A farm near Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway is offering visitors the chance to get hands-on with Highland cows, including grooming their distinctive fringes. The Hands-On Coo Tour at Kitchen Coos and Ewes lets guests meet, photograph and learn about the animals in their natural farm environment.
The experience begins with a trip in a purpose-built safari trailer, which has padded seating and is designed to keep visitors comfortable whatever the Scottish weather brings. Guests then head into the fields, where they can meet some of the younger Highland cows in an outdoor playpen.
Grooming and selfies with the coos
Visitors are given the chance to scratch a coo behind its ears and groom its fringe, before heading out onto the hill to see the main herd being fed. There is also the opportunity to snap pictures of the farm's so-called Supermoodel Coo, which is known for posing for photographs with visitors.
After spending time with the animals, visitors return to the farmyard to enjoy tea and coffee alongside a trio of traybakes - which are obviously shaped as Highland coos.
Tour details and practical information
The tour costs £46 per person and lasts an hour and a half, making it a perfect option for anyone looking for a different kind of day out in the south west of Scotland. However, it is important to note that guests must be able to climb down four steps from the safari trailer and back on board during the tour.
Kitchen Coos and Ewes describes its tours as a chance to experience life on a traditional Scottish farm, with its farmer-led experiences offering an insight into the animals and their surroundings. For anyone who loves Highland cows, the Hands-On Coo Tour offers the chance to do more than admire them from a distance, with the opportunity to get close, give them a groom and take home plenty of pictures.
