There was a lot going on at the farm this weekend. Three lofts were cleaned out, numerous skips filled and a huge fire burned for several days. All signs that the new owners have taken possession and instigated a major clean up.

The new owners are James and Donna Ewen, and Harry and Esther Droop. James and Harry have known and visited the farm over a number of years – they both held their Stag Parties there, and also stayed at Boreland on a Men’s Weekend run by their church, The Lighthouse Church in Musselburgh. It was during Harry’s brother’s Stag Party – also held at Boreland – that they learned it was going to come on the market, and the plan to buy it started to take shape.

James and Harry already have a property letting business in Edinburgh. Boreland, however, has been bought with both the heart and the head. Mindful of the good times they have enjoyed at the farm, they are keen that it remains a place where groups and individuals can come to socialise, enjoy outdoor activities and the breath-taking views.

Their immediate plan is to do up the Bunkhouse and offer affordable, clean accommodation. They will be marketing it under the name Boreland, rather than Culdees, to signal the new ownership and a fresh start.

Phase 2 will focus on improving the house itself, and they are still considering possible uses for the farmland. They have a number of ideas but, as Donna comes from a family of dairy farmers in Ireland, they plan to take advice from the family before coming to any firm decisions.

As recent recruits to the FVA, all four of the new owners took time out from their very busy clean-up weekend to come to the Annual General Meeting on Saturday and say hello to some of their neighbours. We were delighted to welcome them and even more delighted that they have taken up the suggestion of hosting a Village BBQ at the farm in the summer, with our help!

Boreland Farm