Croft

Shetland
Croft
Croft Croft
42 • Updated 9 months ago
We have lived on Papa Stour (approx 18 residents)for 52 years,, gradually building our house and Croft from an old stone ruin and raising a family. Be aware that As an older couple we are now less able to be alongside participating in Croft activities at all stages and you need to be happy to work alone or with other WWOOFER S. We have hosted Conservation Volunteers and WWOOFER’s from all over the world since the 1980’s, resulting in many enduring friendships. Our Croft (small farm) is on the island of Papa Stour, which is in the Shetland group of islands, approximately 200 miles north of the Scottish mainland. We have a 40 breeding ewes, mostly Texel / Cllyn crosswhich are located both on the Croft . Also a small flock of Shetland sheep on the ‘apportionment’ on the remote uncultivated side of the island. Lambing is usually one of the highlights of our year and is from late April into May. We have several walled garden areas in which we grow a variety of vegetables, all according to Organic and Permaculture principles. We also rear and breed our own chickens .Finn is our working sheep dog. The property itself is adjacent to the sea, with its own beach and with various spectacular cliffs and caves nearby. We also manage our own native woodland eco burial site. Tasks on the Croft varies according to the seasons; Anything from lambing, clipping, butchering (we eat our own produce, including lamb), egg production, composting, veg growing, fencing, cutting weeds, collecting seaweed, dry stone walling, hay making and peat cutting. We have a number of rooms available in the main house, including a double en-suite. We also have a self contained wooden cabin for a couple. We are very sociable and main meals are usually taken communally. We hope you will be prepared to take a turn of the cooking requirement. For further information on Papa Stour please visit https://www.papastourhcg.org/ Ben Fogul Scotlands Sacred Island Series. Certifications: Not certified due to cost of getting inspection in Shetland Internet access available
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Poultry farming
Sheep or goat farming
Seed saving or production
Meat processing
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Bakery
Food justice / sovereignty
Mechanics / tools / technology
Methods or systems
Biological pest control
Holistic management
No-till farming
Permaculture
Regenerative agriculture
Host type
Self-sufficiency property
89 Hectares | 220 Acres
Accommodation
3 WWOOFers
Bedroom
Cabin / Mobile-home
Children not accepted
Pets not accepted
Meals
Omnivore
Length of stay
3-4 weeks
Over a month
Andy & Sabina
Andy & Sabina
Member since 2010
Languages spoken: English
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Response rate: 100% Response time: typically within 3 days
Shetland
Overnight NORTHLINK ferry from Aberdeen on Scottish mainland to Lerwick in the Shetland Islands or 'plane: Aberdeen/ Sumburgh: Bus to ferry toWest Burrafirth: Ferry to Papa Stour.
Feedback
Sofia
Sofia
United States • October 2026
I had a very nice three weeks on Papa Stour. Andy and Sabina were sweet and accommodating, and the island itself is unbelievably beautiful. I loved exploring the landscape, eating from the garden and taking walks with Finn the sheepdog. While I was here I helped paint sheds, tend the garden, sort sheep, turn hayfields and more. Although the work takes up most of the time here, it's physically fairly light and leaves you time to yourself in the afternoon and evenings. I got lots of work done on college applications while I was here, which their lovely upstairs sitting room lent itself to especially well. Shetland is an amazing place and the home Sabina and Andy have built over the years is truly special.
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Nolan-Patrick
Nolan-Patrick
Canada • September 2026
Had a lovely 3 week stay at [Host] in September. Tasks were varied (tending to chickens, putting up new fencing, harvesting potatoes, some painting, gathering up hay, one day working with sheep) and did not feel overbearing. While work was often solo (apart from the dog Finn, who is delightful company), Andy and Sabina were available if I had questions or needed some form of support. The daily structure felt good, with more than reasonable work times. While the other WWOOFers and I helped out in the kitchen, Sabina is the real star here, whipping up delicious, warm, comforting home cooked meals for lunch and dinner most work days. The croft itself is very comfortable and had everything I felt I needed for a comfortable stay. Papa Stour is also a great place for a walk: you can get from one end to the other in just an hour, but you can easily wander along the winding cliffsides for hours, every cliffside more stunning than the last. I also got to meet some community members, and it was really fun to hear their stories and those of the island. Overall I had a great experience and I highly recommend it to anyone looking to go somewhere remote and experience life on a croft. Big thanks to Andy and Sabina (and Finn!) for having me!
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Roisin
Roisin
United Kingdom • September 2026
I had a lovely time at Andy and Sabina's! There were varied tasks to do and I appreciated getting to do inside jobs when it poured with rain, but also getting to spend lots of time outside the rest of the time. They are very interesting people. I loved having Finn the dog accompany us on our jobs on the farm. I also enjoyed the variety in jobs, there are many different things to do. The room was lovely and they have a great sitting room for hanging out in the evening. The food is delicious and very filling! The island itself is gorgeous and fun to explore. Knowing that you have one day off on Sunday was important for me to know :) and there are set working hours, although these can change slightly based on what is needed.
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Madeline
Madeline
United Kingdom • August 2026
Andy and Sabina’s Croft is an absolutely lovely space. We spent our days building fences, weeding gardens, and helping out with other household items. The schedule was clear from the start and Finn the dog was always around for a cuddle :) Sundays you have free - which we spent exploring the island. Conversations with Andy and Sabina did get interesting as they do not hold back their beliefs, and strongly encourage you to share yours. We understand that this is their home and that they are strong advocates for free speech. We mention this in the review because we think it’s important to mention for people who may not be comfortable with this. At times it was an informative debate, but at others we felt uncomfortable about some of the rhetoric that was being conveyed. We would suggest going to the Croft with a friend or partner and an understanding that you may participate in some difficult conversations. Overall, we learned a lot during and from this experience, and Papa Stour is certainly an island worth the visit.
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Craig
Craig
United States • July 2026
I stayed for one month on Papa Stour with Andy and Sabina and had a really nice time. I mostly worked in the garden and in the hay fields, and also with the sheep, which was a lot of fun. Andy and Sabina are excellent hosts and I felt very much at home. Papa Stour is a rather remote and isolated island, don't expect to be spending time in the city every weekend, but if you are looking for a peaceful place to get away then I can highly recommend WWOOFing here.
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Birgitt
Birgitt
Belgium • July 2026
We’d like to thank the hospitable crofters for giving us the opportunity to immerse ourselves in their project and get a glimpse into their life on the island. Over the course of their lives, Sabina and Andy have created a paradise that absolutely must be preserved. There’s plenty to do there—a wide variety of tasks. And the food is fabulous. And when you look up from your work, there’s this incredible light and tranquility; all you can hear are the birds or the sheep. We wish them many more helpful and enthusiastic WWOOFers who can enjoy life and work there alongside them. Thank you!
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