Recognising & Celebrating Agritourism in Scotland
120 people attended the 2025 Scottish Agritourism Sector Dinner, sponsored by Azets, at Perth Concert Hall on Thursday 27th November. In it’s fifth ‘in-person’ iteration, a new addition to the evening programme of the Scottish Agritourism Conference was the inaugural Scotland’s Agritourism Sector Recognition Awards, founded to recognise and highlight the significant milestones and contributions of agritourism and farm retail businesses and individuals in Scotland’s rural economy. The award presentations were woven into the agenda for the evening giving plenty of time to network, chat and celebrate in between.
Award recipients were recognised for their longevity in the sector with presentations marking 20, 25, 35 and 55 years in business and a ceremony designed to demonstrate the impact and success of their achievements which was hosted by comedian and farmer, Jim Smith. Businesses were invited to join Jim on the stage for light-hearted and entertaining interviews around the highs and lows of their journeys and milestones in the agritourism sector.
Following a networking drinks reception in the foyer of Perth Concert Hall, sponsored by Shepherd & Wedderburn, dinner delegates were seated in the Perth Concert Hall auditorium. They were welcomed by Tanya Yesipova from Shepherd & Wedderburn before Farmer Jim invited the first award recipients on to the stage. Celebrating 20 years in the sector, there were Ardross Farm, Fife; Comrie Croft, Perthshire; Kinblethmont, Angus; Loch Leven’s Larder, Perthshire. Unable to attend but also acknowledged in this segment were Winton Estate, East Lothian (25 years in business), Hendersyde Holiday Cottages, Scottish Borders (35 years in business) and Morton of Pitmilly, Fife (35 years in business). Andy Ritchie from Azets was on hand to present the certificates before Niall Bowser, Argaty Red Kites, said grace.
Following the starter and main course, Caroline Millar, Scottish Agritourism Sector Lead, presented two posthumous awards for contributions to Scotland’s agritourism sector to David Murray, Shetland Rural Experience, which was collected by David’s partner, Isla and to Wilma Finlay, Cream o’ Galloway, Dumfries and Galloway Posthumous award which was accepted by Wilma’s step daughter, Maggie.
As cheese and brownies were served, John and Cameron Laird, Cairnie Fruit Farm, Fife, and Bobby and Anne Lennox, Lennox of Lomond, Argyll, both celebrating 55 years in business, took the hotseat for a light hearted grilling from Jim. Bobby and Anne were also given a Lifetime Achievement Award. The latter awards were presented by Riddell Graham, Scottish Agritourism Chair who also presented an agritourism hamper to Mairi Gougeon MSP, attending her last Scottish Agritourism Conference in the role of Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and the Islands.
Diners were treated to a delicious meal, which included some delicious Scottish Agritourism member produce:
- Oak smoked salmon with capers and shallots served with Mhor sourdough bread and salted butter (GF)
- Roast loin of Specially Selected Pork, sourced from The Butchery at Bowhouse and Macbeth’s with support from Quality Meat Scotland, with baby potatoes served with roast vegetables and apple sauce (GF)
- Cheeses from Isle of Mull Cheese and Arran Cheese with Gloagburn chutney & savoury biscuits from Stag Bakeries & The Island Bakery
- Sweet treat Brownie from Black Isle Berries