Post by Savills

"Agricultural shows are a chance for rural communities to come together, catch up and share ideas. When so much is changing in the countryside, these moments of connection really count." - Hugo Struthers, Head of Scotland Rural Back at the Royal Highland Show, we celebrated the best that rural life has to offer with clients, contacts, and new faces. The topics of conversation we had on the stand were as varied as ever, including: 🟨 Challenges on consumer appetite for spending around leisure & tourism in the first half of this year and a need to offer real experiences to stand out and be successful. 🟨 The need for clearer funding policy in the agricultural sector post 2028. 🟨 Building costs and viability holding back development and the need to engage and work harder on securing consents. 🟨 Infrastructure investment and opportunities remaining a key focus. Across the four days, we also held various events including our Thursday drinks reception, a research breakfast briefing sharing insights from the 2026 Savills Spotlight publications on Forestry, Tourism, and Food, and a panel session that covered practical guidance on planning, strategy and land opportunities. Thank you to everyone who visited us. We look forward to hosting you again next year. Find us at your local show this summer: http://savi.li/6045SxOpL