Visitor guide

What’s on at the Festival

The Scottish Smallholder Festival is a great day out with something to offer anyone with an interest in small-scale food production, crafts and sustainable living.

If you’re a smallholder or crofter, a vegetable grower, allotmenteer, or an aspiring smallholder, you’ll get to meet and chew the fat with like-minded people from across Scotland and beyond, with a whole wealth of experience and knowledge to share.

If you are interested in rural life, you can enjoy a day full of fantastic experiences!

Festival Floor plan Timetable

Frequently asked questions

How much are tickets?

Tickets for the 2025 Festival are now on sale for £12 incl VAT. This is the advance price and is available until midnight on Friday 17th, entry will cost £18 on the gate.

How do I watch the judging?

You will be able to sit ringside and watch all of the judging as it happens, but please be respectful to the competitors and give them all a round of applause.

How do I find out what is going on?

There is a lot of detail on this website, and you will also see information boards all around the building.

What food and drink is available?

The food court for the event is outside the front door of the Hall (you will pass it on the way in), and there will be pizza, burritos, burgers / sausages, fish and chips and hot drinks and cakes.

Where can I eat it?

There will be a number of benches outside by the food court, or you can bring it in and enjoy it inside on the seating area. NOTE, you cannot take food beyond the gate into the livestock area

Can you touch the animals?

During the period when judging is taking place the livestock pens will not be accessible to anyone without a livestock wristband. Once the judging is over, you would be able to walk around the pens but please ask before touching any animal, and afterwards always sanitise or wash your hands.

Can we bring dogs?

Dogs are allowed into the ground floor area of the Festival up to the livestock gate. They are not allowed in the Scottish Food Guide Theatre. For livestock welfare reasons we cannot allow dogs into the livestock area.

Is the venue accessible?

Accessible parking is at the front of the car park for blue badge holders. The Highland hall is flat, and there are accessible facilities. The central hall has a ramp. We are committed to making the event accessible to all.

Does the car park cost money?

The car park is under the control of the Royal Highland Centre and costs £10 per car to park.

 

More questions?

If you have questions, please contact us and we’ll be happy to help.