Who are Atholl Glens

Balachallan Farm

Located to the east of Ballinluig village, Balachallan is farmed by Atholl Estates and stocks just over 200 cattle and 1200 sheep.

The unit is managed by George Campbell with two members of staff :- Donald and Dan. The land is a good mix of arable ground (400 acres), pasture (560 acres) and hill (1800 acres) stretching into the Forest of Clunie SSSI and providing a spectacular landscape of purple clad heather moorland, rich meadow and woodland edge.

Balachallan started its conversion to organics in 2001and both the farm and its stock are enjoying the healthy, balanced management provided by this approach to farming.

Balanloan (ESA, RSS, FA, SSSFA)

Run by Atholl Estates and the Home Farm to Blair Castle, Balanloan extends to over 800 acres of fields leading up to the Forest of Atholl moorland which is grazed by sheep and cattle in the summer.

The farm carries 150 suckler cows and 1500 breeding sheep, under the management of David Greer. Farm Grieve, Gordon Learmonth, overseas the daily operations along with Douglas, George and Leslie.

As well as producing livestock for Atholl Glens, Balanloan sells many of its female cattle for breeding having developed a reputation for high quality progeny particularly among those who stock their herds with the Luing, a hardy native hill cow breed.
Much of the land at Balanloan is managed as parkland for Blair Castle and for the estate's Blair Castle International Horse Trials  which takes place annually in late August.

Baledmund Farm (ESA, SFQC, SOPA)

Brian and James Menzies

Lies in the Tulliemet area of Atholl Glens with around 600 acres of fields and rough grazing, along with the main crop of grass conserved for winter feed, some barley and green-crop (i.e. kale) is grown to help finish the livestock.

The farm concentrates on breeding, rearing and finishing all Beef and Lamb on the Farm, or within the Atholl Glens Group.

The Farm Business is owned and run by brothers Brian and James Menzies who have been involved in livestock breeding and rearing for well over thirty years and whose family have lived and farmed in the Atholl Glens area for almost 100 years.

Netherton of Dalcapon (ESA)

John McLaren

Netherton of Dalcapon lies close to Ballinluig on the Braes of Tulliemet. The farm extends to 1476 hectares and the mix of rolling green pastures and heather clad hills forms the perfect basis for mixed organic farming.

Along with some cropping Dalcapon is home to Aberdeen Angus and Simmental cross suckler cows and a flock of 1200 Scottish Blackface and cross ewes.

The McLaren family have been tenants on Atholl Estate for around 200 years and at Dalcapon since 1932. The current farmer John McLaren manages the farm with the philosophy that working with what nature gives provides the best results in terms of quality well flavoured beef and lamb.

Mains of Edradour, Pitlochry (ESA, RSS)

Messrs R G King

Mains of Edradour is an upland arable farm situated to the south east of Pitlochry close by the smallest distillery in Scotland at Edradour.

The family have farmed at Edradour since 1947 and Bill King currently runs the farm along with his father Robert. Robert and Bill have been members of the Breadalbane ESA since 1988 and recently converted to the Rural Stewardship Scheme.

Unusually for this part of Highland Perthshire the farm, which extends to 146ha, was an arable unit growing spring barley with over wintered cattle and sheep. The move into organic production has brought about a reduction in the cropped area and an increased emphasis on quality grassland - quality grass/clover mixtures being the heart of an organic farm. The farm provides support for the other organic livestock producers within the Atholl Glens group.

Mains of Killiechangie (ESA)

Peter D Stewart

Overlooking the River Tummel and the town of Pitlochry, Killiechangie Farm enjoys outstanding views of this area. Nestling on the hillside, the Farm is clearly seen to the southwest (left!) from the A9 travelling between Ballinluig and Pitlochry.

It is a small farm of 125 hectares providing land for crops and good grazing for approximately 300 ewes. The flock is mainly Blackface ewes using North Country Cheviot and Suffolk rams which produce good quality stock for selling. Some of the Cross Cheviot ewe lambs are kept for future breeding.

There is approximately 12-15 hectares of cereal, mainly oats, some of which will be kept for feeding and the remainder sold into the organic market.

The Stewart Family has been in Killiechangie for many years and Peter Stewart and his son, Robert, presently farm the land. The family have diversified over a number of years by running a contracting business that carries out maintenance on the hill roads of Atholl Estates.

Port of Tummel, Ballinluig

A Morrison

The Morrison family took over The Port in 1968. The farm lies above the village of Ballinluig just east off the A9.

Alastair runs the farm with occasional assistance from his father who is well past retirement age.

The farm extends to 130ha and is a mixed livestock unit carrying 50 May calving suckler cows, 300 cross ewes and grows about 12ha of spring barley for winter feed to supplement crops of hay and silage.

Rotmell, Ballinluig (ESA)

M Brewster

The Brewsters took over the tenancy of Rotmell in 1981 and today is run by Alistair and his son Alexander. The farm lies above the Tay valley at the southern edge of Atholl Estate between Dunkeld and Ballinluig.

The farm is traditionally run with 1000 Scottish blackface ewes on the 2000 acre heather hill, 100 Aberdeen Angus cows and a small acreage of spring barley for winter feed. Ewes with twin lambs and the cows and calves graze the inbye clover rich fields over the summer.

The farm steading built by Atholl Estate between 1880 -1906 is unique incorporating farmhouse cottages and cattle buildings in a hollow square with a central grassed courtyard.

Alistair has always had a keen interest in the environment and Rotmell has been a member of the Breadalbane ESA since 1989.