Rural Gift Guide 2024

Have yourself a merry rural little Christmas
Let your heart be light
Next year all our troubles will be out of sight

As promised, here is the 2024 Rural Gift Guide, which showcases the talents and expertise of those who live in the countryside.

Food & Drink                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Connage Cheese Box - The perfect gift for the cheese lover. Cheeses pasteurised, organic and vegetarian.  connage.co.uk/product/connage-box

The Honesty Hut at Farmton Farm - Our wee blue hut is bursting at the seams with seasonal Scottish foods from our organic farm and fellow artisan producers. Open 8-8 every day, and pay by cash or card on an honour system.  Find us on Google Maps.  facebook.com/FarmtonOrganicFarm

Mustheb mini selection - Sample our array of mustard flavours. Each box includes five mini jars of our mustards 'Infernal Bliss', 'Taste of India', the two awarded '8-Pepper-Cèilidh' and 'Bonnie Wholegrain' mustards and the well-loved but limited 'Christmas mustard'.  hebrideanmustard.com                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Home & Lifestyle                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Sheepskin Snuggle -  Designed and created by Skyeskyns, our snuggles or hot water bottle covers offer the ultimate in luxury. The cosy sheepskin snuggle can be used for a hot water bottle, as a pyjama bag, or as a cushion. Opens and closes using herringbone cotton ties. Available in a range of colours and two sizes.  skyeskyns.co.uk/collections/snuggles

Norvite Farm & Country - a family business with three country stores across Aberdeenshire, providing quality products for horses, pets, livestock and people. norvitefarmandcountry.com

Blooming Bees - Fresh flowers and dried flowers; grown, cut and arranged on our farm in Angus, Scotland.  bloomingbees.co.uk

Artisan Signs - Looking for a unique gift idea? Have a house sign or a sign for your business made by Robert in Ayrshire from Scottish-grown wood. Practical & fit for purpose sustainable wooden signs that are exclusive and draw attention. For this Christmas, gift the whole experience via personal videos, from the fun and exciting design process, through the making to the final 'it's finished' video updates. This way Christmas lasts for days and weeks starting with a personalised design video for the day itself.  Prices start from £125, although plaques are cheaper.  Garden sculpture too, unique pieces made to your design in just the same way. Starting from £450.  ingrainedculture.co.uk

Gosford Oak - Working from the historic grounds of Gosford Estate near Longniddry, the team at Gosford Oak, led by Nick Pye, crafts beautiful hardwood objects from the trees that surround them.  Vast, unique, estate grown trees. Timeless timbers from East Lothian, all of which have naturally fallen and are never felled. The history of these trees ,and that of those who have lived nearby for centuries, is captured in the rings of annual growth. The amazing strength and elegance of this wood is preserved into objects of both beauty and practicality, for you and your family to enjoy.Over the years, the Gosford Oak team have built hundreds of oak framed buildings and extensions as well as smaller items such as pergolas and garden swing seats. For 2024 and beyond, Nick and the team have started specialising in the creation of unique cabins/garden rooms, graceful oak mantels and statement dining tables.  Every item is bespoke and has its own unique story to tell.  Find out more at:  gosfordoak.com.                                                                                    

Marine North Berwick gift voucher - Treat someone special to their choice of a memorable dinner at The Lawn, a relaxing spa day, or even a weekend escape.  Available as an e-gift for instant giving or as a beautifully packaged voucher sent directly with a personal message, it's the perfect gift this festive season.  https://bit.ly/48HgK71

Ardmoor - Looking for the perfect gift for the outdoor enthusiast or country gent in your life? ArdMoor has a fantastic selection of clothing and accessories for men, women and kids available with an easy-to-use click-and-collect service from Kingston, East Lothian for hassle-free shopping with no delivery charge!>From stylish tweed caps to a cosy versatile jumper such as this Jack Pyke Ashcombe ZipKnit Pullover for £49.95, or an essential winter jacket and waterproof wellies you will discover plenty of inspiration for your unique and useful gift this Christmas. Check out our gift pages at ardmoor.co.uk

Whitekirk Hill  - This Christmas treat your loved ones to afternoon tea, a visit to the spa, an overnight stay in one of our lodges, or gift them a monetary voucher so that they can decide. Our vouchers make beautiful, thoughtful gifts and the best part, no gift wrapping required!  whitekirkhill.co.uk

The Little Vintage Emporium - This handpicked collection of vintage jewellery is packed with gorgeous one-of-a-kind pieces—from dainty gold charms to timeless antique bracelets —that make unforgettable gifts. Plus, shopping vintage isn’t just stylish; it’s sustainable! Each piece brings a bit of history into the present, letting you give something truly special without adding to the world’s waste.  littlevintageemporium.com

Seilich Christmas Room Mists are made just once a year from locally collected Scot's pine combined with festive oranges and spices.  Distilled in our traditional copper still, they promise to bring some winter cheer into even the most ba-humbug of spaces!  For a limited time, we’re giving away a free 50ml bottle with every purchase (of herbal tea, gift sets and/or skincare products) made through our website. Just head to the Christmas Gift Guide on our website for more information.  seilich.co.uk/pages/christmas-gift-guide

Murphy’s Law Design  - Make Christmas Extra Special with Murphy’s Law Design!  This holiday season, give the gift of personality! At Murphy’s Law Design, we create custom clothing and gifts that are funny, heartfelt, and uniquely you. From countryside vibes to horse and rider prints or laugh-out-loud designs with a sprinkle of mum vibes, every piece is handmade in our home studio with love and care. Want something truly personal?  We specialise in colourful clothing prints to bring your ideas to life. Perfect for kids, adults, and everyone on your list, our creations are gifts they’ll never forget. Explore our collection and place your custom order today in our Etsy shop.  murphyslawdesign.etsy.com    

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Unusual, Virtual & Charity Gifts                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    

Memories Preserved! - An audio initiative which preserves precious voices, stories and memories for the future with your very own professionally captured and edited audio recording. Imagine being able to hear the voice of a loved one, and listen to their stories, long after they are no longer with you in person – that’s what we do!  onrecordmemories.co.uk            

Gift a RHET Membership -  Demand for RHET's services has never been so high and they are determined to do all they can to make the countryside accessible to every child in Scotland.  Find out how to support their work here:rhet.org.uk/how-to-help/become-a-supporter            

Eat Sleep Ride CIC - equine-led programmes using the power of herd dynamics to tackle modern leadership challenges in a practical, nature-based setting.Find out more about enhancing your team's performance or developing your own leadership skills here: youtube.com/watch?v=SGZtMxjYkFc

Growth Hour - Give a rural entrepreneur their own PR Consultant on a one-to-one basis for one hour.  Either book a slot (tinyurl.com/GrowthHour) or email to gift a booking to someone else.

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