Barwhillanty Blog… Happy New Year!

As we welcome in the New Year, we wish 2022 to be a year of health and prosperity for you all, with Covid disruptions kept to a minimum.

The arrival of our fourth baby, Xanthus, marks the last time I brought pen to paper. He is now 7 months old and a joyful addition to the family, adored by his brother and sisters and content in his chaotic world. He entered the world rapidly on the same day his sister was born 2 years ago, as the world started to open up again post lockdown. Since then, life has been busy but wonderful, as we have adjusted to being a family of six. 

We were delighted that last summer was fortunate to be busy in our holiday cottages, as we welcomed plenty of visitors looking to reap the rewards of a rural escape and immerse in the stunning scenery here in South West Scotland. Our shooting calendar also awakened from the previous year of stillness, seeing many a successful shooting party enjoy the glorious sporting ground of Galloway alongside the much missed camaraderie.

My aerial yoga is back in full swing and I have adored introducing and reacquainting some of you to the joys of the hammock. A chance to fly and feel the float, this unique practice is both physically and mentally challenging, yet fun and fulfilling. My regular yin yang classes are also back, offering a floor-based flow that focuses on joint health as well as building strength and flexibility. So make this year about investing in your wellbeing and come and give a class a try!

We are excited about the upcoming season of garden vegetables, having now chosen an array of delicious produce with our passionate head gardener, James. We hope to put together a seasonal selection in Barwhillanty boxes for you to try, so if you live locally or are on holiday here, watch this space for collection dates this summer. All in keeping with our philosophy of eating seasonally and locally when possible!

Which brings me onto introducing a few new members of our team… James joined us last summer and is now taking the lead in the garden. We are delighted to have his expertise and energy on board to help take the garden to another level. We are excited to be holding another Garden Open Day at the end of May, in full floral bloom, promising artisan pizzas in the Walled Garden as well as throwing some yoga moves on the lawn. So be sure to keep your eyes peeled on our website or social media channels to join the event!

We have also welcomed our new farm manager, Tim, and his family who have relocated here from Hampshire to join us in an exciting new chapter. With his expertise and enthusiasm, he will be leading the journey with us towards regenerative agriculture. He joins our vision to bring a more sustainable future to farming.

We would love to welcome you too! So book your break, come and stay in one of our 4 beautiful holiday cottages, join our yoga and wellbeing retreat in June or plan for the season ahead and gather your group to discover our spectacular sporting experiences, from stalking to shooting.

Meantime, Happy New Year!