In late 2007 we acquired the tenancy of a 14-acre traditional croft at 11 Bun a’ Mhuillin on the neighbouring island of Eriskay (which is connected to Uist by a 1½-mile causeway).

Since then we have been hard at work bringing the croft land back into productive order, supplying fresh organically-grown food for our own table and seasonal surpluses for neighbours and visitors.

Two existing derelict houses are to be replaced with a single new croft house which will, from Easter 2009, be available year-round for self-catering holidays for up to 4 people in three bedrooms.

North Uist-based Fraser Architecture is designing the new house to respect the building traditions - materials, scale and proportions - of crofting townships across the islands. Yet this will be no dull recreation of a mythical yester-year: the house will have a contemporary feel both in terms of aesthetics and practical living: it will be light, airy and spacious, but will also set an example in environmentally sustainable construction and living.

Above all else, however, the house will make the most of the truly special qualities of its site and context - not least the spectacular views across the Sound of Eriskay, and the setting on an actively-worked Hebridean croft.

A planning application for the new house has now been submitted, and drawings are available here. The detailed design is now in progress, with a view to starting construction work as soon as planning permission is granted in late August. More news to follow over the coming weeks!

Tariffs will be finalized and first bookings accepted later in the year - certainly no later than Christmas 2008, when construction will be well advanced and we can be confident of completion dates. In the meantime, if you’d like us to send you an occasional ‘newsletter’ with photos, plans etc, as the project progresses, just let us know [No unwanted mail - guaranteed!]

Denise and Jonathan Bridge