Keeping Bees in the Scottish Highlands

In 2017 we fulfilled years of ambition and started keeping honey bees in the Scottish Borders.

Our main apiary was situated in a protected and sheltered location in the Leithen Valley in the Scottish Borders. From here our bees had easy access to ample forage in local village gardens, forests and up on to the hills with their profuse areas of gorse, hawthorn, elder, bilberry, rosebay willowherb and both bell and ling heather.

Our first colony of bees was a local strain that we obtained from the local bee keeping association in Peebles. They are quite dark in colour and appear to be fairly hardy — often being seen out foraging when the books say it should be too cold.

In 2020 we relocated (together with our bees) to the Socttish Highlands.

The bees are housed in modern polystyrene hives which, we hope, will provide them with excellent insulation from the extremes of weather.

We continue to document our ventures with honey bees. You can follow all the highs and lows and the moments of elation and disappointment on the Kilted Bee Blog.