Galloway World Congress – 5th to 10th August 2016.

      Find Out What’s On – HERE Download Your Congress Booking Form – HERE       

The UK Galloway cattle families are delighted to be hosting the 11th Galloway World Congress, applications to join the full congress are now closed and all delegates who are registered should have received confirmation by 10th May.  If you have not received confirmation from us please contact the office: info@gallowaycattlesociety.co.uk   For anyone who can’t make the full congress we are now offering day and evening tickets as below.  For further information, please contact the office on the above email.

The below programme is for our day trippers, full delegates of the Congress do not have to arrange their own transport.

We have an exciting and varied programme on offer from cattle  Blacks, Belties, Whites and Riggits, castles, tartan, spectacular scenery and the very best of local food.

Our Congress host hotel Gretna Hall Hotel, Gretna Green, DG16 5DY is the venue for celebration dinners and all entertainment, due to the number of delegates attending the congress, a marquee has been erected in the Hotel’s beautiful gardens to host all the activities including the evening meals. We are very much looking forward to welcoming you to these very special events. Due to the difficulty of arranging travel, you will have to make your own travelling arrangements to the host farms.

We are offering day and evening tickets as follows, if you are interested in attending any of these events, please contact the Societies offices or complete the order form Closing date for tickets is 22nd July, 2016.

FRIDAY 5TH AUGUST -   WELCOME DINNER TICKETS @ £20pp  at 7.30pm  - To welcome our UK and Overseas delegates to the homeland of Galloways and to receive visiting countries flags.  You will be welcomed by a piper and then enjoy a three course buffet style meal prepared by the hotel chef followed by  tea or coffee.  A unique chance to meet and renew friendships with fellow Galloway breeders from around the World.

SATURDAY 6TH AUGUST – PRESENTATION DINNER TICKETS @ £25pp once again at 7.30pm,   after a busy day at Dumfries and Lockerbie show which is hosting the National Shows, the Show and National Shows trophies will be presented after a three course Galloway Roast beef dinner which will be carved at your table. Entertainment will showcase the best of Scottish Highland dancers.

SUNDAY 7TH AUGUST -  CONGRESS MEETING TICKETS @ £10pp.  The official business of the Congress which commences at 10.00am,   a sandwich lunch and tea/coffee will be offered to you throughout the day.   All the Galloway families and visiting countries will give their biannual report with the day ending with a talk by Mr David Thomson, co owner of Annandale Distillery,  the only  Whisky Distillery in Dumfries and Galloway.  Annandale Distillery was closed in 1918 and following an extensive £10.5million restoration project, was reborn in 2014. For more information. www.annandaledistillery.com

SUNDAY 7TH AUGUST – DINNER AND CEILIDH TICKETS @ £25pp at 7.30pm   After a buffet style three course meal again prepared by the chef at Gretna Hall Hotel you will dance the night away with local band Bon Accord Ceilidh Band and a dance caller who will show our visitors the steps to our traditional Scottish dances.  

MONDAY 8TH AUGUST -  THERE ARE NO TICKETS TO OFFER FOR THIS DAY,  BUT YOU ARE  VERY WELCOME TO VISIT THE TWO HOST FARMS - Tim Oliver’s,  Lower House Farm, Hexham, where we hope to arrive at approx. 9.00am   Tim  is a  7th generation grassland farmer, he farms  in Northumberland, North East England at 2 different locations, Off the Wall and Low House Farm, both within a mile of historic Hadrians wall. In 1999 Tim started buying Belted Galloways, Longhorns, and Highland cattle to fatten for three individual butchers who sought the marketing qualities of fantastic individual flavour. At one stage all three breeds which he fattened were sold on three different butchers counters in the famous Borough Market, London. 

After travelling north to the Scottish borders you will visit with  Alan McClymont, Kirkstead, Yarrow, Selkirk, TD7 5LF  It is 20 years since Alan and his late father Robin came to Castle Douglas to purchase a few Galloways.  Little did they know that the herd would grow to over 40 head and have such great success in both the show and sale ring. The McClymonts have farmed Kirkstead since 1967 and have contract farmed the neighbouring farm, Dryhope for the last seven years.  The farms lie in the Yarrow Valley in the Scottish Borders at the top end of the picturesque St Mary's Loch, the largest natural loch in the Borders.     It is hoped to be at Kirkstead at 2.00pm

TUESDAY 9TH AUGUST (AM) – MOCHRUM DAY TICKETS @ £10pp.  Mochrum is one of the oldest and most famous herds. The herd is based at Mochrum Estate which includes the 15th century Castle, Old Place of Mochrum and is 8 miles from Newton Stewart, South West Scotland. DG8 9RS. It is owned by Mr David Bertie, cousin of the late Miss Flora Stuart, who was famous worldwide, not only as President of the Belted Cattle Society, but as custodian of the breed in the UK. Mochrum Estate currently farms the May Farm and Drumwalt POSTCODE and we expect to be there about 11.00am, you will see round the famous Beltie herd and have hot roll lunch and refreshments. 

TUESDAY 9TH AUGUST (PM) - KLONDYKE DAY TICKETS @ £25pp.  Klondyke Galloways are one of the largest herds of Galloways in the UK, it all started in  2000  when the late Bob Gault wanted to purchase a herd of Pedigree Cattle to supply beef for the farm shops in his chain of Klondyke Garden Centres.   Bob decided on Galloway, famed for its tasty meat, the Galloway was well suited to the land and climate on the Maxwelton Estate which Bob purchased in 1999 and  by chance the herd of Marbrack Galloways from Frank Hunter Blair was for sale and Bob was able to purchase the herd in its entirety.  Mr Scott McKinnon,  Farm Manager and Chairman of both the Galloway Cattle Society and World Galloway Organisation will show you around the Cattle and the extensive buildings where we hope to arrive about 3.30pm, after seeing the cattle you will then be served Klondyke Galloway beef supper.   DG3 4HA

WENDESDAY 10TH AUGUST – DRUMLANRIG CASTLE & LUNCH @ £20pp.    Our last day of the Congress,   we will travel to the heart of Dumfries and Galloway and visit Speddoch and Muil, Shawhead, Dumfries    at approx. 8.00am,  you will  see Muil and Speddoch Belties who are owned by Sir JCL Keswick and William Clark Maxwell respectively  and stockman Robert Ross will show you around.    Then on to Romesbeoch Galloways, which are grazed next door to Speddoch, the Ross family have featured at the major shows and sales for over 50 years and you will get the chance to see this famous herd.  

The Duke of Buccleuch and Queensberry who is President of the Galloway Cattle Society and member of the Belted Galloway Society, has invited you to his stately home, Drumlanrig Castle,    the Castle is steeped in History and you will be shown round the Castle and learn about its 600 year history, also to be seen is the Buccleuch Collection which is particularly renowned for its furniture and for its silver. Buffet Lunch will be served at approx. 11.30am in the beautiful formal gardens.     Last visit of the Congress, at approximately 3.00pm is to Blackcraig, Corsock, Castle Douglas.    The herd name Blackcraig is famed for breeding quality livestock whether it is Galloway Cattle or Blackface sheep, the family John, Ann, daughter Kelly and son Iain have enjoyed much success with both breeds in the show and sale rings and the Blackcraig prefix is in much demand both in the UK and Overseas.  

Full features on the farms can be found in the Galloway Cattle Society Journal.