One of Scotland’s Greatest Escapes

An agritourism experience found in the stunning setting of Glen Orchy in Argyll has been named one of Scotland’s greatest getaways in a BBC Scotland TV series. 

Glenorchy Farm, near Dalmally, which offers self-catering cabins on the banks of River Orchy, made it through to the final of the second series of Scotland’s Greatest Escape, after coming top in the Lochs, Bens & Glens category. 

Glenorchy Farm is a working livestock farm, where guests can get up close with native breeds of cattle, chickens, pigs, and sheep. The farm is committed to sustainable living, through its hydro scheme, work with the Woodland Trust, and promoting local produce. 

The Lochs, Bens & Glens category explored businesses that incorporated their surroundings into the experience. 

During their stay at Glenorchy Farm, judges, Raj Gill and Stuart Kenny, took part in geocaching and enjoyed a wood-fired alfresco bath. 

Raj said “the attention to detail, from the moment we arrived, to the moment we left, was exceptional” as Glenorchy Farm came top in the Lochs, Bens & Glens category. 

However, it was The Broch on the Isle of Harris – a three-storey drystone building with a turf roof, inspired by Iron Age structures – which was ultimately crowned the 2024 series winner. 

Scotland’s Greatest Escape saw expert judges visit 21 getaways across Scotland under seven categories – ‘Unique & Unusual’, ‘Luxury’, ‘Budget Friendly’, ‘Lochs, Bens & Glens’, ‘Foodie’, ‘Adventure’ and ‘Island & Coastal’ – over the eight-part series, presented by Grado. 

Each experience was scored on four key criteria: accommodation, activities on offer, customer service and overall experience. Those with the highest score went through to the grand final held in East Neuk of Fife on 17 April. 

Judges had previously whittled down 1400 public nominations to a shortlist of three for each category. 

Agritourism refers to working farms which have branched out into providing visitor experiences, whether it be through food and drink, interactive activities, or accommodation. 

The sector is growing in popularity in Scotland, driven by visitors interested in food provenance and sustainable tourism. 

David Adams McGilp, Regional Director at VisitScotland, said: “Glenorchy Farm is a great example of tourism business with sustainability at its heart. Visitors are looking for an immersive experience and we know that the provenance of what they eat, and drink is an important part of that. Taking top prize in the Lochs, Bens & Glens category reflects the hard work they have put in to creating a visitor experience that embraces its stunning setting and promotes local food and drink. 

“The popularity of agritourism is growing, reflecting a shift in the farming sector which sees the economic potential for expanding into tourism. Businesses like Glenorchy Farm are playing an important role in helping rural communities and supporting our national goal of creating a world-class sustainable tourism destination that benefits all.” 

Fiona MacLennan, who runs the farm with her husband Tristan, said it was a moment of “immense pride” to be category winner. 

She said: “To have our hard work and dedication recognised in this way was simply incredible. With so many amazing places to stay in Scotland we were really proud that our cabins were chosen to feature in the series. 

“Having the judges visit Glenorchy Farm was an exciting and nerve-wracking experience. We wanted to showcase everything that makes our farm and cabins special, from the stunning landscapes to the hands-on activities. It was a pleasure to share our story with them and to see their genuine interest in what we do here.” 

She said that since appearing on the series, they have seen a noticeable increase in enquiries and interest from visitors eager to experience Glenorchy Farm for themselves. 

She continued: “The recognition from Scotland’s Greatest Escape has truly opened new doors for us, and we’re excited for what the future holds. It’s been wonderful to see new faces and to share our passion for this place with even more people. We’ve had lots of lovely support and comments on our social media pages. It’s very heart-warming to know people care about what we are creating at Glenorchy Farm.” 

Narrated by Dawn Steele, Scotland’s Greatest Escape the full eight-part second series - made by Red Sky Productions for BBC Scotland - is available to view on BBC iPlayer.  

The judges were: Fiona Campbell, Vanessa Kanbi, Masood Khodadadi, Zakia Moulaoui Guery, Stuart Kenny, Raj Gill and Head Judge Marina Huggett. 

The seven Scotland’s Greatest Escape finalists were: 

• The Broch at Borve Lodge Estate, Isle of Harris (Ep1, Unique & Unusual) 
• Cromlix, Dunblane (Ep2, Luxury) 
• The Bus Stop (Ep3, Budget Friendly), East Lothian 
• Glenorchy Farm, Dalmally (Ep4, Lochs, Bens & Glens), Argyll 
• Lindores, Fife (Ep5, Foodie) 
• Benmore Estate Island Pods, Isle of Mull (Ep6, Adventure), Argyll 
• Duisdale House, Isle of Skye (Ep7, Island & Coastal), Highlands

For more on Scotland’s Greatest Escape: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0ckjdls 

ENDS 

For more on Scottish agritourism: https://www.visitscotland.org/about-us/what-we-do/working-in-partnership/agritourism-strategy