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Water buffalo standing in rushes at Thorabella Farm under an orange sunset sky.
Morayshire

Thorabella Farm

A working family farm near Dallas in Moray, home to a herd of water buffalo, with a farm shop of its own buffalo, beef, pork, eggs and honey.

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Welcome

Thorabella is a working family farm at Dallas, in the Moray countryside south of Forres and Elgin, and it's the place to meet a herd of water buffalo.

Ollie and Nikki Lake bought the farm in 2017, came home from a visit to a buffalo farm with three cows and a young bull, and named the business after their family. The farm shop sells meat from animals reared on the farm, from buffalo steaks, mince, burgers and sausages to Highland beef and pork, with eggs from the hens, honey from the farm's own bees, milk and seasonal vegetables. At weekends The Buffalo Bite serves buffalo burgers, cakes, ice cream and milkshakes from eleven until three. In the October school holidays the farm opens an animal walkaround, where you can meet the buffalo, capybaras, goats, rabbits and emus, with bags of food for them to buy. The shop opens every day from nine until seven. There are straw bale cabins on the farm too, if you'd like to stay.

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The Daily for 27 October, from Scotland with love. An aerial view shows a sandy cove between rocky headlands, a white house standing on the autumn-toned hillside above the turquoise sea.
Not farMoray Golf ClubOld Tom Morris's links of 1889 on the shore at Lossiemouth, with Covesea lighthouse at one end and the clubhouse above the last green.15 milesSee itMoray Golf Club
Before you go

The farm's Facebook page has the latest opening hours.

Where
Dallas, in the Moray countryside south of Forres and Elgin, IV36 2RZ.
Farm shop
Every day, 9am to 7pm.
The Buffalo Bite
Saturday and Sunday, 11am to 3pm: buffalo burgers, cakes, ice cream, milkshakes and coffee.
Animal walkaround
In the October school holidays, 11am to 3pm, £6 a person, bags of animal food £1; pay at the shop, no booking.
Stay
Three straw bale cabins on the farm, each sleeping up to four.
Phone
07753 383409

Opening hours

Their website
Monday
9am–7pm
Tuesday
9am–7pm
Wednesday
9am–7pm
Thursday
9am–7pm
Friday
9am–7pm
Saturday
9am–7pm
Sunday
9am–7pm

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Where it is

At Dallas, in the Moray countryside south of Forres and Elgin, IV36 2RZ.

Close byDallas and the countryside round Forres.
  1. Pluscarden AbbeyPluscarden AbbeyA medieval monastery in a quiet glen near Elgin, founded in 1230 and home to Benedictine monks who sing the daily office in Gregorian chant.7 miles 27 min by road
  2. Cafe 1496 on Forres High Street, a white shopfront with gold lettering, a wreath on the door and blue tables outside.Cafe 1496A busy cafe on Forres High Street serving breakfast all day, every day, with locally roasted coffee and home bakes.8 miles 18 min by road
  3. Sueno’s StoneSueno’s StoneA seven-metre Pictish cross-slab on the edge of Forres, the tallest early medieval carving in Scotland, covered in scenes of battle.9 miles 19 min by road
  4. Brown signpost reading "Sluie Walk" surrounded by ferns and woodlandSluie WalkA walk along the edge of the River Findhorn's deep gorge near Forres, on a narrow path high above the water, linking with Randolph's Leap and Logie.12 miles 25 min by road
  5. Logie SteadingLogie SteadingAn old model farm by the River Findhorn, its sandstone courtyard now full of independent shops, a secondhand bookshop, a gallery and a cafe.14 miles 31 min by road
  6. River winding through autumn woodland with orange and gold foliageRandolph's LeapThe narrowest point of the River Findhorn's rocky gorge near Forres, named for a medieval leap, with old flood stones and woodland walks.14 miles 28 min by road
Directions
The timber cabin lit at dusk against a pink sky, a hot tub steaming on the deck beside two chairs.PluscardenCallie BothySleeps 2 · 5.4 miles
White castellated tower on a hilltop path lined with bare winter treesAttractionsNelson's Tower7.8 miles
ShoppingULY + RO, Forres7.9 miles
Wooden houses with red-framed windows line a quiet coastal laneAttractionsFindhorn Ecovillage11 miles
Long spinning frame with wound bobbins fills a stone-walled mill roomRestaurantsKnockando Woolmill11 miles
Cardhu distillery building with pagoda roofs and red door under grey skyAttractionsCardhu Distillery11 miles
Rodney's Stone standing in a small wattle-fenced enclosure on the lawn by the drive to Brodie Castle, a walker passing.AttractionsRodney’s Stone11 miles
Turreted castle with crow-stepped gables overlooking a striped lawn and gravel driveAttractionsThe Playful Garden12 miles
Seared scallops and black pudding rounds encircle rice in a herb sauceRestaurantsCrown & Anchor Inn12 miles

Recommend to a friend

Stay nearby

Places to stay near the farm, and when each is next free.

The timber cabin lit at dusk against a pink sky, a hot tub steaming on the deck beside two chairs.Callie Bothy
  • Sleeps 2
  • In Pluscarden
  • 4 miles from Thorabella
Free 31 Oct – 3 NovCulbin Edge, Inverness-shireCulbin Edge
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Brodie
  • 10 miles from Thorabella
Free 9–11 NovA curved cabin clad in overlapping wooden shingles stands on gravel among wildflowers, arched windows and a door along one side.Boath Cabin
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Nairn
  • 13 miles from Thorabella
Free 27–29 OctThe Gatehouse, MorayshireThe Gatehouse
  • Sleeps 4
  • In Elgin
  • 14 miles from Thorabella
Check datesPlaces to stayEvery stay in MorayshireAll our places to stay nearby, to search by date and by who is coming.See them all
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