Discover what daily life is like on a traditional Scottish family farm

Outline/background

If you are looking for a day out with a difference, in a beautiful location on the shores of Loch Lomond, and would like an insight into organic farming and farm diversification, then arrange a visit. Portnellan has been home to the Scott-Park family since 1952 and over the last 70 years much has changed. Portnellan used to be a dairy farm, but we now raise organic beef cattle off pasture, as a ‘closed herd’. The farm pays a lot of attention to the health and welfare of the cows, and the health of our soil, and we have lovely green fields and woodlands with a lot of space for nature.

What to expect: Farm Tour: approx. 60 minutes, with tea, coffee, home baking and Tunnocks Tea Cakes afterwards in our new Tea Shed, which has a lovely view.
To help you plan your day, you should allow approximately 2 hours on the farm.

On arrival, guests will be given a warm welcome by a member of the family and introduced the farm. Farmer David usually does the farm tour. Farmer Chris may get involved too but is often busy taking speedboat tours out on the loch. You will walk around the farm with David where you’ll learn about organic farming, farm diversification, have the chance to see the cows, and take panoramic photos of Loch Lomond and its mountains.

When you arrive or before you depart (you chose), you will be invited to take a cup of tea/coffee and home baking with the family. In 2023, we put up a Tea Shed, so we can offer guests tea under cover: protection from the rain and increasingly from the sun too. This is a chance to ask questions about Portnellan or farming in Scotland, and farming for Natural Capital or Net Zero while increasing biodiversity and producing quality food.

Stout footwear is necessary: walking boots, rough terrain trainers, or wellies. Unless it’s completely dry underfoot, there will be mud and the grass may be wet. Please note that Portnellan is quite steep in places; please let us know if any in your party are less abled? We want everyone to feel they have had a lovely time within their abilities.

Farm tours are offered all year round on weekdays, and Sundays. Saturdays are rarely possible, because it’s the busiest day for everyone on the farm, but if this is your only option, then please get in touch to see if anything is possible.

Farm Tour and Tea (small groups / families)

Perfect for smaller groups or families, a tour of Portnellan allows you to chat directly with David and really understand what life is like on a working farm. Chose how much time you want to spend with the cows and calves, or just looking at the view, discussing the biodiversity and talking about the farm diversification.

Prices

Small group/family tours (under 12 people)

£36 per adult
£15 per child (5-14 years)
Minimum charge £100

Farm Tour and Tea (large group tours)

We also host larger groups and offer tours tailored to suit varying interests and levels of expertise. We have hosted several large groups, including farmers from Germany and the Netherlands and French cookery school students looking to learn about Scotch beef production. Tours generally last between 90 minutes and 2 hours, depending on the tour itinerary and will include an introduction to the farm including its history, what organic farming means, and its role in sustainable food production, grassland management and diversification. The tour will conclude with refreshments in the Tea Shed with plenty of time allowed for questions and discussion at the end. We can cater for groups of up to 50 people and a 52 seater coach can access the farm and get turned.

Prices

Large group tours (13-50 people)

£17.50 pp + VAT = £21 pp
Minimum charge £227.50 + VAT = £273 (13 people)
No charge for driver/guide(s)

Farm Tour & Speedboat Tour – £POA

For a unique experience, we can arrange for a speedboat tour from the pier before or after the farm visit for a truly memorable way to experience Loch Lomond. The speedboat tour includes highlights of the loch such as the islands that make up the Highland Boundary Fault Line and the famous Loch Lomond Golf Course. If you extend your tour beyond one hour, you have the option to visit Inchcailloch, an island that forms part of the National Nature Reserve with beautiful walks up to a graveyard, or Inchmurrin – an island where you can enjoy the very best of Scottish food and drink in the island’s pub.