We constantly strive to ensure that we offer the highest standards practical. Langside Farm is a member of several tourist organisations and is regularly visited by trained inspectors who carry out a series of thorough and independent checks.

Scottish Tourist Board (VisitScotland)

Scottish Tourist Board gives this description of the grading scheme:

"VisitScotland, formerly known as the Scottish Tourist Board, works all year assessing standards for visitors.
Our Objective Assessment of accommodation gives you a clear indication of cleanliness, ambience, hospitality, service, accommodation standard and food.
Using a scale of 1-5 Stars, it provides the reassurance you need about what to expect before you arrive.
Based on visitor research, this Scheme allows you to distinguish between the quality of the accommodation, and the number of facilities on offer. The 5-Star Grading Scheme shows the full range of standards suitable for every budget and preference.
The variety of accommodation can be seen clearly, from hotels and B&B's, through to inns, lodges, restaurants with rooms and self-catering.
Simple and easy to understand, holiday parks, visitor attractions and hostels are also graded using 5 stars.
With these reliable Quality Assurance schemes, you can trust VisitScotland, knowing that our quality advisors have done all the research, so that you can relax and enjoy your holiday.
To be sure of standards choose accommodation and visitor attractions with VisitScotland star awards. Only with our awards can you benefit from our independent and impartial assessment of quality.
Please note, the name 'Scottish Tourist Board' will continue to be used for our Quality Assurance schemes."

The ratings are:

• 1 star: Acceptable
• 2 stars: Good
• 3 stars: Very Good
• 4 stars: Excellent
• 5 stars: Exceptional

Green Tourism Business Scheme

The Green Tourism Business Scheme is the largest and most successful environmental accreditation body of tourism related businesses in Europe and has over 600 members in Scotland , including accommodation providers, visitor attractions, tour operators and conference facilities. You can be sure that if you visit or stay with one of their members you will not only receive high quality service, but you will also be making a valuable contribution towards improving the environment.

As Gold Award holders in the scheme, we at Langside Farm are committed to providing a good quality service whilst minimising the environmental impact of our activities.

Some of our environmental actions are listed below:

• ENERGY: Wherever possible, we use low energy, compact fluorescent and low voltage reflector light bulbs, both inside and outside. Passive infrared detectors control outside floodlights. On a 'continuous improvement basis' we strive to minimise heat loss - and consequent energy consumption - by adequate use of insulation materials and the elimination of draughts wherever possible. Our central heating system is very environmentally friendly. Heat is supplied by a carbon-neutral biomass boiler that is wood-chip fuelled, burning locally grown timber from a renewable source. This boiler has reduced our fossil fuel derived carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 12.5 tonnes per annum. The central heating system is zone controlled by motorised valves and time clocks and all radiators have thermostatic valves. The biomass boiler also provides most of the domestic hot water. We now use oil only for cooking and some domestic hot water. We monitor our electricity, oil and woodchip consumption.
• WATER: All detergents, washing powders, floor cleaners, etc., are sourced from Ecover and have the optimum level of biodegradability, minimum impact on aquatic life, and are phosphate and chlorine free.
• RECYCLING: We recycle all paper, glass and aluminium cans. We compost all waste vegetable matter and use waste coffee grounds and eggshells to deter slugs in the garden. We use recycled paper for our letterhead, compliment slips and all correspondence, etc.
• SOURCING OF FOOD: We try to source local produce wherever possible and are members of the 'Ayrshire Food Network'. For imported foodstuffs, we try to buy 'Fairtrade' wherever we can.
• TIMBER AND WOODLANDS: We use only fallen timber from our own woodlands on the log fire in the lounge. Hedges, other than roadside hedges, are left only lightly trimmed to provide cover for wildlife.
• LAND: We try to ensure that our grazing land is well fenced and field drains are well maintained at all times.

Bed & Breakfast Nationwide

Bed & Breakfast Nationwide is a small company personally run by two partners, Sue Opperman and Rosemary Lumb, who, with the experience of running a B & B themselves, started the business 15 years ago.
They care about where you stay and how much it costs. They have inspected and selected more than 680 homes that offer high quality accommodation. They have all been visited by their team of friendly experts and chosen because, they say: "We would like to stay there ourselves". They can then be confident in making their recommendations to you.
They do not insist that the homes join other tourist organisations to be graded. They have their own high standard of inspection and all homes must meet their criteria.

Wolsey Lodges

Wolsey Lodges say:

"Wolsey Lodges was founded in 1981 by the East Anglia Tourist Board with thirteen homes. Membership rapidly expanded and today there are 187 members throughout Britain and 9 in continental Europe. Wolsey Lodges have independent inspectors who visit members and new applicants. This is a continuous process as we are proud of our standards and wish to maintain them.
Wolsey Lodges is a collection of private homes, where the standard of hospitality, the location and the individuality of each house and host, has earned its unique place within the market today.The name Wolsey Lodge recalls Henry VIII's Lord Chancellor, Cardinal Wolsey. When he toured the realm in the 16th century, he expected to receive generous hospitality at any suitable country house along his way. This is the service and quality our lodges will want to offer you, wherever you travel within the UK or Europe.
Guests are entertained as family and friends. The experience of a home cooked meal in a friendly dinner party atmosphere in many of the great Wolsey Lodge dining rooms is one that can't be missed. You may also have the companionship of other guests and in some houses the hosts will dine with you."

Scottish Farmhouse Holidays

Scottish Farmhouse Holidays say:

"Dot Destinations' farmhouse team is proud to offer a network of working farms providing bed & breakfast / self-catering accommodation. Each one is quality assured by the National Tourist Board.

• Choose from 'grand' to 'small and friendly' family houses.
• Enjoy peaceful, cultural environments.
  
• Experience what life on a farm is really like... children can have the opportunity to feed lambs and other animals by arrangement with the farmer.
• Affordable prices for short or long stays.

Whether you're on business or on holiday, you will receive a very warm welcome and exceptional value for money when you stay on one of our farms."

Please note: Our land is worked by neighbouring farmers.

Ayrshire Food Network

Langside Farm is proud to be a member of the Ayrshire Food Network (AFN), an informal network involving artisan food producers and fine food providers who use the best Scottish produce from Ayrshire and Arran.
Like other fine food providers, we aim to use fresh locally produced ingredients wherever possible: our very own vegetable garden will be on-stream later this year, and you can't get fresher or any more local than that.
Another local member of the network is Braidwoods Restaurant, just a few miles away.
Howard Wilkinson, Chairman of AFN says: "Ayrshire is renowned worldwide for the quality of its food. The raw materials available here are exceptional meat and game; fish and shellfish; vegetables including the famous Ayrshire 'tattie' and of course Ayrshire Bacon, Ayrshire cheeses, eggs, smoked delicacies and a whole range of sweets and you can see why we are proud of what we produce."

Special Places to Stay

Publisher Alastair Sawday says that he tries to be THE guide for those looking for warm, very human, interesting people; beautiful buildings; fine old things that, however dilapidated, carry their age and authenticity with dignity; delicious food, much of it grown at home and cooked with devotion; a touch of fun with a touch of class; quirkiness with seriousness, a light touch, an easy style; and finally comfort. He says of Langside Farm "Your hosts' gentle intelligence and humour is reflected in their home - the main part dates back to 1745 - with long views to the east. Inside, a well-proportioned Georgian elegance, fresh contemporary artwork (some Elise's) and a snug Aga kitchen. Deep red sofas, pale striped walls, books and lamps draw you in; pretty bedrooms have a period feel and vary in style. Chat in the kitchen, sit by the fire, make yourselves truly at home."