Aberdeenshire Highland Beef

Founded and owned by Grace Noble, Aberdeenshire Highland Beef provides a farm to fork experience. The highland beef cuts are from the 100% pure pedigree herd, traditionally hung and matured on the farm. Grace is passionate about farming and education.

Images:Jamie Brogan 

How long have you lived and worked in Banchory? 

I moved to Aberdeenshire in 2006, I really loved the area and decided to settle here with my young family, having moved from the Isle of Skye on the West coast of Scotland. I purchased my first highland cattle in May 2012 and started the foundations of my herd.

I commercialised the farm in 2016, starting up my own butchery, shop and farm tours.

Is there such a thing as an average day?

No! Each day is so varied - looking after the livestock, feeding, moving them, calving, transporting them to the slaughterhouse, taking them to shows, washing them and training them for showing and visitors. Mucking out, tractor work, harvesting feed and bedding.

Then there is the farm paperwork, planning of the business, training courses. Keeping up with legislative change. The butchery, I do my own butchery so that is preparing 2 carcases per week for domestic and commercial orders. Cleaning of the butchery, doing the deliveries. We run a small shop on the farm, so I have all the stock to manage for that too, invoicing, packing and pricing and preparing orders.

I attend farmers markets every weekend to sell my beef. I also run farm tours. I have even been known to attend weddings with my cattle and we sometimes do photoshoots for magazines and interviews.

Then there is all the paperwork; marketing, website updating, social media, newsletters. And as always trying to grow, expand and develop the business. It takes research, time and planning.

It's a lot to juggle in a day and often requires many changes of clothes and two very helpful and understanding teenage children. There is always the unexpected, but I try to be as organised as possible.

Who taught you how to farm Highland Cows?

The gentleman in the photo (below) taught me the most I know on how to farm highland cattle. His name is Ian Adams, he’s a local farmworker who has a passion for the breed and farming.

Ian and his family keep their cattle at my farm and have guided me a lot on my farming journey, he has been a tremendous support right from the start. I have also undertaken a number of training courses in agriculture.

Image: Jamie Brogan