Edinburgh-based bespoke tour operator Sleigh’s has partnered with the five-star Prestonfield Hotel and The Witchery by the Castle in Edinburgh to launch new tailor-made food and drink trails around the Lothians, Perthshire and Stirlingshire.
The new luxury Taste of Scotland food trails have been designed to help tell the story of the journey from the sea, coastline, farm or countryside to plate, as part of VisitScotland’s Year of Stories 2022.
The experience will also include food and drink producers including Buck & Birch, The Glenturret Distillery, and Belhaven Lobster.
The trail
Guided by their own private chauffeur, overnight guests of Prestonfield and The Witchery by the Castle will offer the chance to enjoy a truly authentic taste of the coast and countryside within a two-hour drive time of Edinburgh city centre, including visits to Belhaven Lobster at Dunbar harbour, foraging with Buck & Birch in the East Lothian countryside, a quad bike or tractor tour at Old Leckie Farm near Stirling, as well as tour of The Glenturret Distillery in Perthshire.
Guests will also get the opportunity to see the Belhaven Lobster’s ‘Tangaroa’ coming into Dunbar harbour with her catch of lobster, crab and other shellfish, as well as the chance to meet the Skipper and crew to learn more about their approach to sustainable fishing.
What’s more, an immersive foraging experience with Buck & Birch will uncover how the local East Lothian landscape is used to infuse wild alchemy into their award-winning drinks and menus. This experience includes a private distillery tasting session, as well as a food and drink pairing workshop.
In addition, guests will get the chance to meet the family who have worked the land at Old Leckie Farm in Stirlingshire for over 100 years. Tours will include meeting the farm animals and learning about the ethos of sustainable agriculture and diversification, as well as sampling homegrown and reared delicacies.
Moreover, a tour of Scotland’s oldest working distillery, The Glenturret, will allow guests to find out more process and history behind Scottish Whisky in the heart of Perthshire. There will also be an opportunity to enjoy a bar lunch at the distillery’s new Michelin-starred restaurant, The Glenturret Lalique Restaurant, and experience how the two craft enterprises have come together to deliver something truly creative and unique, showcasing their heritage, local produce, and craftmanship across genres.
Finally, guests will get the chance to complete the story of the journey from sea or farm to plate by enjoying a mouthwatering evening meal as part of their overnight stay at Prestonfield or The Witchery. Fine dining menus at both venues feature some of the local produce that guests will have discovered on their luxury food tour.
Prestonfield and The Witchery by the Castle Owner James Thomson said: “Quality local and seasonal produce has been at the heart of our fine dining experiences at Prestonfield and The Witchery by the Castle for over 40 years, so we’ve been proudly supporting and celebrating the best of Scotland’s larder long before it became more fashionable.
“To help mark Scotland’s official year of stories in 2022, we’re really excited to be working with our long-standing partners at Sleigh’s to build on our long food and drink tradition and offer our overnight guests a new tailor-made way to experience produce right on our doorstep.”
Sleigh’s Creative Director Christopher Sleigh added: “The benefit of choosing an independent tour provider like Sleigh’s, or a venue like Prestonfield and The Witchery, is that you do get a personal, bespoke experience every time, and local knowledge and insight which is unparalleled.”
