Visits have been arranged to "Donside and Deeside"

                                    Mathers 'coos' and Kenny's clay 'doos'!

At 1 pm we start at Balchimmy and Tillyfour Farms, Alford courtesy of Mr.& Mrs. Ian Mathers and their son Scott.

Following the visit we move across to Deeside Activity Park restaurant for dinner at 5.30pm (Pre ordering to the Assistant secretary is required. See menu and order sheet.

At 7pm we visit Cairnton Farm and Activity Park courtesy of Kenny & Margaret Howie.

There is the option of attending one or both visits.  

Both hosts request you have clean footwear and clean vehicles as bio security measures will be operated.

Balchimmy & Tillyfour Farms.,

The Mathers family run an extensive upland farming enterprise on 3 farms near Alford.

Both farms run 300 cow outwintered suckler herds with all males finished off the farms and female are kept as replacements or finished.

At Balchimmy the cows are Simmental X and put to Simmental bull, whilst at Tillyfour the cows are Limousin X AA and are put to AA bulls.

In addition to the cows and offspring, a further 100 store cattle are grazed on the farms.

Cropping:

Spring Barley - 600 acres. All barley is used for home feed.

Silage - 600 acres 1^st cut , 300 acres 2^nd cut.

Lupins & Triticale - 60 acres

Grazing - 1000 acre

Hill grazing - 1500 acres.

 The farms employ 6 staff.

 At Balchimmy the family have recently designed and built new cattle finishing accommodation, which we will be able to view during the visit. Both farms have recently installed cattle handling facilities.

 Directions: Take the A944 Aberdeen to Alford road.

 From the south turn left at TOUGH (right from Alford). Continue until you reach the village of Muir Of Fowlis.

 Turn left towards Milton of Cushnie. About 2 miles along Balchimmy is on the right.

NORGRASS signs will be positioned at the junctions.

For Sat Nav. users postcode is AB33 8LE.

At 4.30 we leave Tillyfour, travelling to Deeside Activity Park restaurant for dinner at 5.30pm.

Cairnton Farm & Deeside Activity Park, Lumphanan

Kenny and Margaret Howie run a diverse farming and tourism business on Deeside.

Cairnton farm is a 175 acre grassland farm carrying 65 pure AA cows. The aim is to produce quality beef which is utilised in their own restaurant and farm shop.

Kenny moved to Cairnton farm in 1989. In addition to farming Kenny supplemented his income by teaching shooting on land near Ballater. As this side of the business grew the opportunity to purchase 100 acres land at Dess to expand into additional activities was taken. After 6 years awaiting planning permission construction started in 2002.

The business now employs 32 staff. It offers a wide range of outdoor activities such as quad biking, kart racing and 4x4 off road driving.

Other facilities include a restaurant, a farm shop, huge indoor activities arena, holiday cottages and micro-brewery.

 Directions: From the south travel along the A93 towards Aboyne. Turn right about 1 mile after the village of Kincardine O' Neil sign posted Deeside Activity Park. The park is 1 mile along the road on the right. Look out for the Ex Army Tank at the road end.

For Sat. Nav. Users the postcode is AB34 5BD.

Bring family members/friends to what will be a very interesting and informative afternoon with the Mathers family and evening at Deeside Activity Park with Kenny and Margaret Howie.

James Law - Assistant Secretary  Tel:  01224 798112/07889 822 163 mobile, Email:  jwlaw@btinternet.com

Information

Event Date: Thu, 29/07/2010