Published February 2026
Video: Peter Eccles - Farming, Fitness and Wellbeing at Caerlaverock Farm
Go BackAt Caerlaverock Farm, fourth-generation farmer Peter Eccles has built a way of life that brings together modern farming, physical fitness and wellbeing for others as well as himself.
In this video, Peter shares his story of growing up on a 150-acre family farm in East Lothian, leaving to gain experience elsewhere, then returning home to take over the business. Alongside farming, rugby played a huge role in his life. Balancing lambing, calving, and harvest with training and matches was demanding, but the structure, camaraderie, and physical release that rugby provided were vital.
When injuries and family life led Peter to retire from rugby in 2019, he did not immediately realise how much the sport had supported his mental wellbeing. Over time, he began to feel the absence of regular exercise, routine and social connection. That realisation led him back to fitness through cycling, CrossFit, functional training and triathlons, creating a new outlet alongside the pressures of running a farm.
This shift marked a turning point. Exercise became a daily non-negotiable, whether a stretch, a gym session, a ride on the gravel bike or a high-intensity workout. For Peter, staying active supports better decision-making, resilience and energy across the working day.
The On-Farm Gym and the Power of Connection
The idea for the on-farm gym came from looking at unused agricultural buildings and asking how they could serve a new purpose. The result is a space that brings people together on the farm to train, connect and share experiences. It reflects the reality of small-scale farming, where working alone can take its toll.
Classes at the farm blend fitness with real farm life. One session even continued while Peter stepped away to assist a calving cow, a moment that perfectly captures the uniqueness of exercising in a working farm environment. It is not a health club experience. It is real, grounded and rooted in rural life.
For Peter, connection is central to wellbeing. Training with others creates accountability, encouragement and space to talk openly. On tougher days, people lift each other. On good days, they share progress and confidence.
