Farm tours – joining instructions

We look forward to welcoming you to a farm tour around Dalmore Croft.

We want you to have an enjoyable and safe visit, so we’ve prepared these notes for you.

We have carried out a risk assessment and tried to reduce those elements that might cause you harm as much as possible – but we are a working farm, so please take care and follow our instructions.

Before arriving, it’s helpful if you explain to children that we are a working farm and that it is important that they follow instructions from the farmer and from you.

Parking

Please park on the road, without fouling the pavement; our drive is too narrow to allow vehicles to turn or pass. You can find directions to Dalmore on the location page.

Hands and hand washing

Our animals are in good health but they do carry bacteria that might not make them ill but can make YOU ill so:

• No eating or drinking while on the walk, please. (We may sample some produce from the vegetable and fruit gardens, but only before we visit any animals.)
• Parents should ensure that children don’t put their fingers in their mouths.

All visitors must wash hands thoroughly with soap and running water before eating, before leaving the farm and after removing the footwear worn on the farm. Antibacterial gels are not a substitute for good handwashing.

Sheep can carry a parasite called Toxoplasma, which can be excreted by ewes in birth fluids. Toxoplasma can cause abortion in sheep and also in humans. While the risk is small – our sheep are vaccinated against Toxoplasma – nevertheless, women who are pregnant or believe they may be pregnant are advised not take the tour at lambing time.

Footwear and clothing

Although our land is flat, it is uneven in places, so please wear suitable footwear.

We will ask you to dip your footwear in disinfectant when you arrive and when you leave so please wear footwear that you are happy to dip.

Please check the weather forecast and bring suitable clothing; although the steading is sheltered, it can be breezy in the fields.

Moving around the farm

Before you arrive, we’ll have had a good tidy up but please take care to avoid obstacles and uneven patches of ground.

Inevitably, the fields have animal faeces, hence the boot washing at the end of the tour, but running children can become falling children and falling in poop isn’t much fun for anyone, so please don’t let your children take off across the fields.

Livestock

Our livestock are used to visitors. However, they will be disturbed by loud noises and running children – and can, in those circumstances, be unpredictable.

Please explain to your children that they need to be quiet in their movements and voices to get the best out of the visit.

Food and drink

At the end of the tour, we will provide some refreshments – tea, coffee, soft drinks and home baking. If you have any special dietary needs, please let us know a day or two in advance, so that we can accommodate them.

We hope this hasn’t scared the bejesus out of you and look forward to welcoming you to Dalmore Croft for a safe and enjoyable visit!