Generations of Heritage: The Story of Knockraich Farm
From a Family Vision in 1955 to a Multi-Award-Winning Scottish Destination
1955 — Houses, Herds, and Beginnings
The Knockraich story truly began in 1947 when Robert Rodger Snr arrived as the farm manager. Instantly falling in love with the land, he took the bold leap to purchase the farm in 1955, establishing it as both the permanent family home and the foundation of our agricultural business.
Today, that legacy lives on through Robert Rodger Jnr. Our proud tradition of breeding and milking a closed herd of British Friesian cattle continues uninterrupted. As custodians of this beautiful corner of Stirlingshire, our driving inspiration remains entirely unchanged: a deep desire to protect our environment and ensure our cows graze happily in the lush, green fields for generations to come.
2002 — Woven into the Courtyard: Making Interiors
The historic farm courtyard found a new creative purpose when Katy Rodger Making Interiors officially opened its showroom and workshop doors. Specialising in the bespoke design and artisan manufacture of hand-crafted curtains, blinds, and luxury soft furnishings, it brought a vibrant, design-led energy to the heart of the farmstead.
2006 — A New Gathering Place: The Courtyard Café
In a beautiful preservation of farm heritage, a traditional calf shed within the courtyard was lovingly converted into The Courtyard Café. Opening its doors alongside the interior design showroom, it quickly became a beloved destination, welcoming locals and travellers alike with fresh, light lunches, spectacular home baking, and exceptional artisan coffee.
2009 — From Field to Fridge: The Artisan Dairy
Milking the herd wasn’t enough; we wanted to share its pure quality directly. In 2009, we opened the Katy Rodger’s Artisan Processing Dairy. Utilising whole, un-homogenised milk straight from our own British Friesian cattle, we began handcrafting our signature ranges of live yogurts, fresh cheeses, luxury ice creams, and real farm milk.
2012 — Crowned Product of the Year
Our dedication to traditional dairy craftsmanship captured the national spotlight. The Katy Rodger’s Artisan Dairy range swept the prestigious Scotland Food & Drink Awards, winning top honours in both the Retail and Catering categories, before ultimately taking home the highest accolade of the night: Scotland’s overall ‘Product of the Year’.
2015 — Flourishing Orchards & The Tin Shed
Innovation blossomed across the estate. We proudly hosted our very first wedding at The Tin Shed, unveiling an enchanting, rustic-luxury venue for couples. Simultaneously, our kitchen gardens and orchards entered a golden era—bountifully supplying the café with fresh, naturally grown fruits and vegetables, while Ian turned our orchard apple harvest into fantastic, crisp craft cider.
Present Day & Looking Forward
The history of a real working farm is always shaped by resilience. While the global challenges of recent years tested us all, the spirit of Knockraich never wavered. We utilised that time to construct a brand-new kitchen extension for the café, expanding our culinary capabilities to serve you even better.
Today, our doors are wide open. Whether you are walking down the aisle in The Tin Shed, relaxing in the café, or enjoying our artisan butter at home, you are stepping into a living story. We stand immensely grateful to the loyal customers, independent stockists, and friends who have championed us through the years. The future at Knockraich is bright, sustainable, and crafted entirely with love.