Voted Best Dairy Producer 2024 at Orkney Food & Drink Awards. I first came across this fabulous producer at Lynnfield Hotel on Orkney where they use Lara’s sensational yoghurt so I had to seek her out. Their Farm has been in the Hourie Family for four generations and 2020 marked 100 years. It’s a family affair with brother and sister Lara and David joining the team. Lara’s focus is on the dairy where she makes wonderful artisan yoghurt, milkshakes, home bakes, chocolate bombs and, most recently, a delicious cream cheese with garlic and herbs, all made in a beautifully restored and converted steading. She also sells fresh milk alongside some local crafts and seasonal vegetables.

Her cream cheese has a very more-ish, creamy flavour, with a lightly seasoned herbal balance and spreadability – perfect for toppings and making pates. Available mail order for mainlanders.

She calls her bonnie honesty farm shop The Big Bun Box and it, along with everything else is as neat as a pin in beautiful shades of Nordic aqua-blue. From the delightful logo to the hens clucking on the pathway there is much here to give you a warm feeling of a happy family farm with great produce.

• CHEESEMAKER, YOGHURT & MILK PRODUCER
• Pasteurised milk & milkshakes from their FLECKVIEH COWS
• Fresh cream cheese with garlic & herb (animal rennet)
• A range of artisan yoghurts
• Chocolate bombs – a creamy winter treat to lower into a scalding mug of milk
• All pasteurised products.

The Fleckvieh cattle were specially chosen for their hardiness in winter along with their vastly superior milk quality. Originally from the Alpine regions of Central Europe, this dual purpose breed is very happy on the green pastures of Orkney.

Lara is doing a super job, with her enthusiasm and knowledge producing delicious products. Lara’s chocolate bombs were her covid invention – a treat to combine with a piping hot mug of milk on a wintry night. They proved very popular and are likely to make a return as autumn and winter set in.