Educational centre, smallholding
Highland
Glenelg is a very beautiful and quite isolated peninsula that overlooks the Isle of Skye.This is an old manse in its own grounds (3.5 acres) one mile from the sea. We do B&B and self catering and we look after cultural study groups from time to time. Our walled garden is cultivated with two polytunnels, vegetable patch, raised beds and orchard.
The main glen where we are can be reached by a single track road that winds over Mam Ratagan Pass, or in the summer by ferry from the Isle of Skye (2 miles distant from the house). There is an excellent beach one mile away and two miles will take you to our local ferry that crosses to Kylerhea on Skye, a crossing that has been rated as one of the top visitor experiences in the country. The village of Glenelg has a post office and shop which is very well stocked, a coffe shop and an Inn which is very convivial. We have bicycles to help you get around. You can be in the village, the Glenelg Inn, or the beautiful beach at Bernera in a few minutes or you can be at Gavin Maxwell's 'Camusfearna' in under an hour. The famous 'Pictish' brochs of Glenelg can be reached in half an hour. The house is an old manse from the Regency period (1830) with very comfortable rooms. We cultivate the walled garden which presently contains two polytunnels and vegetable beds. The woodland paddock below the house has been used to raise pigs and is registered with the Department of Agriculture. We host occasional visits of student groups, usually from the United States, who come to study arts and culture.
(www.balcraggiehouse.co.uk)
Certifications: Organic but not certified
Internet access available
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Aromatic or medicinal plants, teas
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Bakery
Methods or systems
No-till farming
Host type
Self-sufficiency property
1.2
Hectares
|
3
Acres
Donna
Member since 2012
Languages spoken:
English
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 53%
Response time: typically within 7 days
Highland
Single track road - 7 miles from Shiel Bridge on A87 (Inverness to Skye). Road goes over a high pass and down into the glen where we are, 1 mile short of the centre of the village of Glenelg
Reviews
Kiri
Denmark
•
April 2026
Donna, Eddie, Callum, and Cat are wonderful people and amazing hosts. It was a true pleasure to get to spend time with them and be a small part of the Glenelg community for the days that we were there. Task-wise, Donna is extremely kind and generous with her time, and made it easy to help in the garden by providing lists and explanations when we (as newbie gardeners) weren't exactly sure what we were doing. The whole family was so welcoming in sharing stories and touring around with us. We hope very much to be back again!!
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Claire
United States
•
December 2025
My husband and I could never run out of positive things to say about our time WWOOFing in Glenelg. These are genuine, good folks. We felt so welcomed, shared many laughs and stories, and learned so much. The entire community is a delight and we felt that we made fast friends. The work load was so reasonable and the hospitality was unmatched. I greatly hope our paths cross again someday.
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Elisabeth
Germany
•
July 2025
Wwoofing at Balcraggie was one of the best experiences we've ever had. Donna and Eddie are incrediably welcoming and made us feel like part of their family. We were treated to amazing food and wonderful stories about Glenelg and the surrounding countryside.
The work was really enjoyable. Donna gave us a list of tasks to do in the garden, which she patiently discussed with us beforehand. We could then complete the tasks at our own pace. We learned about pruning tomatoes, the importance of microgreens, and how to compost properly.
They also made sure to show us around Glenelg, taking us to various beautiful spots in and around the village, which we greatly appreciated! :)
We truly loved our stay and hope to return in the near future. Thank you for everything, Donna, Eddie, Kat and Calum!:)
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Lui
Germany
•
June 2025
Donna, Eddie, Callum and Cat are wonderful hosts! It felt like a flat share with friends, where one can join and have a lough or enjoy some quiet time.
The most important thing to keep in mind when staying, always take time to play with their dog Lumi.
The work itself was replanting, seeding, compost preparation and weeding in a large and beautiful garden/polytunnel. We were free to manage our hours and chose from a list of current projects, Donna was very patient in explaining the tasks and her gardening philosophy. We had a lot of free time to explore the beautiful area on bike, getting to know the community of Glennelg. Donna and Eddie also took us to some places by car, sharing their personal stories and histories of the area.
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Eric
United States
•
June 2024
Donna and Eddie were great hosts, showed me around Glenelg as well as Skye. I have to say, Glenelg is a gem of a village and they'll lend you a bike to tour, I highly recommend checking it out. I would recommend Eddie and Donna to anybody wwoofing, they were patient and kind and live in one of the most serene places I've been.
Capucine
France
•
May 2024
I had a great experience at Donna and Eddie's. Glenelg is a beautiful village, facing Skye and surrounded by the Highlands mountains. Donna and Eddie have been really warm and welcoming, making me part of their family and the Glenelg community during my stay.
Donna and I worked in the garden and the polytunnel, sewing, planting and transplanting the seedlings, I learned a lot about regenerating and taking care of the soil. She's very flexible, I could accommodate working hours (mainly according to the weather).
Eddie is fond of teaching and talking about his country and scottish culture, he knows so many stories. We spent nice evenings eating scottish cuisine and chatting at the fireside. They showed me a lot of places around, I could enjoy local music, interesting talks about rewilding and rock climbing.
I would definitely recommend this place for a great wwoofing and human experience!
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