Scottish Smallholding & Countryside Festival

15/06/2026

🌱 We are heading to the Royal Highland Show! 🌱

We are absolutely thrilled to announce that Smallholding Scotland is teaming up with the Scottish Agroecology Partnership (SAP) to host the first-ever Sustainable Agriculture Tent at this year's The Royal Highland Show 2026 🎪✨

You can find our vibrant, collaborative hub right near the main ring across all four days of the show.

Why you need to pop in and see us:

🐷 Get a Sneak Peek of the Festival: We will be using this fantastic space to raise the profile of the Scottish Smallholding & Countryside Festival coming up on 17th October 2026. Come chat with us, buy your tickets, and get excited for October!
🧑‍🌾 Celebrate Sustainable Farming: Explore interactive activities, displays, workshops, and panel discussions showcasing how over 3,000 Scottish farmers and crofters are tackling climate and biodiversity challenges.
🫛Weekend Showcase: If you're attending over the weekend, the tent will be shining a spotlight on incredible local food and fibre produced right here in Scotland.
🤝Meet the Experts: Connect with incredible organisations under the SAP umbrella, including the Rare Breeds Survival Trust, Landworkers' Alliance, and the Nature Friendly Farming Network.

Whether you are a smallholder, a commercial producer, or a member of the public passionate about local food and the countryside, this space is for you. It’s all about openness, sharing lived experiences, and having some fun.

We can’t wait to catch up with old friends and meet new ones. Come say hello! 👋

👉 Find out more about what's on in the tent here: https://www.agroecology.scot/news/sustainable-agriculture-tent-at-rhs/

11/06/2026

🐷 Attention Pig Breeders: It’s Time to Shine at Scotland’s Only Dedicated Pig Show!

If you are passionate about pedigree pigs, this is the big one. We are officially inviting breeders from across the country to enter their finest stock into the Scottish Smallholding & Countryside Festival on 17th October 2026 at the Royal Highland Centre.

As Scotland’s only dedicated and competitive pig show, this is a truly unique opportunity to showcase your hard work, protect incredible bloodlines, and compete for those coveted championship ribbons.

What to expect at the festival:

🐷 The Ultimate Stage: Get your herd in front of a highly knowledgeable and appreciative rural audience.
🐷 Celebrate Rare Breeds: Whether you breed the majestic Saddleback, the distinct Oxford Sandy and Black, the hardy Tamworth, or the characterful Kunekune — we want to see them in the ring!
🐷 A Cracking Atmosphere: Connect with fellow breeders, share expertise, and celebrate the very best of British pig farming.

We promise it’s going to be an absolutely snout-standing day out! Don't wait until the best spots are boar-ded up. Bring your best trotters forward and secure your competitive entry today. 😉

👉 Tag your piggy pals in the comments below to encourage them to enter.

👇🔗Check the first comment for the link to enter

10/06/2026

We love this shout out from the fabulous Eppy from SnoutAbout - she’s a natural! 🎥 ⭐️

Kids go free at our festival in October which makes it a great day out for all the family! So much to see and do. Find out more, and book your tickets here: https://festival.scot/entrance-tickets/

🐖 We do hope Gloria is entering our Pig Show? 🏆

02/06/2026

📢 Funding Opportunity: Women in Agriculture Practical Training Fund 2026 is now LIVE!

The Scottish Government has officially launched this year’s training fund, and it’s a brilliant opportunity for development within our rural and smallholding communities. 🚜🌱

🙋🏻‍♀️ What is it?

The fund is designed to support the personal development of women and girls (aged 13 and older), providing them with the practical skills needed to progress their careers, enhance their businesses, or open up new employment opportunities in Scottish agriculture.

📝 How to apply:

The guidance and funding details have been completely refreshed for 2026. If you or someone you know in the community could benefit from this practical training support, you can read the full criteria and apply directly via Lantra Scotland.

👉 Find out more and apply here: https://scotland.lantra.co.uk/women-agriculture-practical-training-fund

(Links to application forms via Skillshub are also available at the link above!)

Please tag anyone who needs to see this or share it to your local farming and smallholding groups! 👇

02/06/2026

🐑 ATTENTION SHEEP BREEDERS & SMALLHOLDERS! ENTRY IS OPEN! 🐑

Following our big announcement that entry fees have been set to a single one-off £12 flat rate per flock/section, we are shining the spotlight directly on our sheep exhibitors!

Whether you manage a commercial flock or dedicate your time to preserving heritage genetics, the Scottish Smallholding & Countryside Festival is the place to showcase your stock this October.

Because we’ve listened to your feedback, that single £12 entry fee covers all your class entries for your flock, your penning, a dedicated kit pen, and 2 adult entrance wristbands.

🐑 We are incredibly proud to host a vibrant mix of traditional livestock, and we want to see our pens packed with the brilliant diversity of our native and rare breeds. We’re especially looking forward to seeing some of the most well-known and loved heritage breeds, so get signing up!

From the prestigious Scottish National Championship Qualifiers to the highly anticipated RBST Young Shepherd of the Year qualifier, this is your platform to promote your breed, connect with fellow smallholders, and educate the public on the importance of UK agricultural heritage.

👇 Pens are filling up fast!

Don't miss out on the simplified flat-rate entry. Head over to our website to download the full sheep schedule, review the 2026 guidelines, and book your space.

🔗 Enter your flock here: www.festival.scot
🗓️ Saturday 17th October
📍 Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston

Did you know……. You can now find us over on Instagram and TikTok! Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/festival.scot… [...]

29/05/2026

📢 A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT FOR OUR LIVESTOCK EXHIBITORS! 🐑 🐖 🐐

Here at the Scottish Smallholding & Countryside Festival, we’ve been listening closely to the people who make our event what it is—the breeders and smallholders who show their animals.

We know that it’s the animals the public come to see, and it’s your time, finances, and immense energy that make these shows possible. We want to support that dedication.

With this in mind, we are absolutely delighted to announce that we have set a flat entry fee across the board for all species to a one-off £12 (inc. VAT).

Instead of paying per class, that single £12 fee covers:
⭐️ Unlimited Class Entries: Enter as many classes as you like within that herd, flock, or section.
⭐️ Complete Setup: Your penning, bedding, hay, water, and an extra kit pen for your feed and equipment are all included.
⭐️ Team Access: You will receive 2 adult entrance wristbands to the festival.

Whether you're entering the Scottish National Championship Qualifiers, the RBST Young Shepherd of the Year, or our popular young handlers and poultry sections, we want to make it as accessible as possible for you to showcase your hard work.

👇 Entries are officially OPEN.

Head over to our website to view the full schedules for each section, read the 2026 rules, and secure your pens today.

🔗 Submit your livestock entries on our website (link in the comments)
🗓️ Saturday 17th October
📍 Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston

28/05/2026

🚜 CALLING ALL TRACTOR OWNERS & ENTHUSIASTS! ENTRIES ARE NOW OFFICIALLY OPEN! 🚜

Do you have a pristine petrol powerhouse, a beautifully restored diesel, or a classic tractor that deserves the spotlight? Now is your chance to show it off at the Scottish Smallholding & Countryside Festival this October!

For the very first time, we are hosting a full-scale Vintage & Classic Tractor Competition in the Lowland Hall, and the entry forms are officially live on our website.

Supported by the experts at SVTEC - The Scottish Vintage Tractor & Engine Club, our judges will be looking for the absolute best in show across distinct classes:

🚜 The Powerhouses: Dedicated categories for Petrol/Paraffin and Diesel engines.
🚜 The Icons: A Best Classic class for the true legends of the field.
🚜 The Future: Our Under-25s ‘Young Competitor’ class—perfect for encouraging the next generation of farming enthusiasts to showcase their skills.

🏆 What’s up for grabs? The overall winner will take home a £50 cash prize and the brand-new Championship Trophy!

Whether you want to enter your own pride and joy or just want to get up close to some incredible agricultural history alongside our Rural Skills competition and Small Producer Market Square, this is a festival debut you won’t want to miss.

Got a tractor to enter?
👉 Head over to our website to download your entry form today! Link in the comments 👇

Just want to come along for an incredible day out?
🎟️ Visitor tickets are also available now! Under 13s go free, making it the perfect day out for junior tractor fans. Check the link in the comments.

🗓️ Saturday 17th October
📍 Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston

26/05/2026

📢 E X H I B I T W I T H U S 📢

The Scottish Smallholding & Countryside Festival is back on 17 October 2026, and it’s our biggest year yet. We have rebranded and expanded - into three halls at the Royal Highland Centre, including the addition of the Lowland Hall.

This is the perfect platform to get your brand in front of thousands of smallholders, farmers, rural enthusiasts and fun seeking families.

Why trade with us in 2026?

👣 More Space, More Footfall: The Lowland Hall is the new home for the Small Producer Market and the Scottish Food Guide Cookery Theatre.
🌱A National "Local" Show: We are rebranding to reflect our commitment to celebrate the full variety of Scottish rural life, from livestock to rural crafts and everything in between.
🐷 Unique Audience: We host Scotland’s only pig competition, drawing a dedicated and passionate demographic, as well as a plethora of goats, sheep, equines and more!

Whether you sell agricultural kit, artisan food, or rural crafts, we want to hear from you! 🚜🥖🥃🧶🧺

✅ Secure your spot:

🔗 Find all the commercial info you need on our dedicated website, link in the comments.

17/05/2026

🚜 What’s on at the Scottish Smallholding & Countryside Festival 2026? 🐑

Whether you're a seasoned smallholder, a lover of rural crafts, or looking for a fantastic family day out, we have a packed lineup waiting for you at the Royal Highland Centre this October.

Here is just a taste of what you can expect on the day:

🛍️ The Producer Market: Shop directly from incredible, authentic local small producers showcasing the very best of Scottish food, drink, and crafts.
🚜 Vintage Tractors: Get up close to beautifully restored pieces of agricultural history.
👩‍🍳 Live Produce Demos: Catch our resident chef, Wendy Barrie, live in the Cookery Theatre showcasing incredible seasonal dishes using local produce.
🦙 Meet the Animals & Alpaca Show: From rare breeds of cattle, goats, and sheep to Scotland's only dedicated pig competition—and of course, our wonderful alpacas and heavy horses!
🧺Learn Rural Skills: Immerse yourself in traditional countryside crafts and practical demonstrations.

All this and so much more……

✨ Great Value for the Whole Family! ✨

Children aged 13 & under get in completely FREE!
🎟️ Tickets: £12 for Adults 18+ | £8 for Young Farmers & Students | £6 for 14+ to under 18.

📅 Saturday 17th October 2026 | 9am - 4pm
📍 Royal Highland Centre, Ingliston

👉 Beat the queues and secure your tickets today: Link in the comments below.