It’s hard to think of Scotland without one iconic image immediately coming to mind: our beloved Highland ‘coos’.
With their shaggy coats and iconic horns, these photogenic beasts are popular with tourists and locals alike. And there are several places around the country where you can go and see them for yourself!
Here are our top 7 places to see Highland cows in Scotland.
Pollok Country Park, Glasgow
As the largest park in Glasgow, Pollok Park is a Natural Trust site with almost 800 years of history. One of the biggest reasons for its draw is the fold of Highland cattle!
Pollok Park has had Highland cows for almost 200 years, and you can spot them roaming in the various fields around the vast grounds. Alongside the classic ginger cows, you may also see some brown and black ones.
Aside from wandering the extensive woodland and riverside paths in search of the Highland cows, Pollok Park has plenty of activities suitable for the whole family.
Perhaps the most famous is the Burrell Collection. Newly renovated, this award winning museum holds over 9,000 objects – covering six millennia of history – from William Burrell’s extensive archives. Entry is free, and there is a café on site for a spot of lunch with beautiful views of the surrounding park.
Pollok House and Gardens is also a draw. Although the house is currently closed for renovations, the café, gift shop, and walled gardens are still accessible. Pollok Park also has a children’s play area that will keep all ages entertained.
Kitchen Coos & Ewes, Dumfries & Galloway
Located in the heart of the Scottish Borders, Kitchen Coos & Ewes allows you to get up close and personal with these bonnie cows like never before – safely, of course!
With a variety of guided tour experiences available, a visit here gives you a great opportunity to learn more about this ancient breed.
You can take a Highland cow safari from the comfort of a purpose-built trailer and learn how they are a vital part of maintaining the ecosystems of Scotland’s natural hill environments. Once you have taken plenty of pictures, you head back to the farmhouse to sample some traditional baking with your hosts.
Also available is a ‘Hands On Coo Tour’, where you get the chance to groom some of the younger Highland cows in a playpen!
Kitchen Coos and Ewes is a working farm, so any experience there needs to be booked in advance.
Aberdeenshire Highland Beef, Banchory
This working farm located at Lochton of Leys Farmhouse, just outside Banchory in Aberdeenshire and provides exclusive tours allowing you to come face to face with Scotland’s native breed!
With Aberdeenshire Highland Beef owner Gemma and her passion for the highland cows shining throughout the one-hour tour, which has even been featured on BBC Countryfile, this is one that’s not to be missed – just make sure you bring along your wellies!
Not only will you be able to take plenty photographs but you may even get the chance to pet and groom one of the most infamous members of the herd, an award-winning mum named ‘Duchess.’
After meeting the cows and learning more about the history of this incredible breed, you’ll be invited to a delicious Highland Beef Tasting accompanied by tea and coffee.
There’s also a farm shop on-site where you can pick up some of the top-quality beef that you’ve tried during your visit!
You’ll need to book in advance for this experience, as Aberdeenshire Highland Beef is a working farm.
Swanston Farm, Edinburgh
Located at the base of Caerketton Hill in the Pentland Hills Regional Park, Swanston Farm provides a great day out!
Swanston Farm encompasses 300 acres of land, and their resident Highland cows are free to roam across all of it. In the summer, two of the resident coos named Thelma and Louise, can be spotted a few minutes away from the farm’s restaurant.
However, there are plenty more to see if you put on your hiking boots and head out for a walk. The restaurant staff will be happy to give you a leaflet and point you in the direction of where you will find the fold.
Wildlife is everywhere on Swanston Farm. While you’re exploring, you should also keep your eyes peeled for wild deer, grouse, partridge, birds of prey, hares, and other local wildlife.
The on-site restaurant provides the opportunity to fuel up with a freshly cooked breakfast, alongside home baking and even a mac and cheese bar.
For golf enthusiasts, there are 18-hole and 9-hole courses available to play too, alongside a driving range.
Meldrum House Country Hotel, Inverurie
Surrounded by beautiful Aberdeenshire countryside, Meldrum House Country Hotel & Golf Course located in the village of Oldmeldrum near Inverurie has highland cows roaming around the hotel grounds!
With a small but growing herd, this is a great place to see Scotland’s hairy beasts – some of whom even have links to royalty with the hotel’s most recent addition, a little calf having been fathered by a bull from the Balmoral Estate!
A visit to Meldrum House is the perfect opportunity to spot these magnificent beasts as you enjoy a beautiful break away just a stone’s throw away from Royal Deeside and Aberdeen City Centre.
With opportunities to dine in a glass dome under the stars or overlooking their highland cows, enjoy a drink in an 800 year old cave bar stocked with 120 types of whiskey or play a round on a magnificent golf course – there’s something special for everyone.
Rothiemurchus Highland Estate, Cairngorms National Park
The perfect base for an adventure-filled day out, Rothiemurchus Highland Estate offers a guided Highland cow experience.
Join a tour with a knowledgeable countryside ranger in your own vehicle. Once you park up, you will be introduced to the beautiful hairy herd, with plenty of time for selfies.
The Estate has plenty of other action-packed activities to suit a range of tastes, including:
- Deer Feeding
- Pony Trekking
- Axe Throwing
- Wildlife Photography
- Fishing
And much more!
There is also a delicious Farm Shop and Deli on-site, where you can buy beef and venison butchered on the farm itself, plus honey, artisan chocolate, and more from local purveyors. Make sure you try one of their famous scones with a delicious cup of coffee!
Longparke Farm, Dundee
Finally, we would be missing a trick if we forgot to mention that you can also see Highland cows when you visit us at Longparke Farm!
We have recently added three beautiful Highland Cows to Longparke Farm, named Sally, Bonnie and our little calf, Angus!
As the only place in Dundee where you can see Highland Cows, we would love it if you came along and said “Hello!”
Surrounded by stunning Angus countryside, Longparke Farm offers you the opportunity to enjoy a coffee with friends, lunch with the family or a nosey in our farm shop only a stone’s throw away from Dundee City Centre!
Every dish in our cafe is made fresh to order, and we source the best local ingredients including top-quality meat from our sister business, Fleming Butchers!
If you fancy something a little more indulgent? Why not try our delicious cakes, scones and traybakes which are baked daily. Or even better you can book in for afternoon tea!
Looking for something special for a loved one or yourself? In our farm shop, we’ve got a wide selection of local goodies, from Fleming Butchers meat to fresh fruit and vegetables which sit alongside our range of gifts hand-chosen from British suppliers.
For the kids, we also have a castle-themed outdoor play area which is fully enclosed so you can feel reassured that your little prince or princess will be safe while they run about and have fun!
Hopefully, you now have some inspiration on places to see Highland cows in Scotland!
There are plenty of spots across the country where you can snap some photos of these gorgeous giants, with plenty of other activities to keep you entertained while you’re there.
If you’re in Dundee or the surrounding area, pop into Longparke Farm for a high-quality coffee, some delicious food, and a wander around our farmshop – we would love to welcome you soon!
