A pioneering family farm in East Yorkshire, that already offers cow cuddling and cattle trekking to visitors, has now launched cow safaris on a home-built ‘bus’.
Dumble Farm, three miles north of Beverley, is a cow lover’s delight, where visitors can get up close and personal with its herd of Highland cattle, which were introduced on to the 200-acre estate as part of a major conservation project.
Switching from intensive dairy farming in 2021 to a new wild farming adventure, it aimed to boost the environment and biodiversity, including creating new wetlands to help mitigate climate change and provide breeding habitats for wader birds.
As part of the move, it became home to a herd of Highland cattle, whose browsing habits make them perfect conservation grazers.
And after realising that the cows – famous for their long horns and flowing woolly coats – also loved attention, being groomed and taken on adventure walks, the farm introduced two unusual visitor experiences last November.
‘Highland cow trekking’ involves walking along with the animal as it grazes and meanders across the farm, while ‘Cow Cuddling’ is an opportunity to enjoy some quiet time with the Highlands, providing plenty of opportunity to stroke and groom them. There are also ‘meet and greet’ sessions with two playful goats named Nibbles and Dodgem, as well as four resident inquisitive alpacas.
Now the Farm has launched a new experience – cow and wildlife safaris.
For summer 2023 visitors can hop aboard the Dumble Bus, a purpose-built, fully weatherproof tractor and trailer, for a ‘Family Highland Safari and Wildlife Tour’ or a ‘Highlands, History and Habitats’ trip.
The safaris take visitors across the grassy meadows and up to the Highland Cows and their calves, while knowledgeable guides reveal facts about the breed, the animals’ names and their different personalities. The tours also include the new wetland area, where guides outline how cow grazing is creating the right habitat for declining bird species.
For the longer ‘History and Habitats’ safari, visitors also get to learn more about the history of Dumble Farm and the local area, as well as see the cows and wetlands. Both tours are also followed by tea/coffee and a slice of homemade cake.
Still very much a working farm, the experiences are available on selected dates and must be booked in advance, with cow cuddling costing £40 per person and Highland trekking from £60. The safaris cost from £9 for the ‘Family’ tour and £20 for ‘History and Habitats’.
Private bookings are also possible during the week, while the Dumble Bus is available for group bookings, with bespoke packages on offer.
For more details, full prices and to book tickets, visit www.dumblefarm.com
General tourist information on East Yorkshire as a destination is available at www.visiteastyorkshire.co.uk