Cardney Estate near Dunkeld was traditionally a stock farm with sporting activities. When Lewis and Katriona Cameron took on the estate, they aimed to diversify the business by establishing an organic stock farm, an events venue renovated from an unused stone steading, as well as the continuation of traditional country sports, holiday and full-time property lets, rewilded forestry with native species, and other commercial activities.
Cardney has taken a huge financial risk to diversify from the traditional sporting estate into a diversified business with events as its core focus. They have done a huge amount of work in improving buildings, roads and accessibility. They used traditional materials for the steading, including stone from nearby Perth prison. Lewis has done a huge amount of work himself as a joiner and groundsman. They aim to employ local people as often as possible in terms of all their building work, which will continue this autumn with a new dining room overlooking a loch. They employ many local trades, fill local hotels with their guests, and bring many people to the area for events ranging from weddings to concerts and conferences.
Cardney has had an impact on the local economy as they host around 50 events per year, including weddings, conferences, and concerts. Local hotels have had a great deal of business, as have buses, taxis, caterers, AirBnBs, an events coordinator, part-time bar staff and local tradespeople. Maintaining an events venue requires constant care and attention from the Camerons as well as local tradespeople including decorators, electricians, fencers, plumbers – the list goes on! Lewis and Katriona host charity fishing events with AFYD – Anglers For Youth Development
The Camerons have tried to upcycle as much as possible in their renovations. They upcycled materials such as feeding troughs, grain thrashers for light fittings, as well as stone from Perth Prison in their renovations. They replanted sections of forestry with the intention of rewilding, using native tree species. The Camerons decided to farm their sheep and cattle organically and offer the supply of venison from the estate for events.