Drone services available in the Scottish Borders
The Borders combine some of Scotland's better arable ground in the Merse around Kelso and Coldstream with extensive hill sheep, estate land and forestry to the west. Typical drone enquiries here:
- Seeding: cover crops, margins, grass reseeding and restoration seeding on ground machinery cannot reach.
- Spreading: fertiliser and granular products on arable ground, hill margins and forestry blocks.
- Forestry, estate and peatland work: access to steep, wet or remote parcels without ground damage.
- Mapping and crop scouting: field records, drainage and land-management baselines across mixed estates.
- Spraying: targeted liquid work where the product, rate and site suit a drone and the operator holds the right permissions.
Local considerations
This is one of the few parts of Scotland with an agricultural drone operator based in the county itself rather than travelling in, which usually means shorter travel charges and more flexibility on dates than farms further west get.
The mix of good arable in the east and hill and forestry ground in the west means the same operator may be quoting very different jobs, so be specific about your ground. A drone rarely beats a sprayer on the flat Merse fields, but it can reach hill margins and forestry blocks that nothing else will.
Spraying licensed pesticides by drone needs a Health and Safety Executive permit, so for pesticide work ask the operator to explain their permissions before booking.
How to find an operator near you
Use the listings below to compare operators covering the Scottish Borders, then send the same brief to two or three so the quotes are comparable. Include field size, postcode, crop or site type, product, access and timing.
Towns and areas we cover in Scottish Borders
Operators covering Scottish Borders take on agricultural drone work, including drone spraying, spreading, seeding and mapping, across the county and the surrounding farmland near Kelso, Duns, Melrose, Jedburgh, Hawick, Galashiels, Selkirk, Coldstream, Lauder and Peebles. Send your postcode and we will check which operators cover your area.
- Drone services near Kelso
- Drone services near Duns
- Drone services near Melrose
- Drone services near Jedburgh
- Drone services near Hawick
- Drone services near Galashiels
- Drone services near Selkirk
- Drone services near Coldstream
- Drone services near Lauder
- Drone services near Peebles
Request a quote in Scottish Borders
Send your field size, crop, product, access and timing, and we will review whether relevant operators covering Scottish Borders may be available.
Frequently asked questions
Who offers agricultural drone services in the Scottish Borders?
The Borders has an agricultural drone operator based in the county, alongside other Scottish and UK-wide teams covering seeding, spreading, mapping, forestry work and specialist spraying. Compare the listings on this page and contact them directly.
How much does drone spreading cost in the Scottish Borders?
Guide figures across the UK start from around £14 per acre for straightforward work and rise for small, awkward or remote sites. Having an operator based locally usually keeps the travel element down, so ask how travel is charged when you compare quotes.
Can drones work on forestry and hill ground?
Yes, and it is one of the clearest cases for using one. Spreading and seeding on steep, wet or remote parcels is work that ground machinery either cannot do or does at significant cost and damage. Ask the operator for evidence from comparable sites.
Is drone crop spraying legal in the Scottish Borders?
The same UK rules apply everywhere: spraying licensed pesticides by drone needs a Health and Safety Executive permit, while spreading granular products, seeding and mapping are more accessible. Ask the operator about their permissions.
