VISIT & FOOD - Kitchen Coos & Ewes + Cream Tea, Dumfries & Galloway
The Scots refer to Ginger for IrnBru and red heads but its also the perfect way to describe a Heilan Coo (Highland Cow) with the burnt orangey red shaggy hair and fringe.
Heilan Cows are a national treasure, synonymous to Scotland as haggis, just much much cuter and more photogenic.
Spring is trying its best to show its face in Scotland and on what seemed a very rare day of blue skies and no rain, I , along with members of the Guild of Food Writers, and other travel content creators in partnership with Scotland Food and Drink and the South of Scotland Destination Alliance headed to Dumfries and Galloway for a Food Heroes tour which started here at Kitchen Coos and Ewes.
REVIEW OF KITCHEN COOS AND EWES , COO TOURS
What a way to kick off the day with a Heilan Coo Safari followed by Afternoon Tea in the Byre. Kitchen Coos and Ewes host several tours, with Haute Coo Tour standing out as the one I would defo book.
Kitchen Coos & Ewes is run by Neale and Janet McQuistin, of Airyolland Farm, who are the hosts during the tours. Like many farms they have had to diversify and now host these Coo Tours to show how rearing Highland Cows improves biodiversity and enhances the habitat for many other species.
On arrival, it was hard to contain our excitement, passing by a paddock with a few heifers grazing away. The excitement only builds when the tractor pulling a open sided trailer drives around the corner and it’s time to board. The trailer is wind and water tight, with padded seating and some fashionable tartan blankets to keep the cold out if needed!
After a wee bit of health and safety information the tractor pulls out of the yard and trundles up the farm road into the first paddock holding around 20 of these majestic beasts. All bar one is ginger and we’re informed that the black one if the first for many a year.
They’re very aware of the trailer tour but are not fazed at all by human contact infact they are use to being pampered and love a good scratch and brush with a wire hand rake. Within a few minutes its time for us to interact with the coos, but its us that get penned in.
Its such a great experience but soon we are back in the trailer heading off to the next field. The cows, I’m sure love this bit as the run behind the tractor and trailer enjoying the scoops of pellets that are shovelled over the back of the trailer. They are such fun to watch and all have characters of their own.
We don’t think this experience can get any better, but Neale definitely pulls out the stops with this tour. In the next field we have one day old calves. Oh my, cuteness overload. This paddock is filled with mums and babies and the matriarch cow, Sineag, shows us who she is by using the trailer as a scratching post and rocking the trailer. Calves stay close to their mums but some are curious and come close to the trailer. These beautiful animals are truly amazing.
Time to head off to the last field as we shovel food out the back to the mums and babies.
Now, we’ve seen the coos, we’ve seen day old baby coos and their protective mums. Can the tour get any better??? Yes is the answer.
Step into the spotlight, Super Moo-dle Sorcha. Sorcha has just turned 21 years old (105 years old in human years) and lives out her days in the retirement paddock along with her protégé and her calf, Seamus.
Sorcha, knows how to pose having modelled for Vogue Italia. As soon as she sees the trailer tour turning into the field, she commences her long walk up the hill to the posser rocky outcrop. Neale, helps guide her into position and boy does she know how majestic and utterly beautiful she is and I am sure she is very used to the spotlight. After some time posing for photos along comes Cairistiona 3rd and Seamus to join the photoshoot.
They are so not phased by people, happily standing with their heads held high whilst cameras and phones go on a mad snapping spree. We take a group photo beneath them and still, nothing phases them.
We all just cant believe how incredible this is.
They don’t pose indefinitely and do start to get restless, time to return to the trailer and head back to the byre for afternoon tea. Seamus gives us a finale ta-dah as he gallops down the hill behind the trailer giving a wee send off that fills the trailer with love and laughter.
Step into the Byre, kitted out with large close ups of all the coos we’ve encountered. Our table is groaning under the weight of the fabulous spread right under the watchful eye of glam moo-del Sorcha.
Freshly made sandwiches, scones with jam and cream, traybakes, cakes, sweet treats and hot pots of tea and coffee help remove the chill from being outside in the Scottish weather. Cold hands wrapped around dainty teacups and triangular finger sandwiches warm us up from the inside. The chatter around the table remains focussed on reliving the last hour and the adorable Highland cows and their characters.
With full hearts and bellies, it’s all too soon before we are back on our bus heading to our next Food Hero Destination – The Ethical Dairy.
Kitchen Coos and Ewes host 5 different tours from April to September. Many are already sold out, but worth booking if you can. It’s an experience you will never forget.
Insta Coo Tour - £24pp £12 per child under 16. 1.5 hours long. Tour includes a trip out the hill to take photos and then back to the farm for some home baking.
Cream Tea Coo Tour - £38pp, 2.5 hours. Tour includes a trip out to the hill to take photos of the coos and sheep, sheep dog demo and a cream tea.
Walking Tour - £28pp, 2 hours. 1.5 mile walk finishing with home baking back at the farm.
Hands On Coo Tour - £46pp, 1.5 hours. Tour includes a rip out to the hill, grooming of the coos, feeding of the coos returning to the farm for a cuppa and traybakes
Haute Coo Tour - £480 for 6 people. Bespoke tour and afternoon tea.
For more info and to purchase tickets to your Coo Tour click HERE
High Airyolland, New Luce, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire, DG8 0AU www.kitchencoosandewes.co.uk
TartanSpoon is an Award-winning blog that brings you reviews and recommendations on the very best places to eat, drink and stay in Edinburgh, Scotland and beyond.
Adele is a writer, reviewer, judge and panelist living in Edinburgh. She sits on the Committee for the Guild of Food Writers (Scottish Events), is a Great Taste Judge for the Guild of Fine Food and a Judge for the Gin Co-operative awards.
Should you wish to work with, invite or collaborate with TartanSpoon, please email tartanspoon@yahoo.co.uk