Learn to create the perfect mince pies and mincemeat to keep you eating and entertaining throughout the festivities.

Half day masterclass 12 -3pm at Ballintaggart Farm.

Class includes all ingredients, and a glass of mulled wine on arrival.

Ballintaggart masterclasses are packed with expert tips and hands on experience and include all ingredients, class notes, recipes and a kitchen goody bag. You’ll enjoy a light lunch at the end of the masterclass, and there will be plenty of food to take home with you too. 

From 22nd November the Fife Arms will be dressed in its festive finery, incorporating plants and foliage including ivy, mistletoe and holly, which are believed to hold symbolic importance in Yuletide traditions.

We celebrate the importance of light throughout the dark winter nights of December, when hotel guests are invited to delight in our Sunday evening Candlelit Classical Strings recitals in the Drawing Room.

On 21st December, celebrate the Winter Solstice with the ancient Scottish custom of decorating Yule Logs as we mark the shortest day of the year, as well as burning rowan twig bundles in our Courtyard firepit – believed to ward off evil and dark supernatural forces – which since ancient times, has become a way of households heralding in light and good luck for all.

A heartwarming class giving you all the tools you need to create wonderful dishes to keep you nourished through the Winter.

Full day masterclass 12-5pm at Ballintaggart Farm.

Using seasonal ingredients, root vegetables, grains and well sourced meat to create balanced dishes for weekday meals and simple easy entertaining. The class will also cover simple veg prep and basic knife skills. 

Ballintaggart masterclasses are packed with expert tips and hands on experience and include all ingredients, class notes, recipes and a kitchen goody bag. Your indulgent late lunch will include the food you've prepared throughout the class and there will be plenty to take home with you too. 

This course is an introduction to the art of pickling and fermentation.

A beginner’s guide packed with theory, techniques and our in-house recipes. You will have the chance to work with stunning seasonal ingredients, and benefit from enjoying these flavours long after they are harvested

Ballintaggart masterclasses are packed with expert tips and hands on experience and include all ingredients, class notes, recipes and a kitchen goody bag. You’ll enjoy a light lunch at the end of the masterclass, and there will be plenty of food to take home with you too. 

For those wanting to master the basics of breadmaking, this masterclass is aimed at complete beginners or those with only a little experience in bread making.

Full day masterclass 12-5pm at Ballintaggart Farm.

The class covers our basic bread recipe, shaping a loaf, focaccia, flatbreads and soda bread.

Ballintaggart masterclasses are packed with expert tips and hands on experience and include all ingredients, class notes, recipes and a kitchen goody bag. Your indulgent late lunch will include the food you've prepared throughout the class and there will be plenty to take home with you too. 

Join Liz from The Honeybee Sanctuary for a cosy herbalism workshop at the Scottish Seabird Centre.

Inspired by last year’s successful workshops in partnership with the SSC, Liz will host a Seasonal Herbalism session in their Booking Office exhibition space which will be transformed once again for the winter months.

Take some peaceful and creative time-out in this pop-up exhibition space to enjoy the bespoke installation by Eilidh Muldoon. Liz will be adding to the programme of creative and reflective offerings with a seasonal herbalism workshop:

A beginner’s guide to Scotland’s world-class ocean larder. Learn how to select, fillet and cook fish and shellfish.

Full day masterclass 12-5pm at Ballintaggart Farm.

You will gain hands-on experience of fish preparation including filleting, pin-boning, curing and skinning. You will also learn how to prepare and open shellfish from our expert chefs. Cooking techniques will include pan frying, poaching or baking.

Ballintaggart masterclasses are packed with expert tips and hands on experience and include all ingredients, class notes, recipes and a kitchen goody bag. Your indulgent late lunch will be made up of the food you've prepared throughout the class and there will be plenty to take home with you too. 

Join Lucy, The Wild Cooke, for a short introduction session into the beautiful world of wild foods.

Even in the depths of winter, we can forage edibles, and I'll show you some of the best of the season in the shadows of Ben Nevis. 

This event is part of the Fort William Mountain Festival.

The Scottish Festival of Real Bread is back, and it’s the perfect way to kick off Real Bread Week 2025 (15 to 23 February)!

This celebration of the best in bread-making offers the chance to immerse yourself in the world of Real Bread, from simply eating it to debating the future of grain system.

Once again, a highlight of the Festival will be the awards ceremony of the annual Scottish Bread Championship, as well as a communal bread stall selling some of the finest loaves Scotland has to offer

Join Lucy, The Wild Cooke, for a short introduction session into the beautiful world of wild foods.

Even in the depths of winter, we can forage edibles, and I'll show you some of the best of the season in the shadows of Ben Nevis. 

This event is part of the Fort William Mountain Festival.

Back for the second year running…. Off Grid & Traditional Skills Fayre 2024!

Bringing together people from across the country, all with a wide variety of skills and knowledge to share.

Some of the topics the event will feature include:

Beekeeping, weaving, jewellery making, foraging, preserving, growing food, herbalism, nutrition, home-schooling and more!

As this event is still in the early stages of planning, event organiser Ruth would like to hear from people who have knowledge about off-grid living and the skills required for this lifestyle. The event will be free to attend for those who can help with this and are not selling any products or services.

Please contact Ruth at offgridtraditionalskills@mail.com if you can help.

To book a space and for general enquiries, email offgridtraditionalskills@mail.com for a booking form.

Unleash your wild side and immerse yourself in the world of foraging with The Wild Cooke. This two-hour mini-workshop will tickle your taste buds! 

WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS

• Foraging basics: Get a short introduction to wild foods, including identification, harvesting, and foraging ethics. This is a perfect session for someone that's new to the subject or a returning guest looking for a refresher. 

• Wild bites: As this workshop is the mini you will get the chance to try a snack and a drink utilising foraged ingredients. 

• Best of the season: each mini course will focus on the local highlights at the time so no two are the same!

• Check out my longer & lunch courses if you are looking for a more in depth experience.

Unleash your wild side and immerse yourself in the world of foraging with The Wild Cooke. This two-hour mini-workshop will tickle your taste buds! 

WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS

• Foraging basics: Get a short introduction to wild foods, including identification, harvesting, and foraging ethics. This is a perfect session for someone that's new to the subject or a returning guest looking for a refresher. 

• Wild bites: As this workshop is the mini you will get the chance to try a snack and a drink utilising foraged ingredients. 

• Best of the season: each mini course will focus on the local highlights at the time so no two are the same!

• Check out my longer & lunch courses if you are looking for a more in depth experience.