Kirkton and Auchtertyre are SRUC’s major research farms in the West Highlands. They host scientists and staff from SRUC’s Hill and Mountain Research Centre (HMRC) who manage projects that utilise the livestock, land and vegetation of the farms and manage Strathfillan Wigwams.
The farms cover some 2,200 hectares of land rising from the cultivated flood plain of the River Fillan, to above the West Highland rail line, to a series of mountain tops, Beinn Odhar, Beinn Charoach, Cam Chreag and Ben Challum (1,025m), at the head of the catchment.
The livestock enterprise, like much of the highlands of Scotland, is concentrated on hill sheep, with currently more than 1,600 sheep (ewes, hogs and gimmers). In recent years, new native woodlands, extensive lowland and hill paths and Strathfillan Wigwams and its farm shop have been established to diversify the land-based opportunities on the farms.
The office for HMRC is located at Kirkton Farm, within the farm steading, alongside the ruins of St Fillan’s Priory and its old graveyard.
Strathfillan Wigwams are located at Auchtertyre.
