We all need a Savior
“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:23
None of us can earn our way to God by being good enough. We all need mercy.
🗺️ Farm Day Trips guide
Things to Do Near the Lavender Farm of Kinross & Loch Leven, Scotland
Scottish Lavender Oils opens on Loch Leven from late June to mid-August, near the 21 km Heritage Trail, an island castle and Falkland Palace.
3 places · updated October 17, 2026
🌱 What’s happening now
Updated October 17
🪻 In season now
✏️ Report outdated info
Kinross is a small town on the west shore of Loch Leven, just off the M90 about 45 minutes from Edinburgh and 25 from Perth. The loch is a National Nature Reserve ringed by a 21 km, mostly level path, with an island castle where Mary, Queen of Scots was held in 1567 and an RSPB reserve on its southern shore. The Lomond Hills rise to the east, and Fife's royal palace at Falkland and the 17th-century streets of Culross are each within half an hour.
Scottish Lavender Oils, at Tarhill Farm beside the Burleigh Sands car park, opens only while its lavender is in flower. One ticket covers the whole day, with guided tours of the field and distillery running through the day, free parking and picnic benches looking over the loch. There is no café, so the larders, cafés and restaurants around Kinross make a natural pairing, and the Heritage Trail links several of them on foot or by bike.
The lavender farms
- Scottish Lavender OilsLavender farm · Kinross
Late June to mid-August; harvest in the final days of the season
Ticketed day visits while the lavender is in bloom (late June to mid-August), including hourly guided tours of the fields and distillery; closed until June 2027.
Best time to visit
Scottish Lavender Oils opens for about six weeks in high summer: its posted 2027 season is 28 June to 12 August, weather permitting, weekdays 11am–5pm and weekends 10am–5pm. The still runs in the first days of August as harvest begins. Spring and summer bring breeding waders and swallows to RSPB Loch Leven, and autumn brings migrating geese and whooper swans. Nearby Cairnie Fruit Farm runs its maize maze from mid-July and a pumpkin patch through October, with its 2026 season ending 31 October. Lindores Abbey Distillery opens daily March to October and Wednesday to Sunday in winter.
Places to see nearby parks, trails, beaches and landmarks
- Loch Leven Heritage Trail🥾 Trail · Kinross · about 2 mi, 5 min drive
A 21 km circuit of the loch that is mostly level and barrier-free for walkers, cyclists and wheelchair users, with access points at Kinross Pier, RSPB Loch Leven, Burleigh Sands, Channel Farm and Findatie.
free
- Lochleven Castle🏛️ Historic site · Kinross · about 2 mi, 5 min drive
An island castle reached by boat from Pier Road, Kinross, where Mary, Queen of Scots was held, forced to abdicate in 1567 and later escaped.
Ticketed, timed entry booked online; £1 for Young Scot card holders
- RSPB Loch Leven🌲 Preserve · near Kinross · about 5 mi, 12 min drive
A wetland reserve with three hides, a trail up Vane Hill and a gentle Leafy Loop, plus a visitor center and café; red squirrels are often seen around the woods. Wetland work in front of Carden Hide runs until autumn 2027.
Visitor center open 7 days; car park 24 hours
Parking £4 per car per day; free for RSPB members and Blue Badge holders
- Falkland Palace & Garden🏛️ Historic site · Falkland · about 11 mi, 20 min drive
A Renaissance royal palace where Mary, Queen of Scots stayed, with what is billed as the oldest surviving real tennis court, a formal garden, orchard and physic garden.
Palace 11am–5pm (last entry 4:15pm); shop and garden 9:30am–5pm on open days
Adult £19, child £10, family £44 (as listed October 2026)
- Abernethy Round Tower🏛️ Historic site · Abernethy · about 12 mi, 20 min drive
One of only two Irish-style round towers in Scotland, about 22 m tall and dating to around 1100, with a Pictish symbol stone on its face. In summer you can collect the key from the Museum of Abernethy and climb it.
Climbable in summer on museum open days (not Mondays or Tuesdays)
- Castle Campbell🏛️ Historic site · Dollar · about 15 mi, 25 min drive
A 1400s tower house on a ridge above Dollar Glen, between the Burn of Care and the Burn of Sorrow, with terraced gardens and the spot where John Knox is said to have preached in 1556.
- Branklyn Garden🌷 Garden · Perth · about 17 mi, 25 min drive
A 2-acre hillside garden begun in 1922 on Kinnoull Hill, holding National Collections of Meconopsis (blue poppies) and Cassiope, with a tearoom terrace. A Snowdrop Festival runs 10–14 February 2027.
Adult £11, child £6.50 (as listed October 2026)
- Culross🏘️ Town · Culross · about 20 mi, 30 min drive
A cobbled 17th- and 18th-century burgh on the Forth with the ochre Culross Palace, its painted ceilings and a period garden; the village and palace appear in Outlander.
Palace and garden 10am–4pm (last entry 3pm) on open days
Adult £14, child £8, family £38 (as listed October 2026)
Where to stop: farms, food and stays
- Loch Leven's LarderVegetable farm · Kinross
A farm café, food hall and bakery on the Heritage Trail with views over the loch, open daily.
- Unorthodox RoastersCafé or coffee shop · Kinross
A coffee roaster's café on Kinross High Street with homemade cakes, open daily.
- The Grouse & ClaretRestaurant · Kinross
A garden restaurant on the edge of Kinross for lunch Wednesday to Sunday or Friday and Saturday dinner.
- Cairnie Fruit FarmFamily fun farm · Cupar
A Fife fruit farm with a maize maze, play yard, October pumpkins and a country café.
- Lindores Abbey DistilleryDistillery (21+) · Newburgh
A whisky distillery beside the ruined abbey on the Tay, with daily tours March to October.
A one-day plan
- 10:00 AMRSPB Loch Leven
Walk the Wetland Trail to the hides or climb Vane Hill for a view over the loch; about an hour.
- 11:15 AMScottish Lavender Oils · about 15 min drive
In season, join the next guided tour of the field and distillery, then walk the rows; about 1.25 hours. Pets are not allowed.
- 12:45 PMLoch Leven's Larder · about 10 min drive
Lunch at the Larder Café and browse the food hall and gift stores; about an hour.
- 2:00 PMLochleven Castle · about 10 min drive
Take the boat from Kinross Pier to the island castle on a pre-booked timed ticket; about 1.5 hours.
- 3:40 PMLoch Leven Heritage Trail
Walk a level stretch of the trail from Kinross Pier and back; about 45 minutes.
- 4:30 PMUnorthodox Roasters · about 5 min drive
Coffee and cake on the High Street before the café closes at 5pm; about 30 minutes.
- 6:45 PMThe Grouse & Claret · about 5 min drive
Dinner on a Friday or Saturday; book ahead.
Tips
- Scottish Lavender Oils has no café; bring a picnic for the benches or eat in Kinross, about ten minutes away.
- Pets and emotional support animals are not allowed at the lavender farm; recognized assistance dogs are.
- Weekday mornings (Tuesday to Thursday before noon) are the farm's quietest times, and weekends fill by early afternoon.
- If rain is forecast, email the lavender farm before setting off and your ticket can be moved to another day.
- RSPB Loch Leven parking costs £4 per car per day, with 12 EV charging points; between the reserve and Kinross, stay on the path to protect a wildlife refuge.
Checked in October 2026 against official park, tourism and business websites. How we check listings
Questions
When is Scottish Lavender Oils open?
Only while the lavender flowers. The posted 2027 season is 28 June to 12 August, weather permitting, Monday–Friday 11am–5pm and weekends 10am–5pm.
How long is the Loch Leven Heritage Trail?
It is a 21 km loop around the loch, mostly level and barrier-free, with several car parks including Kirkgate Park in Kinross and Burleigh Sands.
How do you get to Lochleven Castle?
By boat from Pier Road in Kinross. Tickets are for a set date and time and are booked online.
Can I bring my dog to the lavender farm?
No. Only recognized assistance dogs are allowed. Dogs are welcome in the RSPB Loch Leven visitor center and café and on its trails under close control.
🪪 Collect a stamp at every stop
The free Lavender Passport keeps a stamp for each farm and stop you visit, in real life and in the Lavender Farm Simulator. At the farm, play Field Quest to collect plant varieties as you walk, climb the leaderboards and unlock sponsor rewards.
Open the Passport🏡 Own a farm, café or inn here?
Add your listing for free so travelers find you, or become a Featured sponsor to sit at the top of this guide, on the Passport map and in the event calendars.
Add your listing Get featured
