Nikki Lake

Nikki Lake farms alongside her husband Ollie and their two children, Emi and Tobi, at Thorabella Farm, a family-run agritourism business in Dallas, Moray, established in 2017. Coming from a non-farming background, Nikki’s journey into agriculture began with a passion for animals and rural life. What started as a smallholding soon grew into a thriving farm that combines livestock farming, local food, and visitor experiences.

Today, Thorabella Farm is home to an extraordinary mix of animals including Asian water buffalo, Highland cows, Jersey cows, sheep, goats, pigs, emus, rabbits, and more. Nikki has diversified the business to include a farm shop selling their own produce – from rich Jersey milk and handmade ice cream to buffalo meat – alongside a curated selection of local goods.

Visitors can enjoy the Animal Walkaround, meet the animals up close, and experience life on a working farm. The catering unit, The Buffalo Bite, serves farm-to-fork food with the bold strapline “Graze Boldly.”

Nikki’s forward-thinking approach has also led to unique additions such as straw-bale holiday cabins, honesty shacks, and carefully designed enclosures that enhance both animal welfare and visitor experience.

Driven by a belief in the power of agritourism to strengthen rural communities, Nikki has become an advocate for diversification in farming. Her vision for Thorabella Farm is to create a place where families can connect with food, farming, and nature – all while supporting the local economy.