10/2/22

We’ve been appointed to deliver the marketing campaign to publicise Lanarkshire Larder’s food + drink trail map — overseeing branding, web development, design, social media campaigns, marketing emails, videography + photography, digital advertising, influencer partnerships and public relations.

Discover some of the UK’s best food and drink at this secret foodie destination ↓ Download the map here.

For over 800 years Lanarkshire has pioneered food production in Scotland, yet few people could point it out on a map. So what can food tourists visiting this region expect? The oldest bakery in Scotland for starters. In 2020, Alexander Taylor Bakery, which has been run at the same site by the Taylor family for six generations, marked 200 years in business. It’s fair to say they know a thing or two about baking a loaf a bread.

They are at stop number three on Lanarkshire Larder’s new food trail alongside 26 other food and drink producers, each with their own fascinating stories.

At the other end of the 48-mile trail, at stop number twenty, is The Crown Inn, a 17th Century coaching inn where the local ale has been flowing since the 1600s. Mid-way en route is a Saturday market with a difference, housed in a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The New Lanark market sells, amongst other locally-made artisan delights, its own award winning ice-cream; a marked shift from its origins as Robert Owen’s social utopian mill village.

These three stops alone add up to a good day out, but there are over twenty equally-appealing food and drink gems to tick off the list, including farms shops, butchers, delis, distilleries, cafes and restaurants. Overnight stays can be accommodated at one of the six hotels on the trail, including one in a restored castle.

The trail itself is rich in natural beauty wending its way past waterfalls and lochs as it skims the brooding Tinto Hill to continue past artist Ian Hamilton Finlays’ Little Sparta before reaching The Wee Farm Distillery, its final destination. The farm’s well-stocked shop sells small-batch gins, perfect for sipping in the hot tub at their luxury holiday cottage.

Sitting at the heart of Scotland, Lanarkshire boasts a long and proud heritage. Since the 12th Century the sheltered, fertile soil of the Clyde Valley has provided rich pickings, and the area remains a major force in Scotland’s food and drink industry. The fertile pastures covering much of Lanarkshire have helped produce some of the country’s best beef, venison, lamb, dairy and cured meats. Throughout the region there are entrepreneurial artisan producers, farm shops, cafes, breweries, distilleries, hospitality venues who are committed to using local produce.

With almost 60 members, Scotland’s newest food group also offers opportunities for producers and retailers to promote the provenance of the produce to the people of Lanarkshire and beyond. A full list of members by category can be found here: https://www.lanarkshirelarder.com/members