Errichel Farm Tour

Errichel Farm gives you a close look at working farm life, with the best part saved for your hands: you can feed animals rather than simply view them from a path. Guide Becky leads the roughly one-hour visit, introducing you to Large Black pigs, rare-breed sheep, Shetland cattle, Highland ponies, chickens, ducks, geese, and other birds.

I like the small group of no more than eight, which keeps the tour relaxed and gives children a fair chance to take part. I also like the honest talk about ethical farming, sustainable methods, and high-welfare meat production. The main drawback is that this is an outdoor farm visit, so poor weather can cancel it, and the tour may feel short if you want a full farm day.

Key points

• Feed a wide mix of animals: Meet pigs, sheep, ponies, cattle, lambs, chickens, ducks, geese, and peacocks.
• Becky leads the visit: Her relaxed approach works well with young children while giving adults useful insight into farm work.
• Small groups matter: With a maximum of eight people, you get more time to interact with the animals.
• Good family add-on: The on-site Thyme Bistro offers coffee, cake, brunch, and lunch after the tour.
• A working farm, not a petting zoo: The visit explains ethical farming, sustainable practices, and high-welfare food production.
• Plan around the weather: You can cancel up to 24 hours before the start for a full refund, but late cancellations are not refunded.

Meeting the animals at Errichel Farm

Your visit begins at Thyme Delicatessen at Errichel, Aberfeldy PH15 2EL. The tour starts at 10:00 a.m. and finishes back at the same meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a second pickup point or find your way across the farm afterward.

The farm tour is built around introductions and feeding. You can expect to meet Large Black pigs, rare-breed sheep, Shetland cattle, Highland ponies, chickens, ducks, geese, and other birds. The exact sequence may vary, but the appeal is consistent: you are not simply looking across a field at animals in the distance.

Children can feed birds and sheep, watch the pigs being fed, and, depending on the animals available that day, meet young lambs. One past visit included bottle-feeding a lamb, though that should not be treated as a guaranteed part of every tour. Animal care comes first.

The range of animals gives the hour a good rhythm. The pigs bring plenty of personality, while the ponies and cattle offer a calmer look at the farm’s larger residents. Chickens, ducks, geese, and peacocks keep younger children interested because there is always movement nearby.

A named animal called Topsy has won a special place in the hearts of many visitors. You may meet Topsy during your visit, but the supplied details do not identify the animal’s type or promise that Topsy will be present on every tour.

Why the eight-person limit helps

The maximum group size is eight people. That number matters more than it might first appear.

On a larger farm visit, children can end up watching from behind a crowd while adults struggle to hear the guide. Here, a small group gives Becky room to answer questions, guide feeding, and keep the visit moving without rushing each person.

This format also suits families with very young children. One family brought a one-year-old and described the tour as relaxed and informal. The farm also has baby-changing facilities at the restaurant, which makes the stop easier for parents planning a morning out.

The small size works for adults too. This is not only a children’s activity with a few facts added on. The tour explains how a working farm functions, including ethical practices and high-welfare meat production. You can ask questions and pay attention to the farming choices behind the food sold at Errichel.

The one limitation is availability. The activity is often booked about 38 days in advance, so you should not assume you can turn up and join a tour. If your date is fixed, book ahead.

Becky’s approach to ethical farming

Becky is the main guide named in the tour details, and her part in the experience is a major reason to book. She is described as warm, passionate, and good with children, but the useful point for you is how she links the animals to the business of running a farm.

You will learn about sustainable farming and high-welfare meat production as you move around the property. That gives the animal encounters more meaning. You are not just feeding a sheep or watching a pig eat. You are also hearing how Errichel manages its animals and produces food.

This is a good fit if you want a farm visit with some substance. The talk remains accessible for children, but adults can learn about the work required to keep a working farm going. The experience does not pretend that farming is only cuddly animals and pretty views.

That balance is one of Errichel’s strengths. You get personal contact with animals, yet the farm is presented as a working place with responsibilities, costs, and food production. For some families, that makes the visit more useful than a standard animal attraction.

What the one-hour itinerary feels like

The tour lasts about one hour, with admission included. That is enough time for a focused introduction to the farm, but not enough for a long walk, a full day of activities, or a detailed tour of every part of the property.

You begin at the farm meeting point, then visit the animals with Becky. Feeding creates the hands-on part of the tour, while the guide’s explanation adds context. The visit may include pigs, sheep, lambs, horses or ponies, cattle, poultry, ducks, geese, and peacocks.

The hour is especially well suited to a morning plan. After the farm tour, you can stop at Thyme Bistro for coffee, cake, brunch, or lunch. Some visitors also spend time in the grounds and browse the deli. These additions are separate from the one-hour tour, but they make Errichel more worthwhile as a half-day stop.

The tour’s short length is both a plus and a minus. Young children are less likely to lose interest during a one-hour visit. Adults with a tight schedule can fit it into a day around Aberfeldy. On the other hand, if you expect a substantial farm experience, you may find the tour over quickly.

A farm visit that works in wet weather, with limits

The tour requires good weather, and Errichel may cancel if conditions are poor. If that happens, you are offered another date or a full refund.

Even if the tour runs, you should expect to spend time outdoors. The practical choice is to dress for changing Scottish weather and accept that the experience may be less comfortable in rain. One visit remained enjoyable despite some rain, but wet conditions can still affect how long children want to stay outside.

The weather rule is important when you plan a wider day around Aberfeldy. If the farm tour is the main reason for your morning, leave some flexibility where possible. You can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made inside that window are not refunded.

Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate. No special fitness requirement is given, but the supplied details do not promise that every part of the farm is fully step-free or suited to every mobility need. If that matters to you, contact the provider before booking.

Adding brunch at Thyme Bistro

The on-site food options add real value. Several visits continued with brunch, lunch, coffee, or cake at Thyme Bistro after the farm tour. That means you can turn a short animal visit into an easy morning without getting back in the car.

The deli and restaurant also give you a chance to connect the farm experience with local food. You hear about ethical production during the tour, then have the option to eat at the same property. That link will appeal to anyone interested in where food comes from.

The food is not included in the $19.20 tour price, so budget for it separately. The supplied accounts describe the food in different ways, from decent to fantastic, which is a fair reminder to keep your expectations sensible. The setting and convenience are clear advantages, but the meal is an extra purchase rather than part of admission.

The grounds and deli can extend your visit after lunch. Again, these are not included in the one-hour farm ticket, but they make Errichel a practical stop for families and food-focused visitors.

Is $19.20 good value?

At $19.20 per person, the tour is reasonably priced for a small-group experience with direct animal interaction and a named guide. The value is strongest when you make use of the personal contact and the farming discussion, not when you judge it as a simple hour of sightseeing.

You are paying for more than access to a field. The price includes admission, a guided visit, and the chance to feed animals in a group capped at eight. A family can also keep the rest of the morning flexible, adding food at the bistro only if it suits the budget.

The price is less compelling if you only want to see farm animals from a distance. You could spend the hour quickly, especially if your children are too young to follow the farming talk or if rain cuts the visit short. The added meal can also make the total outing cost more than the ticket price suggests.

I see the best value for families with young children, adults interested in ethical food production, and people already planning to eat at Thyme Bistro. If you are passing through Aberfeldy and want a short, local experience rather than a major attraction, the price is easier to justify.

Who should book Errichel Farm Tour?

Families with young children are the clearest match. Feeding ducks, chickens, sheep, and other animals gives children something active to do, while the one-hour length helps hold their attention. The baby-changing facilities at the restaurant are another practical plus for parents.

Adults should not dismiss the tour as something only for children. The discussion of sustainable farming, animal welfare, and the demands of running a working farm gives the visit more depth. The cheese and wine tasting mentioned as part of a separate visit also suggests that Errichel offers other food-focused activities, though they are not included in this farm tour.

The tour also suits visitors staying around Aberfeldy or exploring Perthshire who want a local stop with food attached. It is easy to combine with brunch or lunch and a walk around the grounds.

You may want to skip it if you dislike outdoor activities, need a fully confirmed all-weather plan, or expect a long, detailed farm tour. The visit is short, and the weather can change the plan.

Booking and practical details

The activity is offered in English and uses a mobile ticket. Confirmation is sent when you book. It begins at 10:00 a.m. at Thyme Delicatessen, Errichel, Aberfeldy PH15 2EL, and ends at the same place.

The group limit is eight people, and most people can participate. Service animals are allowed. Since the tour is commonly booked well ahead, I would reserve early for school holidays, weekends, or a particular date.

Free cancellation is available until 24 hours before the local start time. Inside that period, the payment is not refunded and changes are not accepted. If Errichel cancels because of poor weather, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.

Should you book this farm tour?

Book it if you want a friendly, hands-on hour with farm animals and a useful explanation of how ethical farming works. Becky’s relaxed style, the eight-person limit, and the chance to follow the tour with brunch or cake make it a strong choice for families.

I would especially recommend pairing it with food at Thyme Bistro, since that turns a brief tour into a fuller morning. Just keep the weather rule in mind, book ahead, and do not expect a full-day farm program. For a short Aberfeldy outing with real animal contact and a clear connection to local food, Errichel is worth your time.

FAQ

Where does the Errichel Farm Tour start?

It starts at Thyme Delicatessen, Errichel, Aberfeldy PH15 2EL, UK.

What time does the tour begin?

The tour starts at 10:00 a.m.

How long does the farm tour last?

The tour lasts approximately one hour.

Where does the tour finish?

The activity ends back at the meeting point at Thyme Delicatessen.

How much does the tour cost?

The listed price is $19.20 per person.

What animals can you meet?

You can meet and feed Large Black pigs, rare-breed sheep, Shetland cattle, Highland ponies, chickens, ducks, geese, and other birds. Peacocks, lambs, and horses are also included in the animal descriptions.

How many people can join the tour?

The tour has a maximum of eight participants.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Yes. It is described as ideal for families with young children, with chances to meet and feed the animals.

Is the tour offered in English?

Yes, the tour is offered in English.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience may be canceled because of poor weather. You will then be offered another date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.