32 Nebraska Cattleman October 2023 on, and the farms and ag businesses were very interesting. This year’s itinerary was equally as interesting. While it’s difficult to pick only a few things as my favorite (because it was all so wonderful), below are some of the highlights. Aberdeenshire Highland Beef Farm Well, this is no surprise! I was so looking forward to seeing the Highland cattle up close and personal. Grace Noble, her partners and family met my expectations by having cattle in confinement, in the field and "hands on." Having Hazel the cow and her baby to pet and curry were the icing on the cake. Wow! Great people, first-rate livestock and very informative. Balmoral As someone who is interested in all things royal, who follows The Anglophile Channel on Facebook and watches all the royal weddings, funerals and coronations, Balmoral was on my bucket list. The grounds were magnificent and the gift shop was the mother lode for souvenirs. I was disappointed we didn’t see horses or Corgis, in which the Queen found so much peace and solace, but I was thrilled to just be in the place/space where the royal family retreats from the public eye. We made it just in time as the King and Queen Consort arrived shortly after our visit. How cool is that! Holyrood Palace The fact that we were privy to a personalized, after-hours tour of Holyrood Palace was amazing, and it was fun to see Alasdair as a fellow tourist. He was as much impressed with the behind-the-scenes visit as our group. I’m guessing Anne from Executive Travel had everything to do with arranging this, and it was super. The well-informed guide from Canada, as well as the staff in the gift shops, were so welcoming and friendly. Hardiesmill Farm The family and friend dynamics of this visit were great – three generations actively involved in their Angus farm. Personally, I would like to have seen a few more cattle, but their big Red Angus bull was quite photogenic. Robin and Alison Tuke also provided a great lunch and extensive tour of their operation – from on-the-hoof to retail sales – with the help of their son, grandma and their canine helper. Urquhart Castle The ruins were great to explore and photograph, but the short film presentation prior to visiting the grounds was exceptional. To see the events visually transpire pulled all the pieces together and helped me understand the circumstances of how the castle came to be ruins. It was another exceptional Nebraska Cattlemen tour. Would I go back? Absolutely! Did I have fun? Absolutely! Does Executive Travel and Nebraska Cattlemen have the BEST tours out there? Absolutely! NC NC SCOTLAND TOUR • CONTINUED FROM PAGE 30 C Information on Nebraska Cattlemen’s 2024 tour coming soon! Hardiesmill Farm provides lunch and an extensive tour of their Angus farm where three generations are actively involved. Corliss Sullwold meets one of the Scotland sheepdogs during a demonstration. NC members learned about the dogs' training and gained an understanding of the commands used to control them.
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