Thyme Deli & Bistro at Errichel

Perched on the hillside above Aberfeldy with views across Strathtay, Thyme at Errichel is one of those places that quietly justifies a detour. It’s a working rare-breed farm first — the cattle graze the slopes around you as you eat — with a bistro and deli that have earned it some serious accolades, including Scotland’s Number 1 Food Tourism location at the Scottish Thistle Awards and the Rarebreed Survival Trust’s Sustainable Retail Outlet of the Year.

The bistro operates from 9am to 4pm (kitchen closes at 2:45pm for hot food) and serves a relaxed menu of breakfast, brunch, and lunch dishes. Chef Paul Newman balances Scottish ingredients with international influences — think Errichel-reared beef burgers, seasonal soups, and baked dishes using produce from the farm and local suppliers. It’s unpretentious but carefully considered.

The deli is equally impressive: an oak-beamed farmhouse kitchen stocked with homemade preserves, specialty cheeses, charcuterie, ready-made meals, and the farm’s own beef. If you’re self-catering in the area, this is the kind of place where you fill a basket with things you didn’t know you needed.

Errichel also offers seasonal farm tours, Scottish cheese and charcuterie tastings, and has four on-site holiday cottages for those who want to extend the visit. It’s closed Wednesdays and Thursdays and for a few days in early January — worth checking before you go.