Friday 14th June
The tour got off to a good start with everyone arriving in time, at the Strathburn hotel, Invurerie our base for three nights, to be wined and dined.
Saturday 15th June
With everyone promptly aboard the coach, our first visit was to Mackies at Westertown – ice cream, chocolate, and crisp producers who also manufacture all their own ice cream containers. Incidentally they also own the world’s largest ice cube making machine! The farmer manager, David Smurthwaite and assisted by Will Ferguson, showed us around.
With 320 Holstein milking cows housed indoors, with a robotic milking system, all milk is used for the ice cream and chocolate, whilst the farm also generates its own wind energy and uses the crops from 1600 acres to feed the cows.
Next was a visit to Lochter Activity centre a farm diversification project which caters for corporate events, weddings and schools with a range of activities from fly fishing to go cart racing, this made a welcome lunch stop.
Then on to our private tour of Fyvie castle, an 800-year-old imposing fortress set in magnificent grounds. Our young guide was very knowledgeable who also entertained us with an impromptu piano recital!
Then we were treated to drinks at Rothiebrisbane, Will & Lucy Ferguson’s home (who helped put the tour together) where everyone very much enjoyed meeting them and seeing their lovely garden.
After a speedy turn around, we ended our day with a meal with everyone seated together, at the Redgarth Hotel, Old Meldrum
Sunday 16th June
It was a very wet morning for our visit to Duncan Farms near Turriff. David Green the Farm manager joined us on the coach to talk about this large estate of about 10,000 acres, with 6000 acres arable and a free-range egg business producing 4,500,000 eggs per week mainly for Marks and Spencer, they also have their own packing house, as well as running a wind farm energy business.
After a good lunch at the Fife Arms we then headed to the Glen Dronach Distillery. This is a smaller whisky maker, and with the party split in two, with one half tasting a flight with chocolates and the other half learning about the distilling process before swapping around, it was made all the better by our enthusiastic guides.
The evening dinner was at the Fennel in Invurerie a short walk from the hotel.
Monday 17th June
Day three was an all-day tour to Peterhead port organised by Mike Warner, it was interesting to see that many of the problems affecting the fishing industry are similar to that of farming. The Port Authority has adapted significantly with the times, from fishing port to supporting the oil business to now providing the renewable energy industry access. The port has a state-of-the-art fish market and an Academy to train new skippers and crew, who can test their skills and knowledge, on a computerised boat simulator. With a portside lunch of fish & chips, our day was overseen by Jimmy Buchan, celebrity trawlerman. We even made it into the fishing news with an article featuring our visit to Peterhead!
The tour was well supported, and we were well received everywhere we went.
Richard Scott DFC Chair
