural diversifications the agritourism venture at Peel has grown up alongside the farming business with family input split between the two.
The 150 acres at Peel and 350 acres at Strone near Memus is run by Charles Fleming and his son Hugh, with daughter Claire working on both ventures as the need arises.
Her mum Frances was the driving force behind the diversification starting in 1986 by serving teas in the farmhouse conservatory.
Two years later a coffee shop was built as an extension to the house with the aid of a 25% diversification grant.
Farm trails were added and various other attractions but the next step change came in 2002 with the development of part of the stone-built steading into a retail courtyard.
This is now rented out to 12 retailers who pay a fixed rent and a commission on sales.
The farming enterprise includes a 200-strong suckler cow herd and a flock of 480 ewes.
The farm shop has developed a market for the Flemings’ own beef, lamb and pork and other home-made produce.
Early discussions among the monitor farm group identified a need to make more of the home-grown own-labelled produce as a retail attraction.