Solsgirth Home Farm Wins National Award at the 2025 VisitScotland Thistle Awards

Dawn Dawson
1 day ago
3 min read

We are absolutely delighted to share we have won the Thistle Award for Best Community Tourism & Events Initiative at the 2025 VisitScotland Thistle Awards.

This is great recognition for tourism in Scotland,and bringing this award home to Clackmannanshire after our Central & East regional win, is an honour we will cherish for years to come.

Solsgirth home Farm Team, Winners of the 2025 Scottish Thistle Awards - Best Community Tourism & Events Initiative

A Journey That Started with a Nomination

Our Thistle Awards journey began earlier in 2025 when we were first shortlisted for the category. Even then, being recognised alongside such extraordinary community-led projects felt like a milestone for our young, ambitious farm.

Winning the Central & East Scotland Award earlier this year was a moment of pride, not just for our team. It also recognised every stallholder, visitor, volunteer, organisation, and family who has supported us along the way. To now be crowned national winners is beyond anything we imagined when we first opened our gates to host events in 2022.

What This Award Celebrates

The national award highlights our commitment to community-driven agritourism, sustainability, education, and creating inclusive opportunities for connection.

At Solsgirth Home Farm, we have worked hard to develop experiences that reflect the values of our rural home.

Here’s a little of what 2025 looked like for us:

Our farmers’ markets are now buzzing with 1,000+ visitors each month and 60 local makers and producers
We ran more than 55 events, big and small
500+ schoolchildren came through RHET visits to learn about food, farming, and the outdoors
Our Home-Start family days continue to grow, helping more families enjoy time in nature
We’re still pushing forward with regenerative farming and biodiversity projects

This award is a testament to our belief that meaningful tourism begins with people, place, and shared purpose.

Celebrating Scotland’s Outstanding Finalists

We were honoured to stand alongside inspiring finalists from across the country, each delivering exceptional community tourism initiatives:

West of Scotland: South Ayrshire Council – The International Ayr Show, Festival of Flight
Aberdeen City & Shire: Aberdeen Restaurant Week
Highlands & Islands: Sanday Community Craft Hub, Orkney
South of Scotland: Stranraer Oyster Festival

The competition was incredibly strong, and we’re proud to celebrate alongside such passionate, community-focused organisations. We highly recommend paying them a visit, whether you’re already in the area on holiday or planning a trip for next year.

You won’t be disappointed!

Looking Ahead

Winning a national Thistle Award marks an exciting new chapter for us. With bookings confirmed into 2026 and new stay-and-learn experiences on the horizon, we’re excited for the year ahead. We will also continue investing in education, sustainability, and community partnerships, building a vibrant, resilient future for agritourism in Central Scotland.

Thank you to VisitScotland, our supporters, our community, and everyone who has been part of this journey. This award belongs to all of us. We invite you to explore our farm on a tour, join upcoming events, and experience first-hand what makes Solsgirth Home Farm an award-winning destination in Central Scotland.

VisitScotland Thistle Award Finalists 2025

For those who’d like to explore the full list of winners, VisitScotland has published the official round-up here: VisitScotland Thistle Award Finalists 2025.

Finally, we want to say a huge well done to all the finalists and winners across every category. It’s inspiring to see so many brilliant organisations working hard to make Scotland’s tourism industry vibrant, welcoming, and sustainable.