02/10/2025
This is our first post so I will just say a bit about who we are and where we are in our beekeeping journey.
Fergus Leith started beekeeping in 2020 when the pandemic just kicked off. He started with 1 hive at his home in Aviemore. This soon expanded to the point where the neighbours were becoming a bit disturbed by swarms appearing and darkening the sky with the sheer volume of bees flying around. Soon after he moved his 3 hives up to a new apairy located outside of Aviemore at Lynwilg. This soon grew to 8 hives (4 honey producing) in 2024. Carla Sermanni joined in managment of the bees that year and helped to keep on top of the growing apairy. Last year was pretty rubbish weather so we didn't get much of a honey crop, just enough for the family and some friends to enjoy.
This year we were up to 16 hives (9 for honey production) and actually got a decent crop of honey, most of which came in from springtime nectar flows, from the trees around the area, a mix of Oak, Hazel, Alder, Horse chestnut and then plenty Clover, likey others too, with some heather coming in later in August. We got a decent harvest of 180 kilos, around 20 kilos per hive on average. Not a lot compared to some beekeepers, who can get 100kilo per hive in other areas, but being in the colder Cairngorm mountain range 🗻 high yields are less common. Also, we did make quite a few splits and expansions which would have effected the yields but we are happy with the outcome and confident that next year will prove to be much higher yields. 🍯
We have some 12oz + 1lb jars for sale, plus a few 4 kilo tubs for the die hard honey enthusiasts. There are a couple of local businesses who are stocking our products so if you are interested in buying some then please go to the folk at Pinemartin Bar Glemore and The Old Bridge and they will hook you up with some of the most delicious and unique honey you will have ever tasted.
Please share this to any who may be interested. We will be posting some updates and content about the highlights of our journey so far and upcoming honey adventures.
Best wishes,
The Heilan honey team.
