A farm attraction on the shores of Loch Lomond is playing a starring role in a major drive for people to support businesses in their community.
Portnellan Farm, at Gartocharn in Alexandria, has diversified into tourism, offering holiday accommodation as well as speedboat tours on the loch, moorings and venturing into watersports through kayak and paddleboard hire.
At the same time, the Scott-Park family continue to run their 120-head Aberdeen Angus and Shorthorn organic beef herd over their 230-acre holding.
Some of their home-reared beef is available to order direct from the farm - adding to the enterprise’s portfolio of interests.
The importance of that diversification to the future of the farm - and as a contributor to the area’s economy - is being highlighted as part of the Scotland Loves Local campaign.
And Chris Scott-Park is at the forefront of a national call for people to choose local and back businesses in their area - including for days out by discovering more of what’s on their doorstep.
He was interviewed by STV presenter Sean Batty as part of a special series being produced by Scotland’s Towns Partnership (STP), the organisation behind Scotland Loves Local.
Chris told the presenter: “We’re a little off the beaten track so quite often when we do get local people down for the first time, they may not have realised about us before.
“I think something like 70% of Scotland’s population are within an hour’s drive of here.
“It’s incredibly important that local people support us. We’re lucky that this is a touristy area, but probably half of the people who come down here to enjoy the activities we offer are local. It’s a massive part of our business.”
The Scott-Parks have been unafraid of evolution over the years at Portnellan, which the family bought in 1952, first operating it as a mixed livestock and small-scale arable enterprise.
Jock Scott-Park - Chris’ granddad - specialised in dairy during the 1970s, with the farm becoming certified as organic in 2001.
In the face of spiralling production costs they opted to move out of dairy in 2010, diversifying into accommodation and later activities on the loch, after Chris joined his parents on the farm in 2014 following his graduation from the University of Stirling.
Highlighting the importance of diversification to the whole business, the environmental science and outdoor education graduate said: “The boat tours and watersports are what allow me to work on the farm.
“I went away, did my time at university and wanted to come back. But the farm’s not big enough to support two generations financially. So I started running the boat tours then added the kayak and paddleboard to it.
“It’s really important - and local support is a key part of making that possible.”
Chris is looking forward to a busy summer season at Portnellan.
And while diversification is key to sustainability, the heart of the business remains the farm.
He added: “At our core, we’re a farm, just as we have been since my grandfather and great-grandfather came here in 1952. It was a mixed farm then.
“We’re ideally situated on the banks of Loch Lomond, so it would have been silly not to diversify in the way we have. So, we’re still a mixed farm - just in a different way.”
Weatherman Sean, who also saw the farm’s weather station as part of his visit, is an ambassador for Scotland Loves Local, encouraging people to get behind businesses of all kinds in their area, including farm shops, visitor attractions and other rural enterprises.
He said: “Portnellan’s a beautiful place. It was great to meet Chris, hearing how they’ve diversified the farm and how important local support is.”
Scotland Loves Local, which is supported by the Scottish Government, is the drive for people to build better communities by getting behind businesses of all kinds in it.
Kimberley Guthrie, STP’s Interim Chief Officer, said: “By enjoying a staycation or planning a day locally trip this summer, people can discover all the amazing experiences that we have on our doorstep - while supporting local businesses that keep spending in local communities, protecting jobs and livelihoods.”
In a recent survey by STP, three-quarters of Scottish businesses said the support of local people is critical to their survival.
Find out more about the Scotland Loves Local campaign at www.lovelocal.scot.
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