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Article: Heather Hills Farm

Heather Hills Farm

Heather Hills Farm

Meet The Makers:

Heather Hills Farm

The story of Heather Hills Farm began in 1945 with a young gentleman named Athole Kirkwood. After being evacuated to Perthshire during World War II, Athole acquired his very first hive of bees. Despite a brutally harsh winter that wiped out his initial colonies, his passion for apiculture persevered.

Over 75 years later, Athole's legacy lives on in the heartland of Perthshire. Today, the business is family-run and expertly steered by brothers Mark and Bernard Noonan. Alongside a dedicated local team, they manage 1,000 hives across 29 apiaries in the wild, heather-clad landscapes of Perthshire and Deeside.

THE "CHAMPAGNE OF HONEYS"

Heather Hills is committed to artisanal quality over mass production. Their hives are carefully spaced across the Highland moors, giving their bees miles of unpolluted terrain to roam. This pristine environment, combined with the region's specific soil, nectar, and climate, produces their definitive provision: Scottish Heather Honey.

Ranked as one of the top three honeys in the world for its unique flavour profile, this single-flower honey is a rare commodity. Beekeeping in Scotland requires immense perseverance; the challenging climate dictates a short, four-month window each year to actually harvest the honey, making every jar precious and strictly limited by nature's supply.

TRADITIONAL METHODS & ZERO WASTE

In an age of bulk processing, Mark, Bernard, and their team extract their honey using strictly traditional methods. To protect the natural enzymes and health benefits, their honey is never heated above 35°C (the natural ambient temperature of a healthy beehive).

Thanks to an extraordinarily precise extraction process, the team achieves 99% extraction efficiency. This ensures maximum honey and wax are harvested from the comb with zero waste. This slow-food approach guarantees a 100% pure, raw, and unpasteurised artisan product.

CHAMPIONING LOCAL AGRICULTURE

Beyond their award-winning honey, Heather Hills provides an essential service to the local rural economy. Their bees are vital to soft fruit farms across Blairgowrie, Coupar Angus, and Alyth, providing over £1 million in pollination value annually for local strawberries, raspberries, and blackcurrants. In a beautiful, full-circle collaboration, Heather Hills then purchases the very fruit their own bees pollinated to craft their handcrafted, open-pan jams.

INSIDE OUR LUXURY SCOTTISH HAMPERS

We are proud to feature Heather Hills Farm's exceptional produce within our Scottish hampers, carefully selected for its unmatched purity, distinctive Highland flavour, and heritage craftsmanship.

Heather Hills Farm Scottish Heather Honey

This 100% raw, unpasteurised honey captures the true, tactile essence of the Scottish moors. Boasting a rich, floral-woody aroma, a bold, malty flavour, and a satisfyingly thick texture, it is a magnificent artisan product that pairs beautifully with sharp farmhouse cheeses, sweetens morning teas, or serves as a decadent glaze.

Heather Hills Scottish Heather Honey: Heather Hills Farm raw Scottish Heather Honey in a glass jar, 100% pure wild-flowering honey.

LEARN MORE ABOUT HEATHER HILLS FARM IN THE SHORT FILM BELOW

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