Conscious Couples Blog

Kinkell Byre expands wedding offering after almost 20 years of success

Jan 30, 2023

Kinkell Byre, the exclusive converted barn wedding venue, located on the coast just outside of St Andrews, has launched brand new, high spec, accommodation facilities, as part of an expansion of the business as it looks to celebrate twenty years of being a sought-after wedding venue in 2023.

The ten new cabins, made from natural materials including locally sourced Scottish larch and birch plywood, overlook the ecological conservation project at Kinkell and offer overnight accommodation for wedding guests, but are also available for tourists visiting the area who may require an overnight stay.

The cabins are situated a short walk away from the Byre and, as part of the plans to rewild the farm in which the wedding venue is located, the cabins will eventually be situated in a native wildflower meadow. Taking up to two years to fully establish, the wildflower meadow has just been sown. The aim is to attract wildlife such as birds, bees and butterflies to increase the biodiversity of Kinkell Byre.

Sustainable Wedding Venue Accommodation Scotland

Sustainability is an important focus for the business, which offers a “weddings for the wild” package, including caterers who use locally sourced food and florists who grow their own native flowers locally. The venue suggests several ways to reduce waste and offers means of offsetting the carbon footprint of weddings.

The wildflower meadow is just one part of the major rewilding project on the former arable and livestock farm. Thanks to two significant grants received from the Scottish Government’s Nature Restoration Fund, coupled with support received from the Woodland Trust, numerous volunteers and the Northwoods Rewilding Network, Kinkell Byre has moved closer to achieving its vision of creating a large, connected network of rewilded land and an education eco-hub on the former farm, which covers 100 acres, including 70 acres of grass fields and 30 acres of cliffs.

The rewilding of the land allows natural processes to take hold once again and will reverse the loss of biodiversity caused by intensive farming and will encourage the return of native plants, insects, bees, birds, and larger animals. At the same time, an increase in plantlife will also sequester carbon from the atmosphere. The first stage of the rewilding project has seen 6,430 trees planted, 10 wetlands created, 127 fruit trees planted to encourage bees, insects, and other pollinators, and 981 metres of fencing erected to enable free roaming conservation grazing in the future.

Rory Fyfe, owner of Kinkell Byre, said: “Kinkell Byre offers the opportunity for eco-conscious couples to have a traditional wedding in a landscape rich in nature, who also may be mindful about the impact their wedding may have on the planet. Couples are given the opportunity to plant a native tree for every ten wedding guests, with guests given the opportunity to consider rewilding an acre of land instead of giving a gift to help offset their carbon footprint and contribute directly to a rewilded landscape.

“Our new cabins will also offer the opportunity for wedding guests to stay on site, reducing the amount of carbon emissions created through travel, and will enable them to enjoy more of Kinkell Byre’s incredible natural environment and stunning sea views. Having been a successful wedding venue business for nearly twenty years, going forward we have plans to develop our tourism offering on the farm, giving the chance for tourists to enjoy this part of the world and experience a very unique accommodation offer.”

The ten self-catering cabins are suitable for two people, enjoy a sea view, and come equipped with a table and two chairs, a hairdryer, linen and towels. Within the cabin there is a basic kitchenette, with microwave, kettle, fridge and toaster, and it also includes an ensuite shower room.

As well as being used as a wedding venue, Kinkell Byre is also available for hire as a corporate venue.

For more information on Kinkell Byre and the new accommodation, please visit: kinkellbyre.com

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