APISCOTIA 2026

This enjoyable weekend of beekeeping is for SBA members who hold the Basic Beekeeping Certificate, who have been keeping bees for a few years, and who are ready and willing to support novice beekeepers in their area to keep bees well. This is also an excellent weekend for those looking to work towards their Intermediate exam.

MEET, LEARN, SHARE

MEET

Join us at 4pm on Friday 22nd May for a tour of the Dumfries working farm. Followed at 5pm with a hands-on workshop, bring a sample of your bees for our workshop ‘Under the Microscope – Detecting Nosema’. This is free to attend and open to residential and non-residential participants, just remember to add it to your booking.

The Saturday and Sunday sees a full program of lectures, workshops and apiary practicals.

Make the most of your weekend by staying on site until Monday morning, when we have organised a guided tour of Dumfries House itself (only £17.50 and open to all delegates)

OR enrol in our Train the Trainers course, which is being held onsite on Monday with Margaret Murdin, NDB. This can be booked separately via the SBA Events page on the website, click here.

Sunday night accommodation in the bunkhouse is also available, again please add this to your booking.

LEARN

Our base for the weekend of the 22nd to 24th of May is the MacRobert Farming and Rural Skills Centre. We’ll split into groups and participate in several sessions each day, led by our excellent course tutors: Andy Watson, Graham Torrie, Ilona Shilliday, Malcolm Watson, Margaret Murdin NDB, Matthew Richardson, and Yvonne Davidson.

Across the 2 days the sessions will cover best practice in:

Resilient Beekeeping                       Queen Rearing

Grafting Techniques                        Breeding for Varroa Resistance      

Local Bees & Drones                       Making a Cell Raising Colony

Engaging the Community              Record Keeping

Introduction to Microscopy & Plant Anatomy

SHARE

Relax and get to know others on the course in the Tamar Manoukian Residential Centre when we all get together. With breakfast, lunch, and snacks included for everyone each day, you won’t go hungry.

OPTION 1: RESIDENTIAL, STAY ONSITE FOR THE WEEKEND

Are you ready for an adventure with friends? We’ve booked the on-site residential centre, aka The Bunkhouse, which comprises separate male and female dormitories with bunk beds for two to eight guests per room. With a variety of extra activities on offer this is the fun place to be.

Residential – Course fees, meals, accommodation on Friday & Saturday – £330

Make the most of your visit to this lovely estate by staying on site until Monday morning. Add Sunday night dinner, bed and breakfast for £120.

If bunk beds aren’t for you, there’s alternative accommodation in the surrounding areas and also camping and caravan sites. Just choose option 2, Non-Residential.

OPTION 2: NON-RESIDENTIAL, TRAVEL IN EACH DAY

There are plenty of places to stay in the surrounding area with Cumnock a 5min drive away, Kilmarnock and Ayr only 20min by car.

Non-Residential – Course fee incl. all training sessions, breakfast, lunch on Saturday & Sunday £230

Junior members who hold the Junior or Basic Beekeeper Certificates are eligible too. The course and accommodation fee for Juniors is £300 or £200 for non-residents. All Juniors must be accompanied by a paying adult.

BOOKINGS

Tickets are on sale now, please CLICK HERE to book your place. Spaces are limited!

You’ll need your SBA membership number and polo shirt size.