A luxury hotel is to launch new farm tours as it demonstrates how it is committed to sustainable tourism.

Links House at Royal Dornoch has hailed the introduction of private tours focused on its kitchen garden and neighbouring Seaview Farm available to guests from the end of June.

Led by head gardener Skye Buchanan, visitors discover a brief history of the Links House gardens, and the planting ethos which inspired them, as well as about the key growing processes needed so far north, the firm said.

There will also be the chance for those taking part to tour the kitchen garden at Links House, where many of the herbs used in the hotel’s restaurant MARA are grown and enjoy the chance to help handpick the crop for the evening’s dinner service.

Once the hotel garden tour is completed, the experience will continue at the nearby Seaview Farm – a 110-acre working farm located nearby, with views over the seventh and eighth holes of the iconic Royal Dornoch Golf Club.

Guests will be shown through the walled Scottish formal garden, large wildflower meadow, upland heath and heather moor, with attention paid to the strawberry, blueberry and raspberry cages, finishing in the established lavender fields with adjacent honey bee apiary yard,  Scottish apple orchard, and heritage barley fields. 

Links House said: “Guests will have the opportunity to enjoy a hands-on take at harvesting and processing the lavender plants, which are dried for display and for potpourri, as well as used for small batch lavender oils and sprays.

“Upon completion, guests will receive a gift pack of lavender goodies to enjoy along with a sample jar of Seaview honey as a delicious memento of their time in the gardens."

Phil Scott, managing director said: “These tours are a celebration of the work that the Links House team has undertaken in creating a luxury destination which promotes authentic and sustainable tourism practices. For a number of years, we have celebrated local produce and producers in our menus at MARA, and now we invite our guests to meet with Skye and learn about how much we value our ethos … where our menus are slow, seasonal, sustainably sourced and Scottish with an emphasis placed on zero waste.”

The firm added: “The new tours are one of several pursuits available exclusively to guests of Links House, which have each been designed to celebrate the Highlands region. From a partnership with Highland Aviation which allows guests the opportunity to charter a personal sightseeing flight, to experiences with Manor Falconry at neighbouring Dunrobin Castle, their varied natures ensure each guest can enjoy an unforgettable time during their stay.”

Holiday park overlooking Scotland’s most famous loch brought to market

 

A holiday lodge park in a “peaceful setting within an elevated wooded countryside position” has been brought to market for sale.

The Business Partnership said the site sits next to some of Scotland’s most famous visitor locations and is also “an outdoor enthusiast’s dream”. The agent said the park is spread over an upper and lower area and each lodge sleeps four guests.

Glasgow Business Awards initiative will celebrate city’s ‘brightest and best’ firms

 

Two new categories – Inspiring Future Talent and Best Use of Digital Technology – will form part of this year’s Glasgow Business Awards which celebrate the city’s “brightest and best” companies.

Now in its 26th year, the prestigious awards initiative, hosted by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce with The Herald as media partner, pays tribute to the successes of the business community over the past 12 months. The awards comprise 14 competitive categories which recognise and champion areas ranging from innovation, leadership and business excellence to community wealth-building and sustainability.