Scottish Cheese Trail  Scotland has some of the world's finest cheeses, many handmade in superb rural locations, well worth a visit. Scottishcheesetrail will take you on a virtual gastronomic tour of these delicacies for you to savour all year round. Award-winning soft and hard cheeses from cow, ewe and goat are all available in Scotland. Many cheesemakers welcome visitors to their dairies, and have fascinating tales to tell.

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Enquiries		Zero Waste Scotland				Comments
		Ground Floor, Moray House, Forthside Way Stirling,  FK8 1QZ Tel: 01786 433 930				Zero Waste Scotland is working with businesses, local authorities and households across Scotland to reduce the quantity of food that is wasted each year. The Scottish hospitality sector alone is estimated to dispose of 53,500 tonnes of food annually, and households could save £35 a month by reducing food waste. Please visit the website with a click or drop a line to see how they can help you and your business reduce food waste and save money. Please note new address.

Enquiries		Connage Highland Dairy				Comments
		Milton of Connage Ardersier Inverness,  IV2 7QU Tel: 01667 462000				Now (Apr 2013) named one of top ten cheeses in Britain and with a superb cheese room and farm shop too. There are interesting events throughout the season so check their website here for details.........also as seen on Hairy Bikers Programme! Family of organic dairy farmers in the Scottish Highlands by Inverness making superb award winning vegetarian cheeses. A wonderful range for your cheeseboard and I also use them in many of my recipes. Their cows are mainly Friesian Jersey cross and Norwegian Reds and graze on lucious clover pastures. Their cheeses are sent across the world and have won international awards. If you are reading this in London they are now also available in Harrods Food Hall. To discover their delicious range and many awards please click on picture for their website. GOLD for Clava and BRONZE for Crowdie at the World Cheese Awards 2007 GOLD ** for Crowdie Great Taste Awards 2007 SILVER for Connage Dunlop at the Royal Highland Show 2007 BRONZE for Cromal Nantwich International Cheese Show 2007 Shortlisted 2007 Scottish Food and Drink Excellence Awards Runners-up in NFU Innovation awards 2007 WINNERS in New Business and New Product category with the Highlands and Islands Food and Drink Forum 2006

Enquiries		West Highland Dairy				Comments
		Achmore Kyle of Lochalsh,  IV53 8UW Tel: 01599 577203				Kathy and David are internationally renowned for cheesemaking workshops where many current cheesemakers learnt their craft . They produce wonderful cheeses and world class crème fraiche, ice cream and yoghurt and have an onsite shop in the pretty crofting village of Achmore where they sell their own ice cream and cheeses subject to availability. One of their delicious ice creams is with Isle of Skye Fudge - a nice highland connection.

Enquiries		Ardardan Farm Shop				Comments
		Cardross Helensburgh,  G825HD Tel: 01389 849188				Fantastic range of local produce including bakery, meats, fruit and vegetables in this beautifully refurbished farm shop. They sell their own delicious highland beef and lamb and also support other award-winning producers in their chill counter. There is also an amazing cheese counter complete with olive bar. With such a great range of fine produce it is easy to create a gift hamper with the pretty baskets on sale or buy one ready made for someone special. Check out their café entry too. With café, farm shop, woodland walk and walled garden this exceptional family run estate is a joy to visit.

Enquiries		Craigie's Farm Deli & Cafe				Comments
		West Craigie Farm, South Queensferry,  EH30 9TR Tel: 0131 319 1048				This beautiful café has terrific views over the Forth and is a pleasant short drive from the city centre on the road to the bridge near South Queensferry. They have a comprehensive range of the best Scottish artisan cheeses. In their cafe they serve a hot dish of the day, light dishes, salads, terrines, soups and home baking. Great supporters of local and home grown produce and a super place to eat. 2009 Winners of the Glenfiddich Spirit of Scotland Award for Food, the Sinclair family have been local food heroes for many years with their lovely jams and chutneys from their West Craigie Jam Kitchen and their wonderful farm soft fruits available in punnets from the shop or pick-your-own. Alongside their cafe they also have a great deli with many locally sourced meats, fish and provisions such as Brodies teas and coffees. Well worth a visit... again and again.

Enquiries		Dunlop Dairy				Comments
		West Clerkland Farm Stewarton,  KA3 5LP Tel: 01560 482494				Award-winning cows, sheep's and goats' cheese, both traditional and innovative, made from their own herds. Ann is often to be seen at farmers' markets and her cheeses are also used in the East Ayrshire award-winning Food for LIfe school meals.

Enquiries		FOOD MILES FROM HOME by WENDY BARRIE				Comments
		Edinburgh,   Tel:				In her latest book “Food Miles from Home” Wendy Barrie travels to some of her favourite places, eating seasonally and above all seeking local speciality producers: Linderod Pig and herring in Skåne; Paste di Meliga in Italy; crabs in San Francisco; Shetland lamb and highland beef in Scotland. There are entertaining stories and recipes to give a taste of the regions visited with local alternatives to recreate the dishes. If, like Wendy, Scotland is home, at least some of the time, then look no further than Scotland’s specialty producers - lardons from pedigree pigs, finest mature highland cheeses in place of Parmesan, and our blues for Roquefort! Wendy says “Remember, we are what we eat, so we should know what we are eating! Think about it, savour and enjoy.” Wendy’s book is available through her websites price £15 inclusive of p&p in UK & Sweden and from selected farm shops. For further information and orders please press contact button on website. Also available at Craigie's Farm Shop, Hopetoun Farm Shop, Mr Mailk's Newsagent on Queensferry Road, Tain Pottery and Benromach Distillery Shop.

Enquiries		Gloagburn Farm Shop				Comments
		Tibbermore Perth,  PH1 1QL Tel: 01738 840864				The Niven family at Gloagburn have a lovely farm shop off the Stirling road west of Perth. Renowned for their excellent free range eggs from their 2000 hens, they also sell local vegetables, some home grown, and meats from local producers. They have an imaginative gift shop and a lovely cafe. See entry under places to eat near Perth.

Enquiries		Gordon & MacPhail				Comments
		58-60 South Street Elgin,  IV30 4JY Tel: 01343 545111				Whisky specialist Gordon & MacPhail has been awarded the title of Global Whisky Retailer of the Year for a single outlet at the Icons of Whisky Awards 2009. Family owned, proprietors of Benromach Distillery, renowned wine and spirits experts. A fantastic find for foodies on Elgin's South Street has not only the world's most extensive range of whiskies but also an excellent deli with an impressive cheese counter.

Enquiries		H J Errington				Comments
		Walston Braehead Carnwath,  ML11 8NE Tel: 01899 810257				Made with unpasteurized milk Humphrey is justly renowned for his ewe's milk Lanark Blue, and cow's milk Dunsyre Blue and Maisie's Kebbuck - and now the unique Fallachan, to drink chilled with Lanark Blue. Lanark White has just won yet another award - a Great Taste Gold Award 2010. Please contact by telephone not e mail thank you.

Enquiries		Island Smokery				Comments
		Blustery Braes Orkney Isles - Stromness,  KW16 3JP Tel: 01856 850840				Prize-winning smokery, taking local cheeses and other produce to create distinctive tastes and aromas. It was due to a post war milk surplus that the Orcadians started producing their cheese at all and this smokery won yet another award as recently as 2011 Royal Highland Show Cheese Awards. Delicious on a cheeseboard and in recipes. No website so look out for further details here.

Enquiries		Isle of Mull Cheese				Comments
		Sgriob-Ruadh Farm Isle of Mull - Tobermory,  PA75 6QD Tel: 01688 302235				Jeff's Tobermory Truckles are distinctive and tangy - a real favourite. I particularly like the mature truckles. This family of cheesemakers produce cheeses by traditional methods from their own dairy herds with nothing but natural goodness and have justly won many awards. Near Tobermory, the dairy also has a wee farm shop, with a delightful garden and wishing gate you have to make your way through to get to it! Their big reputation means it can be found in quite a number of excellent specialist cheese counters so ask for it!

Enquiries		Loch Arthur Creamery				Comments
		Camphill Village Trust Beeswing Dumfries,  DG2 8JQ Tel: 01387 760296				Criffel, Crannog, Kebbuck and many more made in a modern rural Community. Many awards and even more devotees! Excellent farm shop with their beautiful breads, local vegetables and deli range in addition to their fantastic cheeses all in a delightful rural setting. Winner of the BBC Radio 4 Food & Farming Awards Best Producer 2011. Well Deserved and Many Congratulations!

Enquiries		Orkney Cheddar				Comments
		Orkney Isles - Kirkwall,   Tel:				Orkney Cheddar has a tradition dating back centuries, when crofters’ wives would supplement their meagre income by selling excess handmade cheeses. The cheese was first made in 1946 but in 2000 26 dairy farmers set up a co-operative to take over full production of The Orkney Creamery. 20 of those farmers still oversee the creamery and the entire process today – from the rearing of the dairy cows through to the final product …. the multi-award winning Orkney Cheddar. Look out for Tom Kitchin's recipes very soon in the recipe section - and on the link to Orkney Cheddar website of course.

Enquiries		Rothiemurchus Farm Shop & Deli				Comments
		Rothiemurchus Centre by Aviemore Inverness-shire,  PH22 1QH Tel: 01479 812345				Rothiemurchus is a superb family run Highland Estate set at the heart of the stunning Cairngorms National Park. Passionate about delicious food, Rothiemurchus not only produces its very own succulent Highland Beef, Velvety Forest Venison and fresh Rainbow Trout all home reared on the estate, it has a plethora of other delicacies and tempting treats. They also have a superb stock of cheeses and whilst you are there, tarry awhile and walk around Loch An Eilein - pure magic and actually voted Britain's Best Picnic Spot! Rothie (as they are fondly known) also offer more than 30 different outdoor activities for everyone to enjoy.

Enquiries		Scottish Cheese Trail Cheeseboard				Comments
		Edinburgh,   Tel:				This attractive cheese tile is one of a limited edition commissioned by Wendy Barrie to celebrate the craft of the artisan cheesemaker and to support small rural enterprises in Scotland. Ideal for that wedge of handmade cheese and an excellent reminder of where to look for that charming place to eat and stay. A perfect gift for the foodie friend. £10 incl p&p (UK or Sweden). Available through this website.

Enquiries		St Andrews Farmhouse Cheese Co				Comments
		Falside Farm Pittenweem,  KY10 2RT Tel: 01333 312580				Look out for Jane at this year's Gardening Scotland 2013 at Scottish Food Guide Pavilion............Visit Fife's only farmhouse cheesemakers. The glass wall allows you to watch the action and Jane's cheeses are a delicious asset to this lovely region. Buy some excellent hand crafted award-winning cheeses and tarry a while at their beautiful coffee shop with home baking par excellence including amazing meringues! The views from the cafe are over the open countryside making it a delightful place to visit. There is also a great range of gifts supporting local crafts.

Enquiries		Valvona & Crolla				Comments
		19 Elm Row Edinburgh,  EH7 4AA Tel: 0131 556 6066				World class Italian deli - no food guide worth its salt should be without it! A treasure trove of comestibles!

Enquiries		Whitmuir The Organic Place				Comments
		Whitmuir Lamancha West Linton,  EH46 7BB Tel: 01968 661908				Whitmuir is an organic working farm growing seasonal produce and rearing Tamworth pigs, Shorthorn cattle and lamb. They have also planted an "edible and boozy hedge" - sounds like years of interesting tasting ahead! Wonderful organic food hall, restaurant and art gallery now open. Whitmuir has also devised their Carbon Offset farm scheme and support Leadburn Community Woodland. Although listed under their meats they have a fantastic range of fruit, veg and deli produce too, all as low food miles as possible. See cafe entry too.

Enquiries		Gloagburn Farm & Coffee Shop				Comments
		Tibbermore Nr PERTH Perthshire Members,  PH1 1QL Tel: 01738 840864				Support your local farmer by visiting Gloagburn and having a great day out. With fresh farm eggs, home baking, a great range of farm vegetables and chutneys there is a great range to buy. Complete with lovely cafe it's a great place to visit.

Enquiries		House of Bruar				Comments
		Bruar Falls BLAIR ATHOLL Perthshire Members,  PH18 5TW Tel: 01796 483236				A perfect place to break the journey on the A9 - or just a great place for a day trip. House of Bruar has developed from an excellent foodie stop with some well chosen ladies and gents' clothing, into a very substantial retail outlet - delicatessan, kitchenware, clothing, home and garden. Recently extended, the restaurant is as good as ever with local butchers' sausages and haggis, gourmet seafood counter and tasty buffet options. All self service. The Food Hall is superb including a Q Guild Butchery department. Remember to take your chill bag to bring home the cheeses and meats! By the way there are also the beautiful Falls of Bruar so you can walk off that chocolate cake afterwards!