Errichel Farm Tour

At Errichel Farm, the main event is wonderfully simple: you spend an hour close to working-farm animals, feeding some of them and learning how the place operates. Becky, one of the farm’s co-owners, leads a relaxed tour that works especially well for young children but gives adults plenty to think about too.

I like the small maximum of eight people, which keeps the visit personal and makes it easier for children to take part. I also like the farm’s focus on ethical, high-welfare farming, rather than treating the animals as a backdrop for photographs. The main consideration is the weather: this is an outdoor farm visit, and poor conditions can lead to cancellation or a date change.

Key points to know before booking

• Feed a varied group of animals: Meet Large Black pigs, rare-breed sheep, Shetland cattle, Highland ponies, chickens, ducks, geese, and peacocks.
• Becky leads the tour: Her warm, informal approach suits children, while her explanation of sustainable farming adds substance for adults.
• Small group of up to eight: You get more room to ask questions and more chances for hands-on contact.
• Plan around 10 a.m.: The tour begins at Thyme Delicatessen, Errichel, and returns there after about one hour.
• Pair it with food: The Thyme bistro and deli make it easy to add brunch, coffee, cake, or a wander around the grounds.
• Good value for families: At $19.20 per person, the price covers a guided hour and animal-feeding opportunities, with admission included.

A farm visit with real animals and real work

Errichel Farm is near Aberfeldy in Perthshire, at Thyme Delicatessen, Errichel, Aberfeldy PH15 2EL. The tour begins at 10 a.m. and finishes back at the same meeting point, so you do not need to arrange a second pickup location.

This is not a large commercial farm attraction with a long list of timed shows. It is a compact visit built around meeting the animals and understanding the farm behind the food. That difference matters. You are not simply looking at sheep in a field. You are hearing how a working farm functions and why animal care, food quality, and responsible farming decisions matter.

The one-hour length is well judged for families. Young children can enjoy the action without being asked to concentrate for half a day. Adults who are interested in farming, local food, or high-welfare meat production get enough explanation to make the visit worthwhile.

The group limit is eight people. That is one of the strongest features here. A small group means children are less likely to be pushed to the back, and you have a better chance to ask Becky a question as the tour moves along.

Meeting Becky and getting started at 10 a.m.

Becky is described as one of Errichel’s co-owners, and she leads the tour with an easy, personal manner. Her style is informal rather than formal or scripted. That helps when you are visiting with a baby, a toddler, or an easily distracted child.

She also brings more than animal facts to the tour. Her main subject is how a working farm can operate with attention to sustainability and animal welfare. You learn about the care given to the animals and the effort required to produce food responsibly.

That balance is useful. Children get the fun of seeing and feeding animals, while adults gain a clearer idea of what high-welfare farming means in practice. The farm is not presented as a cartoon version of rural life. You are given a look at the choices and work involved in keeping it going.

A small group also allows the pace to stay flexible. The supplied details do not promise a fixed order for each animal, so you should expect the route and timing to depend on the farm’s needs and the conditions on the day.

Meeting the Large Black pigs

The Large Black pigs are among the most memorable animals on the visit. You get to watch them being fed, and the feeding session gives the tour a sense of action that children quickly understand.

Pigs are a good way to see the difference between a farm visit and a standard petting experience. They are large working-farm animals, not just cute photo subjects. Watching them eat gives Becky a natural opening to explain their role and how the farm cares for them.

You should follow her instructions closely when food is involved. The details do not state exactly which animals each visitor may feed, so the guide decides what is suitable and safe. That is sensible, especially when young children are present.

Sheep, lambs, and hands-on moments

The sheep and lambs provide some of the gentler moments of the hour. You can feed the sheep, and a lamb may be available to meet. On one visit, a child in the group was able to bottle-feed a lamb, though you should treat that as a possible moment rather than a guaranteed part of every tour.

That distinction is important when planning a family outing. The advertised experience promises contact with farm animals and feeding opportunities, but individual encounters can change with the season, the animals’ needs, and the farm’s routine.

The rare-breed sheep add another layer of interest. You are not seeing only the most familiar farm breeds. Becky’s explanation of the animals and the farm’s approach helps children connect what they see with the food and farming systems around them.

For a child, feeding a sheep can be the highlight of the morning. For you, it can also be a useful chance to explain that farms are places of care, work, and production at the same time.

Shetland cattle and Highland ponies

Errichel’s Shetland cattle and Highland ponies broaden the visit beyond smaller animals and birds. Their presence gives you a sense of the farm’s range and makes the hour feel varied.

The available information does not promise feeding or touching these animals, so do not arrive expecting every animal to be handled. The exact contact depends on what Becky considers appropriate on the day.

That is not a weakness. A responsible farm tour should put the animals first. You may get a close look, hear about their care, and see how they fit into the farm without forcing an interaction.

The Highland ponies are likely to be a particular draw for children, while the cattle help show that the farm is not designed only as a children’s activity. The farm’s working character remains visible throughout the visit.

Chickens, ducks, geese, and peacocks

The poultry section brings plenty of movement and noise. Errichel has chickens and many ducks, along with geese and peacocks. Feeding the birds is one of the clearest hands-on parts of the experience.

Children often connect quickly with birds because they are active and easy to watch. You may find yourself moving between groups as ducks gather, chickens peck, and peacocks catch the eye with their unusual appearance.

The farm’s range of birds also helps keep the tour interesting for mixed-age groups. A one-year-old can watch the movement, a nine-year-old can take part in feeding, and adults can continue listening to Becky’s explanation of the farm.

Again, let the guide control the feeding. Small children should stay close to the adults in their group, and the animals should not be given food outside the farm’s instructions.

Why the ethical farming message matters

Many animal visits focus on contact and photographs. Errichel adds a more serious purpose by explaining sustainable farming and high-welfare meat production.

That does not make the tour heavy. The tone is described as friendly, relaxed, and educational. You can enjoy meeting the pigs, sheep, birds, and ponies while also learning about the responsibility involved in running a farm.

I especially like this approach for families. Children get a fun experience, but they also see that food comes from a working system. The tour can start a useful conversation about where meat, eggs, and other farm products come from.

Adults interested in local food may find the farming explanation just as valuable as the animal encounters. Errichel’s wider food offering, including its bistro and deli, connects the farm visit with what you eat afterward.

Extending the morning at Thyme Bistro

The tour begins and ends at Thyme Delicatessen, so adding food is easy. The bistro offers a practical follow-up after the outdoor hour, with brunch, coffee, cake, and other meals mentioned in the supplied information.

This is one of the best ways to plan the visit. A 10 a.m. tour finishes at a natural time for brunch, and you do not need to get back in the car immediately. Several elements of the wider Errichel visit can fit together: the farm tour, food at Thyme, and time around the grounds and deli.

The food experience is separate from the one-hour farm tour, so check what you want to book or pay for before you arrive. The tour price is for the farm activity, not an all-inclusive meal.

Facilities are also suitable for families. Baby-changing facilities and toilets have been described as very good, which is a small but important detail when you are visiting with a baby or young child.

Is $19.20 per person good value?

At $19.20 per person, the tour is reasonably priced if you want a guided experience rather than simply stopping at a farm shop. The cost includes admission to the one-hour tour and access to the planned animal encounters.

For a family, the total can rise once you add brunch or cake at Thyme. Still, the price buys more than a short look around. You get a guide, a small group, explanations of the farm’s practices, and chances to feed animals.

The value is strongest for families with children who enjoy active, hands-on outings. It is also fair for adults who care about ethical farming and local food. If you only want to see farm animals from a distance, you may find the price less appealing.

The small group improves the value. With no more than eight people, the tour is less likely to feel crowded or rushed. You are paying for access and attention, not just entry through a gate.

What to expect in Scottish weather

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 on a scheduled day, you should be ready for changing conditions. This is an outdoor farm experience, and the supplied information confirms that one visit went ahead in rain. Wear clothing and footwear that can handle wet ground, though the precise conditions will vary.

The weather consideration is the main practical drawback. You cannot treat this like an indoor museum visit with a fixed plan that works in every forecast. Keep a little flexibility in your Aberfeldy schedule.

You can cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the 10 a.m. start are not accepted for a refund, except when the provider cancels because of poor weather.

Who will enjoy Errichel Farm most?

This is a strong choice for families with young children. The animals are varied, the group is small, and the hour includes feeding rather than only looking.

It also suits adults. Becky’s discussion of sustainable farming and high-welfare meat production gives the experience more substance than a basic children’s attraction. You do not need to bring children to find the visit worthwhile.

The tour may be less suitable if you want a long farm walk, a detailed specialist lesson, or a fully indoor activity. The duration is approximately one hour, and the focus is direct animal contact and an introduction to the farm’s practices.

It is also a good fit for anyone already visiting the Aberfeldy area who wants to combine a local food stop with a rural activity. The bistro, deli, and grounds make it possible to turn a one-hour booking into a relaxed morning.

Booking advice for your Aberfeldy day

The experience is offered in English and supports mobile tickets. Confirmation is provided at booking, which is useful if you are building several stops into a Perthshire itinerary.

It is booked an average of 38 days ahead, so I would not leave it until the last minute if your dates are fixed. The small eight-person limit naturally restricts availability.

Service animals are allowed, and most people can participate. The information does not give detailed mobility guidance, so anyone with specific access needs should confirm arrangements with Errichel Farm Tours before booking.

Give yourself enough time to arrive at Thyme Delicatessen for the 10 a.m. start. Since the activity ends at the meeting point, you can then move directly to the bistro or deli without arranging transport elsewhere.

Should you book Errichel Farm Tour?

Book it if you want a friendly, small-scale farm visit with real animal contact and a clear ethical farming message. It is especially good for families with young children, but adults interested in food, animal welfare, and sustainable farming will not be left out.

The best plan is to reserve the 10 a.m. tour, allow for rain, and add time afterward for brunch or coffee at Thyme. At $19.20 per person, it offers good value when you want more than a quick photo stop.

Skip it if your schedule cannot tolerate weather changes or if you are looking for a long, formal agricultural tour. For most visitors spending time near Aberfeldy, though, Errichel offers an engaging hour with pigs, sheep, birds, ponies, and a guide who connects the fun with the work behind the farm.

FAQ

Where does the Errichel Farm Tour start?

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

What time does the tour begin?

The tour starts at 10 a.m.

How long does the farm tour last?

The experience lasts approximately one hour.

Where does the tour finish?

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

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is eight people.

Which animals can you meet?

You can meet Large Black pigs, rare-breed sheep, Shetland cattle, Highland ponies, chickens, ducks, geese, and peacocks.

Can you feed the animals?

Yes. The experience includes opportunities to feed animals, including pigs, sheep, chickens, and birds. The guide directs feeding during the visit.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Yes. It is particularly suitable for families with young children, and most people can participate.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The tour may be canceled in poor weather. You will then be offered another date or a full refund.