Errichel Farm Tour

Errichel Farm gives you a close look at working farm life, not a polished animal show. In one compact hour near Aberfeldy, you can feed birds, watch the pigs at mealtime, meet rare-breed animals, and hear how the farm handles animal welfare and sustainable food production. The hands-on feeding and the small group are the real draws.

I like the relaxed teaching style led by Becky, one of the farm’s co-owners, and I like how easily the tour works for both children and adults. You should keep one thing in mind: this is an outdoor farm visit, and poor weather can lead to cancellation or a change of date.

Key points to know before booking

• Large Black pigs and rare-breed animals: You meet pigs, sheep, Shetland cattle, Highland ponies, chickens, ducks, geese, and other farm residents.
• A genuinely small group: The maximum is eight people, so the tour can feel personal rather than like a crowd moving from pen to pen.
• Becky brings the farm to life: Her talks cover animal care, ethical farming, sustainable practices, and the realities of running a working farm.
• Strong choice for young children: Feeding animals gives small children something active to do, while adults get useful background about farming.
• Easy to pair with food: The start and end point is Thyme Delicatessen at Errichel, with Thyme Bistro nearby for brunch, coffee, cake, or lunch.
• Plan around the weather: The farm requires suitable conditions, and cancellation for poor weather comes with a choice of another date or a full refund.

What the one-hour Errichel tour is really like

The tour starts at Thyme Delicatessen at Errichel, just outside Aberfeldy. You meet at 10:00 a.m., then return to the same point when the farm visit ends. That simple setup makes the outing easy to add to a morning in Perthshire, especially if you are already planning to eat at the bistro or browse the deli.

The advertised length is about one hour. That is enough time to meet a wide mix of animals without turning the visit into a long commitment for young children. It also means you should view this as a focused farm experience, not a full-day working-farm program.

The group limit of eight matters. A small party gives you a better chance to hear the guide, ask questions, and take part in feeding. It also keeps the visit from feeling like a school outing, though the exact rhythm can depend on the animals and the day’s farm work.

Meeting the pigs, sheep, ponies, and birds

The animal list is unusually varied for a short tour. You may meet Large Black pigs, rare-breed sheep, Shetland cattle, Highland ponies, chickens, ducks, and other birds including geese and peacocks. The mix gives children plenty of quick changes in focus, while adults can pay attention to the different jobs and needs of each animal.

The pigs are one of the memorable stops. You can watch them being fed and learn how they fit into the farm’s work. Large Black pigs are a rare breed, so this is more useful than simply seeing familiar farm animals. The visit connects the animals to questions about food, care, and farming choices.

Feeding the birds is another hands-on moment. Chickens, ducks, and geese can be especially engaging for young children because the action is easy to see at close range. A farm visit feels more meaningful when you are not only looking through a fence, and this tour makes animal contact part of the experience.

Sheep and lambs add a gentler side to the visit. A lamb may be part of the experience, and bottle-feeding has been included on some visits. You should not assume every animal interaction happens every time, but the farm’s format allows for personal moments that a larger attraction often cannot offer.

The Highland ponies and Shetland cattle widen the picture. You are not seeing one type of farm animal repeated across several enclosures. Instead, you get a quick introduction to different breeds and to the way a mixed farm operates.

Becky’s approach to ethical farming

The farm tour is not only about feeding animals. Becky explains how Errichel functions as a working farm and talks about sustainable farming and high-welfare meat production. That gives the visit more substance than a simple petting-farm stop.

I find this especially useful for adults who want to understand where food comes from. You can hear about the care involved in keeping animals, the importance of quality, and the practical demands of running a farm. The conversation connects the cheerful animal encounters with real decisions about welfare and food production.

The tone is informal and family-friendly. Becky has been particularly good at including children, but the material does not stop at basic animal facts. Adults can listen to the farming side of the visit while children focus on feeding the hens, sheep, or ducks.

That balance is one of Errichel’s strengths. A one-year-old can enjoy the sights and sounds, a nine-year-old can take part in feeding, and an adult can come away with a better sense of how ethical farming works. The tour does not require a child to enjoy it, either. It also suits adults who like food, animals, and rural life.

Why the eight-person limit improves the visit

Errichel caps the tour at eight people. That number is small enough for the guide to keep the group together and explain what is happening without shouting. It also gives you a better chance to ask about a particular breed or farming practice.

For families, the small group can make the outing feel less rushed. Children may need a moment to approach an animal, watch what it is doing, or decide if they want to feed it. A compact group leaves more room for that informal pace.

For adults, the limit makes the ethical farming discussion easier to follow. You can hear about welfare and sustainability without trying to catch a few words from the back of a large group.

There is one practical trade-off. The tour has limited availability compared with a walk-in attraction, and the experience is booked an average of 38 days ahead. If you are visiting Aberfeldy during a busy period, booking early is sensible.

A good morning for families with young children

This is one of the better short activities in the Tay Valley for families with young children. The time is manageable, the animals are varied, and the feeding gives children a clear role. You are not asking a small child to stand still through a long historical talk.

The tour also works well for babies and toddlers. Baby-changing facilities are available at the site, and the visit can be followed by coffee, cake, or brunch. Those details matter when you are planning a morning around nap times, snacks, and bathroom breaks.

Still, this is a real farm, not an indoor attraction. The weather can affect the experience, and the tour requires suitable conditions. Dress for an outdoor setting and check the forecast, though the supplied information does not specify exact clothing or footwear requirements.

If rain arrives, the operator may cancel the activity and offer another date or a full refund. You can also cancel for a full refund if you do so at least 24 hours before the 10:00 a.m. start time. Cancellations made inside that window are not refunded, and changes are not accepted within 24 hours.

Why adults should not dismiss it as a children’s outing

The farm has enough substance for adults who are interested in food and land use. You hear about the work required to keep a farm running and about the principles behind high-welfare meat production. That adds a thoughtful layer to the visit.

The setting also fits naturally with a food stop. Thyme Bistro serves as an easy follow-up, and the deli gives you another way to connect the farm visit with local produce. A morning at Errichel can therefore combine animals, farming, and a meal without needing a separate drive between each part.

Some visitors have paired the farm tour with brunch, cheese and wine tasting, or time in the grounds and deli. Those extras are not part of the one-hour tour price, so check separately if you want to add them. The farm visit itself includes admission, but the supplied details do not say that food or tastings are included.

For couples or solo adults, the value depends on your interests. If you want a major attraction with a long program, this will feel brief. If you enjoy meeting animals and prefer a small, personal explanation of farm life, one hour is a sensible length.

Price and what you receive for about $19.20

At about $19.20 per person, the tour is priced as a short, guided experience rather than a full attraction ticket. You receive approximately an hour on the farm, access to the animal encounters, and the guide’s explanations about animal care and ethical farming.

That is fair value if you take part fully. Feeding animals, watching the pigs at mealtime, and asking questions make the experience more than a quick look around. The small group also adds value because you are paying for a more direct visit rather than a general admission ticket.

The price makes less sense if you only want to see animals from a distance or if outdoor activities are not your thing. In that case, the tour’s educational and hands-on elements may not justify the cost. Pairing it with a meal at Thyme Bistro can make the drive and morning feel more worthwhile, but lunch is an additional expense.

The average advance booking time of 38 days is another clue about planning. This is not necessarily an activity to leave until the morning of your visit, particularly if your dates are fixed or your party includes children who are looking forward to it.

Getting there, meeting point, and timing

The meeting point is Thyme Delicatessen, Errichel, Aberfeldy PH15 2EL, UK. The tour begins at 10:00 a.m. and ends back at the same location, so you do not need to arrange a separate pickup point afterward.

The farm is described as easy to find off the main road. That is useful when you are combining the visit with a wider Perthshire road trip. No transport is supplied as part of the experience, so you need to make your own way to Errichel.

Mobile tickets are accepted, and the tour is offered in English. Confirmation is provided when you book. Service animals are allowed, and most people can take part, though the experience is outdoors and weather-dependent.

The maximum group size is eight. That limit applies to the activity, so check your booking carefully if you are arranging a larger family or club outing.

What to do before and after the animals

The easiest way to build a half-day around the tour is to arrive for the farm visit, then stay for food. Thyme Bistro is at the same Errichel site, and coffee, cake, brunch, or lunch can round out the morning.

A meal afterward also gives children a clear finish to the activity. After an hour of animals, feeding, and walking around the farm, sitting down for food can be more practical than immediately getting back in the car.

You can also spend time at the deli and in the maintained grounds. Those parts are separate from the one-hour tour, but they make Errichel feel like more than a single stop. Check opening details and availability for anything beyond the farm tour before you rely on it in your schedule.

Who should book Errichel Farm Tour?

I would recommend this tour most strongly to families with young children, especially if your children enjoy animals and can manage an outdoor hour. The feeding opportunities keep the visit active, and the farm’s range of animals gives the morning plenty of variety.

It also suits adults who want a closer look at ethical farming, rare breeds, and the connection between animal care and food production. Becky’s relaxed explanations add depth without making the visit feel like a lecture.

You may want to skip it if you need a fully indoor activity, dislike farm settings, or want several hours of entertainment from one ticket. The weather requirement is real, and one hour may feel short if you are driving a long way solely for this activity.

Should you book this farm tour?

Book it if you are near Aberfeldy, have children who like animals, or want a friendly introduction to sustainable and high-welfare farming. The strongest combination is the small group, direct feeding, and Becky’s personal explanation of how Errichel works.

For the best value, make it part of a wider morning with food at Thyme Bistro or time at the deli. Reserve ahead, keep an eye on the forecast, and allow flexibility in case poor weather affects the date. If those points suit your plans, Errichel offers a warm, practical farm experience without taking up your whole day.

FAQ

How long does the Errichel Farm Tour last?

The tour lasts approximately one hour. It begins and ends at the Errichel meeting point.

What time does the tour start?

The tour starts at 10:00 a.m. at Thyme Delicatessen, Errichel, Aberfeldy PH15 2EL, UK.

Which animals can I meet?

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

What is the maximum group size?

The tour accepts a maximum of eight people.

Is the tour suitable for children?

Yes. The experience is designed to work well for families with young children, with hands-on opportunities to meet and feed the animals. Adults can also learn about the farm’s ethical practices.

Can I cancel for a refund?

You can cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Cancellations or changes made less than 24 hours before the start are not accepted for a refund. If poor weather causes the operator to cancel, you can choose another date or receive a full refund.