Bees at 200m?

Dave:-) · Aug 3, 2015

I'm thinking of starting beekeeping but live in the scottish highlands at 200m and don't know if bees will be okay. There is a bee keeper in the village of Monymusk but thats down the hill at about 100m they make some great heather honey. winter can be long so need some advice please.

jenkinsbrynmair · Aug 3, 2015

I've set up hives in the highlands of Lesotho at 3,000 m and they are still doing fine. it's more of a question of what forage you have available within a couple of miles radius

Greggorio · Aug 3, 2015

I was going to say I live at 350m and didn't even assume it would be an issue anyway

Into the lions den · Aug 3, 2015

Dave:-) said:
I'm thinking of starting beekeeping but live in the scottish highlands at 200m and don't know if bees will be okay. There is a bee keeper in the village of Monymusk but thats down the hill at about 100m they make some great heather honey. winter can be long so need some advice please.

Lol...wonder if that's me...the bright yellow and green things.

For year round placement 200m should be ok, subject to careful selection of site. We go as high as 400metres for seasonal heather sites and even 450 if its very sheltered. Much depends on your aspect. If you are in a sunny location open to the south, but sheltered from the arc from NW round to NE you can just about keep them anywhere with adequate forage.

200m in that part of Aberdeenshire will be not to bad a place compared to some of the places beekeepers in the northern or western isles have to cope with.

Dave:-) · Aug 3, 2015

thanks for your help. We have hills covered in heather within 100m of the house and we also are sheltered from the wind.

jenkinsbrynmair · Aug 3, 2015

the heather will give forage in late summer -was thinking of the rest of the year - you'll just have to adapt your beekeeping accordingly, hopefully someone with the same kind of surrounding will post in reply soon - in addition to Murray I mean