A small East Yorkshire farm with a big heart has put the region on the national tourism map after winning one of the UK’s most prestigious visitor experience awards.
Dumble Farm, near Beverley, has been crowned ‘Gold’ winner for Experience of the Year at the VisitEngland Awards for Excellence, which recognise the very best of the country’s tourism industry.
As the winner of the Remarkable Experience of the Year at the 2024 REYTAs (Remarkable East Yorkshire Tourism Awards) for its unique ‘cow cuddling’ sessions, Dumble Farm was eligible to compete at national level. The farm went on to scoop the top prize at the awards ceremony held at the Brighton Dome Corn Exchange.
Its immersive cow cuddling experience, open to visitors aged 16 and over, offers the chance to connect with affectionate cows in a calming and therapeutic setting. The ‘cuddle cows’ are a mixture of breeds, including retired dairy cows and Highland crosses.
Guests learn about each cow’s character, the story behind the farm, and its wider conservation efforts, which use Highland cattle as conservation grazers.
The experience has become especially popular among visitors seeking mental health and wellbeing benefits, attracting people from a variety of backgrounds and age groups.
Originally a dairy farm, Dumble Farm was forced to close that business due to flooding and industry pressures. It then pivoted to conservation, launching its cow cuddling venture just over two years ago.
Owner Fiona Wilson said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to win the Gold award for Experience of the Year at the VisitEngland Awards.
“The cows are the real stars, of course – they think the award is udderly amazing! They’ve spent nearly a year perfecting their cuddling skills and love bringing joy to our visitors.
“We hope the award will also help us attract investment into our conservation work, which is at the heart of what we do.
“The award ceremony was wonderful – the local food and wine were delicious, and the VisitEngland team made us feel so welcome. We’re also incredibly grateful to Visit Hull and East Yorkshire (VHEY) for their support.
“East Yorkshire is an amazing place. We hope visitors will not only meet our cows but also explore the beautiful farm and surrounding area.”