Stonechat Bothy: Ten Years on a Wildlife Croft

Wildlife Croft Skye is a 9-acre croft in South Skye where we have lived for ten years now. Our plan when we moved here was to make the croft as good as we could for native wildlife. There were trees planted already, but they were very small back then. Over the last ten years the trees have matured and there are wildflowers everywhere, and this supports a whole host of native wildlife.

Phil has created a small tree nursery on the croft, and I grow willow for basketry. We also grow a wee bit of food for ourselves. We’ve got fresh herbs growing outside the bothy which guests can use during their stay, and we cut wildflowers and make little arrangements for our guests arriving. We try to make the most of the space on the croft by having several different projects happening, and using the plants that grow here, as well as leaving undisturbed areas for wildlife to thrive alongside our activities.

Phil and I had worked for conservation charities in the past, so we took a lot of ideas and inspiration from the wildlife reserves in Scotland that we had worked on. We started by cutting back rushes and Molinia, and discovered there were so many wildflowers in the seedbed just waiting to come up. We planted lots of native hedging, dug some wildlife ponds and other than that we mostly let nature do its thing.

It’s really diverse across the croft, with many different plant species thriving in different areas, and this in turn supports a wide variety of birds, invertebrates, mammals and even amphibians and reptiles. I think our guests enjoy the birdsong, wildflowers and butterflies the most. We have also planted lots of fruit trees and fruit bushes and have a polytunnel to grow some vegetables.

Stonechat Bothy was already here operating as a holiday cottage before we bought the croft, and this was part of the attraction for us, as we knew we would need income to help us manage the croft the way we wanted to, whilst raising a family. We have both worked in a variety of jobs locally since we moved here, but the income from the holiday cottage really helps us to raise our family here, and juggle parenting alongside working and managing the croft. Our original plans have evolved over the years, with us figuring things out as we go along and seeing what works for our family. We always have more ideas than time and energy.

With Stonechat Bothy I made it my ideal little sanctuary, filled with books and blankets. It’s a quiet place to be immersed in nature, whilst also having lots of comfort and cosiness. I think I took a lot of inspiration from the bothy on Handa Island, a seabird reserve, where we both lived and worked before we met and moved to Skye.

It’s been so lovely to discover the diversity of wildlife there is here. There are always new things we hope to see, and our expectations have been totally exceeded. Some of our memorable highlights have been a Beautiful Demoiselle dragonfly, our first Merveille du Jour moth and even a Black Grouse! I don’t think we could have imagined just how good it would be for birds and invertebrates.

Sometimes I feel we might have bitten off more than we can chew taking on this croft, but on the days when the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and there are butterflies everywhere, I remember what it’s all for. I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world. I’m so grateful our kids get to grow up here. I don’t know what it’s taught me, I just feel really lucky that we get to live here and can share it with people.

I want our guests to be able to completely relax and unwind – enjoy the views, the space, the weather, and the natural landscapes of this part of the island. Stonechat Bothy is completely hidden away within the croft and you feel totally secluded in nature while you are there, whilst at the same time having a fantastic view over to the mountains on the mainland. It is a lovely place to come back to after exploring the island.

If the weather is good our guests can enjoy the garden furniture and the peace and quiet, and if it’s wild outside Stonechat Bothy is a really nice place to relax with some local food, a good book and a fire. Either way our guests always have a really special time. With a big comfy sofa and massive windows you can watch the weather and feel snug even on the wildest Hebridean days. I want our guests to remember their stay for a long time and leave feeling really nourished, and hoping to return one day. From Stonechat Bothy you can’t see any other house or roads, just trees, hills and flowers.

There are so many great local businesses here to explore and support. Visitors will find interesting independent shops, cafes and artists’ studios all over the island. I love the Selkie Collective, Armadale Stores, Lenz Ceramics, Bùth na h-Abhainn, Cafe 1925, Market Kitchen and Lean To Coffee, but guests discover their own little gems. Just explore!

We recommend using the Walkhighlands website to find the perfect walk. I also like Torabhaig Distillery and the museum at Armadale Gardens, which are both great options if the weather isn’t on your side. It’s worth looking at the SEALL website to find out if any events are happening locally during your stay. An Crùbh, just a 5-minute drive from us, holds regular events such as music, films and markets, as well as having a cafe, shop and post office.

If you feel adventurous you can contact South Skye Sea Kayak for a wee trip out on the water, and my favourite day out is on the rib over to Canna from Elgol with Bella Jane Boat Trips. For dinner we love the Sprig in Broadford, or if you want to eat in you can get local fresh Drumfearn Mussels from our neighbours’ honesty box. We are always happy to help our guests plan their time here depending on their interests.

I want to create a space for hosting craft workshops on the croft, so that I can offer basket making and willow weaving workshops in future. A little studio would be great, but that is a longer-term wish. There is a lot of practical work to do now that the trees are getting so big, and processing firewood for ourselves and our guests is a big job in the winter. Croft-wise, just keeping on top of everything keeps us busy.

For Stonechat Bothy it’s the same really: we always like to keep everything inside updated and fresh. We enjoy creating little areas for guests to use, so maybe creating a few more picnic benches and paths for guests to explore around Stonechat Bothy will be next.

My favourite spot to visit nearby is Leitir Fura, a beautiful woodland walk to a cleared village. It’s only a five-minute drive from Stonechat Bothy and is filled with history and native wildlife, and you get great views of the Sound of Sleat and across to the hills of Knoydart.