Whitebridge is a hamlet on South Loch Ness about 3 miles from Nessies home!
It sits at an elevation of 720 feet above sea level so Spring comes later and Autumn sooner. It is an area of improved grassland for sheep and cattle where no crops are grown. Trees and wildflowers are the only limited source of nectar. It is an area where bees would not naturally survive without intensive management.
Bees will not forage for pollen or nectar in the rain or the cold so production is weather dependent. Poor weather necessitates supplementary feeding to build colony strength for anticipated nectar flows; which may not occur. In some years there is no excess honey.
As it is only possible to take one crop of honey per year its colour may vary from lighter summer honey to darker late summer honey with scientific analysis identifying up to 30 different nectar sources. The primary source may vary year on year and could be white clover, bell heather, wild radish, raspberry, or ling heather. Other important sources include broom, gorse, rosebay willowherb, common knapweed, marsh and creeping thistle.
For these reasons, this is very much a speciality honey for the connoisseur. Unlike commercial honey, this raw honey has only been spun and passed through a course sieve prior to bottling. It retains all of its natural goodness.
Enjoy!
