Smallholding on the flanks of the Spey Valley in Scotland
Moray
1. Describe your project, your place, and its inhabitants (including animals):
We live in open countryside in an elevated position with the nearest neighbour a quarter mile away. The town of Aberlour is 15 minutes walk down the hill where there is everything you need : supermarket, pharmacy, doctor, dentist, hairdressers, delicatessen, takeaways, a bar , an hotel, cafes etc etc. We can lend a bicycle.
Large house and gardens owned and occupied by a retired couple who keep sheep, grow vegetables and flowers, keep bees and have two dogs and two cats. We refuse to use any pesticides or non-organic fertilisers which means it is a challenge to keep control as we get older. We have solar panels and batteries and an independent sewage system, filter bed and soakaway. We love birds, feeding them generously particularly during the winter, and we try to protect the biosphere in general. We make our own fermented food and drinks. Altogether we buy into the organic ethos without going over the top.
2. List the activities that WWOOFers will participate in and what you want to teach them:
Garden and grounds maintenance. Nurture of flowers, vegetables and wildlife.
3. How will you feed and house WWOOFers? Please describe your accommodations and plan for meals:
Food and board will be provided. If we all get on well together you will share the food we prepare most of the time. We will not always want to eat together but that is more likely to happen if we collaborate successfully in the kitchen. We eat well and healthily and would not expect WWOOFers to eat any worse or constantly feel hungry.
We will provide a bedroom with a good double bed and mattress, a built in wardrobe and your own bathroom with a bath and separate shower in a part of the house away from our bedroom... providing full privacy. At night there is total silence and fresh air you could drink.
The property sits on the side of the valley with wonderful views and big skies. It is a very peaceful place to spend time outside.
I you are a smoker we would prefer it if you found another host. Kathryn suffers from asthma and is very sensitive to smoke and ash.
There will be a review period of 7 days from the start of your stay after which if either party wishes to drop out of the arrangement it will be accepted gracefully by the other party. This has not happened since we started WWOOFing in spring 2024.
4. What could a WWOOFer's day look like at your site (time slot for participation in activities, expectations...)?
We would expect to share activities at Woodside so that you derive a greater knowledge of everything we do. Base arrangement would be 9 until 1 pm each day during the week but we would be happy to shift hours around to keep everyone happy.
5. Play the guide! Talk about your own hobbies (music, cooking, etc.) and those possible around (hiking, swimming, etc.):
We do a lot in the garden during the summer. We have two black labradors which we walk liberally across the landscape. We forage for wild mushrooms when they come, make honey and go to the beach about a half hour drive to the North. You can swim at a local waterfall or in the river Spey (within walking distance) or at the beach, all of which we do regularly. The Tennis Club and the Aberlour school gym are also possibilities for WWOOFers for a small fee.
The river Spey is world famous for its salmon fishing and the Spey valley is also world renowned for single malt whisky. Within 2 miles of our property there are about 6 whisky distilleries including Aberlour, Glenfiddich and Macallan. There is also an abandoned railway made into a cycling path along the river called the Speyside Way. Aberlour is also the home of Walkers' Shortbread!
There are regular bus services running through Aberlour.
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Learning opportunities
Vegetable farming
Fruit or nut farming
Sheep or goat farming
Beekeeping
Wild foraging
Seed saving or production
Vegetable or fruit preservation
Renewable energy production
Methods or systems
Biological pest control
Host type
Self-sufficiency property
1.8
Hectares
|
4.5
Acres
James
Member since 2024
Languages spoken:
English, French
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Response rate: 81%
Response time: typically within 8 days
Moray
Elgin Station. Inverness and Aberdeen Airports
Reviews
Toby
United Kingdom
•
May 2026
Spending time at James and Kathryn's place was awesome and it felt like visiting family friends. Their house and land is amazing and it was a pleasure to work in the garden with James. He was always very nice and gave good instructions. My room was really nice and comfortable. The house is amazing with breathtaking views and Kathryn made sure I never went hungry:) They are in a lovely part of Scotland with loads to do with much of it in walking distance as well. I went to the waterfall, a local distillery, climbed Ben Rinnes, walked along the Spey river and even got to visit some local pubs. I also got to spend time with their 2 dogs which was cool!
I would definitely recommend staying at Woodside and will hopefully visit again in the future.
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Reply from James
Hi Toby, thanks for your kind review. We are very glad you had a nice two weeks . It seems we each delivered to the other what we were seeking, the optimal win-win promised by wwoof.
Js
Eric
France
•
May 2026
There’s a lot of work to do, with plenty of variety, so you definitely won’t get bored.
You have your own bedroom and bathroom, which is very comfortable, and the view from the kitchen is absolutely worth it.
The town is also well worth exploring: distillery visits, cooperage workshops and barrel restoration. You can also do plenty of hikes directly from the house, which is very convenient — Ben Rinnes, Linn Falls, and more. James is very accommodating and can drop you off or pick you up if needed.
Katherine is a very good cook, you’re going to love the food. There’s always a cake available for greedy people like me ^^, and they are delicious.
James speaks French very well, so don’t worry if, like me, your English isn’t great.
You’ll also meet lots of very interesting people in the nearby pubs. I recommend the Highlander Inn and The Fiddichside Inn.
Katherine & James, thank you for this stay — very enjoyable, a real change of scenery, and very educational.
Hope to see you again soon,
Eric
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Yuka
Spain
•
May 2026
My WWOOF experience was truly wonderful. James and Kathryn were incredibly kind and offered warm hospitality. They spoke English slowly, which made communication smooth.
What stood out to me the most was their keen interest in the cultures of other countries. I had the opportunity to try dishes from my home country, Japan, and enjoyed cooking with them. Learning how to make fermented foods was also a valuable experience.
While helping in the garden, the instructions were very clear, making it easy for someone like me, who is not a native speaker, to understand. It was gratifying to see the garden evolve little by little through our work. Additionally, their pets were adorable, and spending time walking and playing with them was heartwarming.
I also made new discoveries about the cultures of England and Scotland, particularly the differences in English spoken in Scotland. Next time, I would love to try making honey (though I couldn't experience it this time). I definitely want to return!
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Ginette
Canada
•
September 2025
Wonderful experience!
Our hosts James and Kathryn are very generous and attentive to our needs all along…
James was always there to encourage us in our tasks. He is A very good pedagogue.
Kathryn was also very attentive and her main strength was. In the kitchen! She is a excellent cook! We had very delicious meals.
Their house is beautiful and in a lovely environment! Our rooms were very nice and super comfortable. We couldn’t ask for better!
Finally we had a chance to see many different places with them! They are very well integrated to their small community! It was lovely to see that!
Again a wonderful time with many nice memories!
Thanks a lot Kathryn and James!
Nicole and Ginette
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Becs
New Zealand
•
September 2025
I spent two weeks with James and Kathryn – and had a fantastic time! They are both so kind and welcoming into their home and way of life. I thoroughly enjoyed every aspect of my stay – from the time spent in the garden, learning about the plants and flowers, and helping with weeding and land management, through to the delicious food and wonderful experiences shared! The plants in the garden are beautiful and the views over the valley while you work are glorious! I also learned how to make kombucha and kefir too! There are wonderful places to explore nearby and glorious walks in every direction from the house. The work was rewarding and the company was wonderful! Thank you both for such a great time!
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Dirk
Germany
•
June 2025
We spent eight days with Kathryn and James and had a very good time there. The house and the location are fantastic, our room was perfect. Kathryn and James are two very nice hosts, very attentive and approachable. We had very interesting conversations which enriched us a lot. Due to their efforts, it was no problem for us to speak English. The work with James was very well organised. He is always there during working hours, explains everything very patiently and always offers alternatives for difficult or lengthy tasks. There couldn't be a better boss! Kathryn is a wonderful cook, we have rarely eaten so well! We were also lucky enough to be able to help her with the honey harvest. Everyone who comes to Woodside can look forward to an interesting and wonderful time.
We highly recommend this host and hope to come again.
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