The Strachan Family have been living at Balblair Farm for 25 years.  Bruce and Agnes converted the steading into 3 cottages in 1999.  They have a small flock of sheep, a few cows/calves, a goat, 2 Shetland ponies, hens and 2 dogs.

Balblair Farm and self catering cottages are situated in a beautiful part of the Highlands.  We are on the Kildrummie Kames SSSI (Site of Special Scientific Interest), which is a braided esker, close to  Loch Flemington which attracts many bird species.  We are also near great areas of natural beauty such as the Moray Firth, Loch Ness and the Cairngorms.  We are of the view that we rely on our environment to make a living and that we should do our utmost to try and help protect it. 

In 2006 we decided to join the Green Tourism Business Scheme (GTBS) to show our commitment to protecting our environment.  The GTBS is the leading sustainable tourism certification scheme in the UK and we were awarded a Bronze.

We took part in the 5 year  Rural Stewardship Scheme, an Agri-environment Scheme designed to encourage farmers, crofters and Common Grazings Committees to adopt environmentally friendly practices and to maintain and enhance particular habitats and landscape features.  We have planted hedgerows and have sown an area of unharvested crops on our land  to encourage wildlife.  This has certainly worked as the bird population has increased and we have spotted badgers and roe deer on the farm.  We have a wildlife kist which includes binoculars, bird books, children's worksheets and a diary which you can help us add too.  If you would like to use this case please just ask.

In each cottage you will find environmentally friendly cleaning and household products.  We have a septic tank which benefits from the use of these natural cleaning materials.  We purchase fairtrade brands of tea and coffee and use energy efficient light bulbs.  There are facilities for our guests to recycle glass and tin cans as well as compost any fruit or vegetable scraps, which are also appreciated by our hens!