Highland Cow Experiences
BEST FOR
Ages 0+
ENTRY
from £10
SETTING
Outdoors
WHERE
Sheffield
What it’s like
Get up close with Highland cattle, groom a calf, and take an ATV trailer ride round a working farm near Sheffield.
This is a proper hands-on farm visit built entirely around Highland cattle. You pet and groom them, learn a bit about how the herd's hierarchy works, and get a ride round the farm in an ATV and trailer. On the VIP experiences there's even heifer handling and halter training if you've got someone keen enough to try it. The calves are the bit everyone remembers, and there's a chance to pet them on every experience.
It's not a cheap or casual day out. The Hairy Coo Encounter is £12.50 midweek or £15 at weekends, Meet the Coos is £30, and Peak Highland Cattle is £50, with the VIP sessions running £100 to £300 for a group of two to six. Under-3s go free on most experiences, which softens the blow if you're bringing a baby along for the ride. Everything has to be booked online in advance, and the site is upfront that most experiences sell out a month ahead, especially weekends, so this isn't one you turn up to on a whim.
Ages matter here. Meet the Coos suits any age, the Hairy Coo Encounter is best from 5 up, and Peak Highland Cattle is pitched at 12 and older, given the undulating ground and the size of the cattle involved. Under-16s need a participating adult with them, and there's no spectating allowed unless you've booked the Hairy Coo Encounter, where one carer can come along free to take photos rather than get hands-on.
The farm runs whatever the season throws at it, with covered areas and a roofed trailer, though winter means bringing your own coat and wellies for the full shaggy-coat look. The Barn Café is open Wednesday to Sunday for sandwiches, cooked meals and a children's menu, but it's shut Mondays and Tuesdays, even though farm experiences can still go ahead those days if you've pre-booked. Parking's free on site, with accessible parking and toilets too.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- 5 and up for hands-on time; under-3s ride free on the safari
- Booking
- Can only be booked online. Pre-booking required, usually sells out a month in advance
- Parking
- Free car park available on site
- Food
- On-site cafe (Barn Cafe at Whirlow) open Wed-Sun 9am-4pm, serving farm-fresh food including sandwiches, cooked meals, breakfasts, specials
- Wheelchairs
- Most accessible: Hairy Coo Encounter (park in same yard)
- Worth knowing
- Children under 3 years old go free on most experiences (Meet the Coos Safari, Hairy Coo Encounter, VIP Experiences)
- Most experiences sell out about a month ahead, weekends especially, so book well before you plan to go.
- The Barn Café is closed Mondays and Tuesdays, but pre-booked farm experiences can still run those days.
- Pregnant visitors aren't recommended to take part, given the farm animals involved.
- Winter visits show off the cattle's full shaggy coats, but bring your own coat and wellies.
- Calves are born throughout the year, not just in spring, so there's usually a young one to meet.
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
Prices start at £10 a person for the SEND-Friendly Hands-On session. The Hairy Coo Encounter is £12.50 midweek or £15 at weekends, Meet the Coos is £30, and Peak Highland Cattle is £50. VIP sessions run £100 to £300 for a group of two to six.
Do we need to book in advance?
Booking online is the only way in, there's no turning up on spec. Most experiences sell out around a month ahead, so get in early for weekends.
Is it suitable for a toddler?
Meet the Coos Safari works for any age and under-3s go free, sitting on a lap during the ride. The Hairy Coo Encounter is pitched at 5 and up, so it's less of a fit for the very young.
Can grandparents or younger siblings just watch?
Spectators aren't allowed on most experiences. The Hairy Coo Encounter is the exception, with one free carer place to take photos rather than get hands-on.
Is there parking?
There's a free car park on site, plus accessible parking in the same yard as the Hairy Coo Encounter.
What if it rains?
The farm runs year-round and says the experiences aren't affected by British weather, thanks to covered areas and a trailer with a roof. Winter visits do mean bringing your own coat and wellies.
Is there anywhere to eat?
The Barn Café serves sandwiches, cooked meals and a children's menu, but it's only open Wednesday to Sunday. Experiences can still go ahead on Mondays and Tuesdays even though the café's shut.
Are the experiences wheelchair accessible?
The Hairy Coo Encounter is the most accessible, with parking right in the yard. Meet the Coos Safari has a purpose-built wheelchair trailer, though it's worth checking it fits a wheelchair under 2ft wide. Peak Highland Cattle isn't recommended due to uneven ground.
What ages suit each experience?
Meet the Coos suits all ages, the Hairy Coo Encounter is best from 5 up, and Peak Highland Cattle is aimed at 12 and over. Under-16s need to be with a participating adult throughout.
Can I actually stroke the cows?
Only when the team tells you it's safe to. They're friendly, curious animals but still farm cattle that can have an off day, so every experience includes a chance to pet the calves under guidance.
What if I need to cancel?
Bookings become non-refundable once you're past 48 hours from making them, so it's worth being sure of your date before you pay.
Do you sell gift vouchers?
Yes, gift vouchers are available and valid for up to 12 months, though they're non-refundable after 14 days from purchase.
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