Spent a great day with Bothies and Bannocks on their Market Day Cook and Dine tour. We started out in Aberdeen and then Calum, the guide, took us on the... read more beautiful drive along Royal Deeside, pointing out the sights as we went. In Ballater we went shopping at the local Farmers' Market. I'm a great fan of markets in any case, but being guided by somebody who knows the stallholders and all about their products (which we had to sample of course!) made it especially interesting. Shopping done, we went to the cookery school where chef Rosie and Calum showed us how to prepare some lovely dishes with the fresh produce - haggis, black pudding and smoked fish bonbons, homemade mayonnaise and tempura wild garlic flowers for starters, followed by fish cheeks (a new dish for me) and asparagus. This was rounded off with a chocolate fondant and accompanied by a wee glass of wine or two (which we brought ourselves, so everyone had what they wanted).
I highly recommend this tour to anybody who loves food and getting to know Aberdeenshire. It is a great day out for both local tourists (like myself) or visitors from abroad.

  Bothies & Bannocks ... read more
We had a fantastic Day out on the "Spirits of Angus Glens" Tour" thanks to Calum's exciting and innovate ideas of helping locals and others find out more about our local food and drink producers.
Calum is a superb tour guide who safely drove us to and from our destinations. We went to Castleton Farm for a hearty brunch, all locally sourced then on to the Ogilvy Farm to learn all about, and of course taste, the first Potato Vodka produced in Scotland on their farm. This was a fascinating, amazing and informative trip to the farm/distillery, where we could hear about and see the incredible thought and effort which has gone in this exciting venture. Then off we went to the Gin Bothy in Glamis where many samples were sampled; more fun!
It was truly a fantastic day out in great company with an inventive, pleasant and informative guide!
Me and my girlfriend would seriously recommend this trip for anyone who likes new and different spirits good food and a journey through lovely countryside.

Overall a great way to spend a Saturday!

Thank you Calum Lockerbie

  I contacted Callum via his Web page during lockdown to ask if he could recommend things to do in Aboyne for my husband's 40th. His communication and knowledge of the... read more area is excellent. He was so very helpful and went above and beyond to help me plan the perfect day with the limited options we had to play with due to covid restrictions. Even at this time it is well worth contacting Callum as he is a gem and will go out of his way to help you. Even down to providing our transport!

  We went of the tour of angus and glamis vodka and gin tour, it was absolutely fantastic very informative Calum is very good at organising these tours and knows his... read more stuff. I would definitely recommend these tours .

  We had the best day Calum was the most considerate tour guide looking after our every needs.The Ogilvies Vodka Farm was so impressive it’s so worth going to see what... read more they’ve done,their vodkas we’re amazing. We finished our day in style with a visit to the Gin Bothy in Glamis, Thank you Calum, January was made better because of you all the best

  We had a great day out in Aberdeenshire. Calum guided us well through and took us to meet an Angus farmer. Absinthe distillery and he even managed to get a... read more bagpiper play a tune for us 🙂

Calum is a great guide, with a lot of knowledge and a fun guy to be around. I truly recommend him 🙂

  Had a fine day out at Ballater food market, having nibbles and buying food for return to Aberdeen and rest of day at professional kitchens where we cooked a 3... read more course meal from scratch under the eye of an excellent professional chef, good company too. Calum was a pro chef too and a good host throughout. See bit of the North east, buy food, cook it, cheery company with a glass of wine. What’s not to like?

Tonolero

  A brilliant day out on the Market Day Cookery Class! Morning at Ballater's Farmers Market choosing our food then on to the Cookery School where we made a late lunch... read more under Chef Rosie's watchful eye.
Amazing selection of locally grown vegetables, fish from Aberdeen and local farmers.
It is a full day and great if you like good, locally sourced food.

  We had a wonderful time and memorable day. We were impressed by the entrepreneurial spirit and kindness of those we met. In spite of the wind and heavy rain we... read more really enjoyed meeting Farmer Ken and his cows. There was more lunch than I could eat. Then tasting all the gins etc at Lost Loch was a relaxed, unbelievably generous afternoon (and we're looking forward to reminiscing with a glass or two in the wet winter evenings ahead!). Calum was an attentive, friendly, informative guide driving us through the beautiful countryside of his home patch. We wish them all success with their ventures.

  A brilliant day out on the Market Day Cookery Class! Morning at Ballater's Farmers Market choosing our food then on to the Cookery School where we made a late lunch... read more under Chef Rosie's watchful eye.
Amazing selection of locally grown vegetables, fish from Aberdeen and local farmers.
It is a full day and great if you like good, locally sourced food.