Highland cow safari, anyone? It’s true—at Airyolland Farm in Luce Valley, within Scotland’s Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, hosts Neale and Janet McQuistin welcome visitors to meet Highland cattle and Beltex sheep.
Visitors can choose from several experiences: a walking tour that passes a Bronze Age hut circle; a mobile tour in a weatherproof farm trailer; or the Cream Tea Coo Tour, which combines time with Beltex sheep and Highland cows, a sheepdog demonstration, and a traditional cream tea. The farm lies roughly two hours by car from Glasgow and about three hours from Edinburgh. Tours are not available from February 20 until late March, and they are unavailable for much of November. Advance reservations are required.
© VisitScotland
For an extended nature escape, consider staying at the eco-friendly Treehouses at Lanrick on the River Teith in Perthshire, near Trossachs National Park. These self-catering treehouses sit among ancient forest and provide a peaceful base for boating, hiking, cycling, canoeing, mountain walking, or fishing for trout and salmon. Accommodation options include the Willow Warbler, Flycatcher, Treecreeper, Nuthatch, Pipit, and the multiroom Keeper’s Brothy cabin.
The treehouses blend rustic charm with modern conveniences: wood-burning stoves, private decks tucked beneath the canopy, electric car charging points, and welcome breakfast hampers featuring local breads, eggs, and jams. Unique touches—such as outdoor copper baths at Treecreeper and Nuthatch—add to the experience.
© VisitScotland
Enhance your Scottish nature itinerary with a foraging course to learn how to safely locate and prepare wild berries, seeds, and edible plants. Wildwood Bushcraft runs a two-day Coastal Foraging Weekend on the west coast, with guided instruction in foraging, fishing, shellfish gathering, setting creels, identifying and harvesting edible seaweeds, fire-lighting, campfire cooking, and related skills.
Alternatively, book a guided foraging walk with Emma of Glasgow-based Curious in Nature. A countryside ranger and member of the Association of Foragers, the Botanical Society of Britain, and the British Mycological Society, Emma leads walks around Glasgow, Stirling, Loch Lomond, Trossachs National Park, and nearby areas. Private bookings are available for those seeking a more tailored experience.