OUR FAMILY FARM ON
THE ANGUS COASTAL ROUTE

UPPER DYSART FARM

LUNAN BAY, ANGUS, SCOTLAND

JUST DOWN THE COAST FROM MONTROSE, OVERLOOKING LUNAN BAY BEACH, THE STIRLING FAMILY LIVE AND WORK ON A FARM THAT HAS PRODUCED SOME OF THE COUNTRY'S BEST-LOVED TATTIES FOR GENERATIONS.

We're all about rolling up our sleeves, making the most of what we have to hand and finding new ways to bring our potatoes from field to fork - and Upper Dysart Larder offers the convenience and quality that we know people want in their busy home lives.

Upper Dysart is about sharing the best we have to offer — from quick and tasty mashes and tatties, to our farm shop Larder, to the Kitchen and Hay & Play experience.

It's all by us, all for you — from our family to yours.

Stirling Signature


FOOD, FUN AND FANTASTIC DAYS OUT

ALONG THE ANGUS COASTAL ROUTE
James Stirling and Andrew Stirling Upper Dysart Larder Square

Learning and Growing

The Stirlings have been working this land for 30+ years, and it’s been very good to us. As custodians of this place, we know our job is to tend to it, take care of everything that lives and grows here and pass it on, intact, to the next generation.

As a family, we don’t rest on our laurels, and we’re full of energy and enthusiasm for new initiatives and opportunities to learn more, grow better and bring good food to people across the country.

OUR STORY

FIELD TO FORK

FROM OUR FAMILY FARM TO YOUR DINNER TABLE

01. The Field

Winter

With plenty of natural rainfall, Scotland’s climate is ideal for growing potatoes. In the winter, we test the soil for nutrients and decide what varieties to grow in which field.

We then plough to turn the soil and break down the old stubble left by last year’s cereal crop which is excellent organic matter for next season’s growth.

Ploughing Upper Dysart Farm Tractor

02. Planting

Spring

To prepare the soil, we remove stones with a stone separator, as the harvester doesn’t know the difference between a stone and a potato, and we fertilise the soil before planting.

The potatoes are planted in April and May into reasonably dry soil — as the ground warms up and dries further.

Field Upper Dysart Larder Angus Scotland 01

03. Growing

Summer

We watch for the crop rising through the ground, removing weeds that compete with the potatoes. We also plant wildflowers around the headland and in strips up the fields.

This is a natural way to protect the crop from insects and disease, encouraging bees and other wildlife which eat pests like aphids, while also building greater biodiversity.

Growing Potato Field Upper Dysart Larder

04. Harvesting

Autumn

In September and October, the harvester gently lifts the potatoes out of the ground, shaking the earth off and depositing them in a one-ton potato box.

These boxes are driven back to our store where we sample them for skin quality and sort them into categories, which is called grading (and what the children of every potato farmer do in their tattie holidays!)

Harvesting Potatoes Upper Dysart Larder Scotland

05. The Mash

Potatoes chosen for our tasty mash dishes are washed and peeled, then cooked and mashed by James and team.

The mash is seasoned and, depending on the flavour we are making, extra ingredients are added, purely for taste and nothing else! This could be milk and butter, spicy chorizo or Scottish haggis. Yum!

Washing Potatoes Upper Dysart Larder

06. Let's Eat

The mash is packed and vacuum sealed for freshness, ready to be enjoyed at your kitchen table.

Throughout the process there are many quality checks but the final one is at the end where the product is inspected before being packaged up and dated.

It’s now ready for the shelf and, most importantly, your dinner table!

Farm Mash Upper Dysart Larder Scotland Angus
Upper Dysart Farm Montrose Angus Scotland

CARING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT

Regenerative Farming and Long-Term Thinking

As farmers and custodians here at Upper Dysart, we're always looking for new ways to refine processes, take care of the environment and reduce wastage at every stage.

We work regeneratively, ensuring the land is well tended to and leaving space for timely regrowth and protection of animal habitats on the property. For us, it's not enough to think simply in terms of this year's yield or a couple of years ahead — we plan for the long-term.

LATEST NEWS

OUR FINEST PRODUCE

LUNAN BAY, ANGUS, SCOTLAND

Ready To Eat In 4 Minutes
Cauliflower Cheese Mash
Cauliflower Cheese Mash
Luxury Creamy Mash
Luxury Creamy Mash
Neep Mash
Neep Mash
Cheesy Mash
Cheesy Mash
Farm Mash
Farm Mash
Root Veg Mash
Root Veg Mash
Our Produce
Yes — Upper Dysart Farm is our family farm near Lunan Bay in Angus, where we live and work. We’re proud to have built a quick-cook mash and tatties business, a vending machine farm shop (the Larder) and a family-friendly visitor attraction (Hay & Play) on our land and we love welcoming people from near and far every day.
Everything we do — from our farming, to food production, to the Larder and the animals we look after at Hay & Play — is geared towards being environmentally responsible. We take our role as custodians of this land seriously and we ensure that land has time to regenerate, as well as protecting animal habitats and planning for the long-term health of the soil under our feet.
We are actively involved in the rural community and farming networks in Angus and beyond. Various members of the family have taken part in rural leadership programmes and in the past we have welcomed farming leaders from across the world to Upper Dysart.
Upper Dysart Farm is the headquarters for our sister business, Stirling Potatoes Ltd, and we’re proud to produce Scottish potatoes for major retailers across the country. We grow and harvest potatoes on Upper Dysart Farm as well as partner farms across the region.