Sponsoring A Highland Cow
- Randi Fine
- Sep 12
- 5 min read
For those of you who haven't heard, one of my absolute favorite things about Scotland is the vast wildlife that seems to have taken over the place. I've made poor Hayden screech to a halt on the side of the road just because I spotted a sheep so cute it should be illegal, or a Shetland pony that I simply had to recruit as my new best friend. I'm on a never-ending quest to spot a puffin, and I can't help but giggle like a schoolkid every time we pass a seal lounging on the beach. Scotland's wildlife is so diverse, it's turning me into a birder faster than you can say "binoculars." But nothing tugs at my heartstrings quite like those shaggy-haired, soulful-eyed Highland Cows.
So, as we embarked on our very serious tour through Inverness, packed with historical tidbits and a dash of "wow, that's old!", I was thrilled that we were taking a chill break at Robertson's Farm and Larder. (Not to knock this tour or anything, but after a marathon of serious historical deep-diving, I was in dire need of a non-history pit stop. Even historians need to hit pause on the past sometimes!) This is where I'd come nose-to-nose with two of the most adorable highland cows ever. I must confess, after whizzing past all the other coos during our oh-so-serious tour, I was more than ready to meet these famous little fluff-balls, who were primed and ready to plaster a goofy grin on my face.
Just as we rolled in, I hit the jackpot! Two charming highland cows were basically begging for a photo shoot. Then there were the alpacas (or maybe llamas—I really need a crash course on that) and a bunch of goats pretending like they hadn’t seen a snack in years. My excitement levels were through the roof! Lately, I’ve developed a soft spot for goats, and these little dudes were practically auditioning for a modeling gig, striking poses on barrels like pros. Meanwhile, Hayden was all about the farm shop snacks, but nothing could drag me away from the fluffy and adorable farm critters (even if cuddling was off the table).
While the duo of fluffy coos were playing it cool, sizing us up to see if we were BFF material, I was busy hanging out with the most adorable goats. I had a sneaky suspicion they were on a treat hunt, but hey, I didn't mind, even if I was totally treat-less.
Before we knew it, our fearless leader Mike from Thistle Excursions (did I mention how absolutely fabulous they are? If not, OMG, 10/10) strutted out of the farm shop with a bucket of goodies for the coos. Just in time, too, because those coos were playing hard to get and our clock was ticking. Thanks to Mike's irresistible snack offering, the coos (who go by Katie and Jamie) decided to grace us with their presence—well, they took their sweet time, but hey, food is food!
I was head over heels for both of the coos, but Jamie, oh Jamie, that stunning black coo, was like a rare coo unicorn (if you know you know) that galloped straight into my heart. I'd never seen a black coo up close, and he had me at "moo." Then there was Katie, the fiery ginger coo, who was like the superstar of the pasture—full of energy, always ready for her close-up, and boy, could she moo for an audience! She was the diva of the field, while Jamie was the mysterious, brooding type, making me jump through hoops just to get a glance. Honestly, it was impossible not to fall in love with these coos and wish this magical part of our adventure would last forever.
Now, the moment Hayden had been waiting for: The Farm Shop extravaganza! I'll confess, I nearly wrestled Hayden to stay with the adorable coos, but once I peeked at the shop's treasures, my jaw hit the floor. I mean, cruising's great and all, but it really cramps my style when I can't haul all the goodies back on board. That day, I was practically weeping over it. There were so many goodies, I was completely overwhelmed as this is Hayden's area of expertise! While Hayden was busy drooling over the smorgasbord of food items, I was on a mission for souvenirs. I quickly nabbed the cutest little black coo stuffed animal, a spitting image of Jamie, to smuggle home. I'm always on the hunt for bookmarks from each stop to jog my memory, and I found the perfect handmade ones, so I snagged two! My only regret? Not grabbing the adorable figurine of a coo reading a book (the hunt for that gem continues, lol). Just as I stealthily slipped a candy bar into Hayden's basket and was ready to make a break for the checkout, Hayden pointed to a sign by the register about sponsoring one of the coos, either Jamie or Katie. Decision time!
With eyes as wide as saucers and clutching my new stuffed Jamie buddy, I began to plead (probably unnecessarily since Hayden was the one who pointed it out) for us to sponsor one of our new fluffy friends. Upon discovering that Jamie and I are birthday pals—just a couple of days apart—I realized that my fellow Leo, who was the spitting image of my cuddly toy, was the perfect choice. We paid for our purchases and they handed me our sponsor package, brimming with info about Jamie, a magnet, some other fun goodies, and a cute heart pin to stick on the board showing where all the coo sponsors are from around the globe. I practically sprinted to the board, eager to plant my pin. I was over the moon that we could help keep these coos happy and healthy. If you want to sponsor one of these adorable critters too, I'll pop a link down below.
It was one of those "pinch me, I'm dreaming" moments. Normally, I'm not the type to get all mushy over little pit stops on our trips, but this one knocked my socks off! I would have completely missed Robertson's if Mike and Thistle Excursions hadn't thrown in this delightful detour. I'm over the moon that they did. My heart was bursting with joy, and our bellies were bursting with snacks for days after. Plus, I've already got email updates on Jamie. I'm babbling about my new coo buddy to anyone who'll lend an ear, and I can't wait to make this a yearly tradition to renew my sponsorship.
For more info on all these wonderful people click links below
To see all the adorable "Moo" moments with Katie and Jamie check out our Instagram!
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