The Black Shed: An Interview with Blair Hunter

We offer The Black Shed for folk who truly want to find a place to relax and unwind – for that reason we operate weekly stays from Saturday to Saturday as self catering accommodation. Being based on the Isle of Skye can mean the journey to get here is longer for some but the trip is part of the adventure and so worth it when you get here! Completed in 2008, The Black Shed not only won an award for its architectural design but was also one of the first of its kind and a trail blazer in contemporary rural building, using natural materials and with a strong focus on sustainability. The site was perfect, with the Macleod Tables as an impressive backdrop, and the sea loch views below on display from the big shed doors.

The idea was born from the need to replace the large worn out sheep shed that was part of the Skinidin croft. The old roof was falling in, the corrugated wriggly tin well worn and the sheep long gone.

We wanted to create something that wouldn’t make a big impact visually and that would sit well on the hillside as if nothing had changed at all. It was important to us that the shed was replaced with a shed – painted black it would blend into its surroundings and taking inspiration from the agricultural building that was here before we chose to timber clad externally and top with a corrugated roof. The industrial aesthetic follows through to the interior with a polished concrete floor, exposed structure and sawn timber linings on the walls and ceilings – softened with Harris Tweed curtains as a space divider.

In 2019 we took over the old hotel in the village 3 miles away and since then, whilst riding out the Covid storm and subsequent aftermath, we have developed our Fire Restaurant with Rooms / Coffee Shop & Deli. With a life long passion for cooking over fire my husband Tim took over the kitchen in 2020 and, with our son Ruairidh, took the fire inside to cook over flames, smoke and embers enabling them to coax amazing flavours from the abundant local produce on our shores. We work with dedicated fishermen from around the island and a regenerative farm based over in Forres with their grass fed livestock and wild venison from the estate.

We grow our own vegetables, salads, herbs and soft fruit on our Croft when the weather and wildlife allow! We collect the veg waste from the restaurant and make compost with it up at the croft so we can use the liquid fertiliser on the veg beds and poly tunnels – so it's pretty circular!

Our passion for all things sustainable is at the root of everything we do – across all aspects of both businesses. We only use natural fibres and materials across both businesses – and we have repurposed, recycled and upcycled all our furniture and fixings wherever we can to lessen our footprint.

Since the opening of The Black Shed in 2011 we have always worked with local artists and makers for our homeware accessories, crockery and soft furnishings etc in both businesses and opening up The Dunvegan gave us a platform to showcase their work to a larger audience – Skye Weavers, Skio Pottery, Edinbane Pottery, Patricia Shone ceramics, Cat Lenz ceramics, Skye Woodcraft, Woodcraft by Eoghain, Chapel Croft Creatures, Skye Skyns, Skye Soaps, Island Botanics, Monique Bervoet baskets, paintings by Judith Machlachlan and Sarah Bold, jewellery by Loufylou and photographer Tony Jacobs. Wherever we can give a shout out to other creatives we do.

I first came to Skye on honeymoon with my late husband Charlie and it's because of his Scottish family ties that we chose to move here and I never looked back. My own childhood memories are of visiting my grandparents in South America and the wild free landscapes resonated strongly with me – plus the sheep. My family were sheep farmers in Patagonia and I guess the lure of open spaces ran deep. I don’t see me being anywhere else and am so happy that my children have had the privilege of growing up here – a fairly feral existence running free and wild on the croft. Better still that they haven't yet wanted to leave.

Having spent my childhood helping my Mum renovate an old Victorian suburban house and then later renovating 2 old flats in Columbia Road in the east end of London – I knew I didn’t want to waste any more time plastering, sanding and tiling. The traditional Croft House we live in is timber lined and after considerable time renovating that too it became obvious that the only sustainable way forward was timber lining. Once complete you never have to paint or decorate again – it looks and feels warm and cosy. The under floor heating beneath the polished concrete floor is serviceable and easy to maintain whilst also acts as a perfect thermal store topped up when the sun comes out and hits the large picture windows.

My inspiration came from absorbing influences from my past working life in the fashion industry with a ‘less is more’ approach under Giorgio Armani's perfecting gaze and a ‘form follows function’ with Margaret Howell's disciplined approach – Both amazing designers I was incredibly privileged to work with and left a lasting impression on me and that still runs deep – alongside the magpie hoarding habit developed from inheriting cherished family heirlooms that I have to find a home for.

I like them to walk into the space and hope that they feel a sense of peace and tranquility in an uncluttered, relaxed, homely place to stay. A shelter from the elements and a window/portal to the glorious scenery and surroundings just on the doorstep.

Wild on the outside and calm on the inside.

Early morning coffee on the porch, overlooking Loch Dunvegan.

Breakfast on the bench, gazing up MacLeod's Tables whilst planning the best route onto the ridge.

A walk up MacLeod's Tables with a simple lunch and flask of tea on the top or a nip of our favourite Torabhaig whisky!

In the afternoon, an early booking at The Dunvegan for a Fire Dining Tasting Menu, comfortably ending to allow a choice of spots to watch the sunset over Loch Dunvegan

Slow-tourism has been a long-time mantra for us – so your itinerary should be spread over the week and not trying to race between the obvious hotspots! Checking out Hidden Scotland's itinerary planner to fine tune individual tastes.

A hike up MacLeod's Tables – on a clear day with 360-degree views out towards the ocean and the Hebrides, the Duirinish and Waternish peninsulas, and down towards Orbost, the Cuillins and south Skye. If the timing is right, you’ll see the pair of local golden eagles as you wonder at the mountain streams and waterfalls.

Or exploring an ancient nearby broch to marvel at the building techniques of old – still standing today. We could learn a thing or two from our ancestors and their ability to feel nature and live within it.

To be fair, I just love spending time on our croft and our old house that's nestled into the hillside, designed to face the elements with the front door facing away from the wind, views to the Loch and deep thick stone walls that hold the heat in winter and keep us cool in summer (when we get any sun!) near to a natural spring for the best tasting water and with our Hebrideans roaming the hill with the heather and wild orchids – nowhere better than home and we’re super lucky to be able to call it that and happy to share it with others!