DUMBLE BUS – HIGHLAND COW AND WILDLIFE ADVENTURE
Take a Highland Cow Safari on the Dumble Bus, for a fun and factual adventure for all ages on a purpose-built tractor and trailer ride, (which is fully weatherproof with comfy seats) around the scenic Dumble Farm, followed by tea/coffee and a slice of delicious homemade cake which is included in the price (please let us know if you have any specific food allergies or dietary requirements, we can usually cater for most).
The Dumble Bus Highland Cow Safari and Wildlife tour lasts approximately 1.5-2 hours, the Highlands, History and Habitats tour lasts about 2-2.5 hours. BYOB (Bring Your Own Binoculars!) If you have binoculars, we recommend you bring them to better see the wildlife.
Our Tours
Highland Cow Safari
Ride into the grassy meadows for an interactive and educational tour. Get up close to the majestic Highland Cows and their adorable fluffy calves, there will be plenty of time to photograph these magnificent cattle with their dramatic horns, long flowing coats and cute dossens (fringes) tumbling over their faces. The knowledgeable Dumble Farm farmers will tell you facts about the breed, you can learn their names and all about their different personalities. The cows loved to be fed from the trailer, and there's often opportunities to stroke the soft fluffy calves from the door.
Water and wildlife go together, so Dumble Farm is going wet and wild with an extensive conservation project. In the new wetland area, you will discover how the very special way the Highland cows munch the grass is creating the right habitat for declining bird species to successfully breed.
Hear the story of Tiddy Mun, chief spirit of the marshland, and how he was angered when the marshes were drained.
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Children on the family tour can record what they have seen on our spotting sheets, with a Highland Coo Multi Colour Pen worth £2.95 which they can keep.
Highlands, History and Habitats Tour
Highlands, History and Habitats is a longer and more factual tour for adults only (over 16's). It includes everything on our Highland safari, plus you will learn about the history of Dumble Farm, how the village of Arram was home to people since the Bronze Age. Whilst studying for her archaeology degree, Farmer Fi oversaw the excavations of an Iron Age and Romano-British settlement site on Dumble Farm, handle some of the artefacts and learn about how people were living here over 2000 years ago. Travel through an area known as Arram Carrs, once a deep marshy bog steeped in superstition. Until the late 18th Century, impoverished tenants of the mighty Lord Percy at Leconfield castle, relied on the marsh lands; some supplemented their income by collecting a certain high-quality rush for the Lord’s personal use, this rush was known as the Dumble. Listen to the story of the farm itself, how the family had to rethink the way they were farming, make big changes and diversify because of climate change and the pressures on agriculture. Visit the scenic pond, woodland and flower meadows. Here, along with lots of new trees, hedges and nesting boxes, we are providing habitats for many of our much-loved native wildlife which we'll talk about throughout the tour.
Feel free to ask lots of questions, but above all enjoy the lovely Hull Valley countryside, see its wonderful wildlife and of course the adorable Highland cows.
Herd it on the Grapevine!
We're pleased to announce that we've teamed up with our neighbours, Laurel Vines vineyard & winery, to bring you
"Herd it on the Grapevine!"
This joint visit starts and finishes at Laurel Vines, and consists of a Highlands, History and Habitats Tour on the Dumble Bus, were you can get up close to our cute fluffy highland cows, with a stop mid way for coffee and homemade cake at Dumble Farm, a vineyard and winery tour, where the Laurel Vines team will show you around the 15,000 vines and take you into the winery to explain how they create their award winning wine. Then finally a picnic for 2 including; sandwiches, crisps, scones, Harrogate spring water and a bottle of Laurel Vines wine.
(allow 4-5 hours for this tour)
Dumble Deluxe Tour!
This private, three-hour, hands-on tour is the only experience where you get to see all the animals here at Dumble Farm! This tour offers an educational and interactive experience learning about our family’s farming life, and can be tailored around your individual expectations. One of the farmers, Will, James or Fi, will provide you with a unique opportunity to find out what life is like for a Hull Valley farmer. Learn about our history and conservation project, discuss sustainable food production, plus of course meet lots of our furry four-legged friends. After your introduction you will be taken to meet, stroke, groom and feed the animals close to the farm, the young Highlands, affectionate, retired dairy cuddle cows, cheeky goats and alpacas. You will then either walk or be driven in our farm vehicle through our wildflower fields to the ‘water and woodland’ area, here we are creating a mosaic of habitats, where we will look for insects, birds, amphibians or flora, dependent on the time of year. Then into the wet grassland area that attracts many overwintering wading birds, see how we are developing habitats for these declining species, hear about the history of the area and the way the farm has changed over time. Get up close to our main Highland fold with their young calves (depending on the time of year), with an opportunity to feed them. You can find out all about these striking cows with their characterful personalities and see in action the positive environmental role that grass-fed livestock plays in increasing biodiversity. We will have refreshments at a suitable viewpoint and there will be lots of opportunity for photos. Private Tours are for up to three adults, with interests in Highland cattle and livestock farming, environment and ecology. We recommend suitable footwear and clothing for uneven ground and open countryside.
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The Dumble Deluxe Tour is
£175 for 2 people and £225 for 3 people (over16's only),
bookable Mondays-Fridays
and lasts 2.5-3 hours
Bespoke Tours
If you are looking to book something a little different for a birthday,
or special event, if you’ve got friends, family or work colleagues
that would like to have a fun and informative experience together, the
Dumble Bus is available for unique and private bookings. We can
create bespoke and quirky parties for your group, with exclusive
use of the venue.
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Dine at Tiddy’s table
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As farmers we are keen to promote the wonderful range of
ingredients from our region We offer a range of menus using
delicious high quality local food.
Enjoy a picnic, cream tea or Yorkshire tapas on the Dumble Bus
whilst surrounded by Highland cattle and their calves. There will be
lots of time for photos whilst the farmers tell you all about the fold
and the work they are doing to create wildlife habitats. Or you could
visit the cows then have a private picnic with your guests by the
scenic pond or other farm location.
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Want to meet one of our fluffy Highland cows?
You can add one of our Highland cow grooming sessions to your tour.
