Forgebraehead Croft
Phone: 07763120313
Address: Forgebraehead
50 North Shawbost
Isle of Lewis
Eilean Siar
HS2 9BQ
50 North Shawbost
Isle of Lewis
Eilean Siar
HS2 9BQ
Forgebraehead is a traditional Western Isles croft which has lain unused for 30 years. After 4 years of renovation work we are now able to offer croft tours, opportunities for people to join in with projects on the croft; to help maintain the habitat for the rare Corncrake (working with RSPB), to plant trees and maintain the croft in it's natural state.
To that end open drains have been reinstated, grazing areas have been brought back into use and we lamb a small flock to be able to give visitors hands on experience with sheep. Our two original horses are an integral part of any visit and we hope in future to be able to use them to collect the seaweed from the shore 1/3 of a mile away.
We Host Equi-Innse Gall CIC who use our herd of 8 horses/ ponies to deliver Equine Facilitated Learning sessions to support people with life challenges, trauma, depression. Al the horses and ponies have a rescue background, some of them are rare breeds and we work from the ground with them so this is not a riding centre at all. We will be providing one to one, individualised sessions, family sessions or team building events, the herd are integral to help us support people in our community.
Visitors can learn about rare breeds (we have a mixed flock of poultry that are all rare breeds). We incubate chicks, ducklings and goslings giving opportunities to handle them. In future we hope to be able to offer Equine Assisted Learning sessions more widely as two family members are currently finishing training on the only course accredited in Scotland.
We also hope to build a vegetable garden with raised beds/ protection from our severe weather. Recently we've added a huge Trolley Park covered area, donated by the local Co-op supermarket, we call it the 'Trolley-Crub and it rivals any Polycrub in the area! This gives us an area we can work in during all weathers growing vegetables, fruit and trees in the future. Here we now We have B&B accommodation that people can stay in for the full croft experience. Flower bulbs have been planted and there will be stems available for purchase once established.
There is space for camping in the future and work parties at key points of the year. We hope to plant an orchard with many fruit varieties. We plan to build a bird hide and pathways so that people can come and watch our local Golden and Sea Eagles that visit the croft regularly so this is quite a diverse project.
To that end open drains have been reinstated, grazing areas have been brought back into use and we lamb a small flock to be able to give visitors hands on experience with sheep. Our two original horses are an integral part of any visit and we hope in future to be able to use them to collect the seaweed from the shore 1/3 of a mile away.
We Host Equi-Innse Gall CIC who use our herd of 8 horses/ ponies to deliver Equine Facilitated Learning sessions to support people with life challenges, trauma, depression. Al the horses and ponies have a rescue background, some of them are rare breeds and we work from the ground with them so this is not a riding centre at all. We will be providing one to one, individualised sessions, family sessions or team building events, the herd are integral to help us support people in our community.
Visitors can learn about rare breeds (we have a mixed flock of poultry that are all rare breeds). We incubate chicks, ducklings and goslings giving opportunities to handle them. In future we hope to be able to offer Equine Assisted Learning sessions more widely as two family members are currently finishing training on the only course accredited in Scotland.
We also hope to build a vegetable garden with raised beds/ protection from our severe weather. Recently we've added a huge Trolley Park covered area, donated by the local Co-op supermarket, we call it the 'Trolley-Crub and it rivals any Polycrub in the area! This gives us an area we can work in during all weathers growing vegetables, fruit and trees in the future. Here we now We have B&B accommodation that people can stay in for the full croft experience. Flower bulbs have been planted and there will be stems available for purchase once established.
There is space for camping in the future and work parties at key points of the year. We hope to plant an orchard with many fruit varieties. We plan to build a bird hide and pathways so that people can come and watch our local Golden and Sea Eagles that visit the croft regularly so this is quite a diverse project.
Facilities: Volunteering, Picnic area, Community recycling/composting, Holiday activities, Wildlife area
Open to the public?: Yes
Opening hours: By prior arrangement only.
Accessible?: Yes
Has livestock?: Yes
Details of livestock and rare breeds kept: Rare Breed Poultry:
Brecon Buff Geese.
Buff Orpington chickens.
Shetland ducks.
Sheep: Herdwicks, Jacobs, Texels, Shetland x
Horses/Ponies: Shire Horse, Gypsy Cob Trotter, Irish Cob, Gypsy Vanner Cob, Mini Cob, Welsh Mountain Pony and Shetland Ponies
Brecon Buff Geese.
Buff Orpington chickens.
Shetland ducks.
Sheep: Herdwicks, Jacobs, Texels, Shetland x
Horses/Ponies: Shire Horse, Gypsy Cob Trotter, Irish Cob, Gypsy Vanner Cob, Mini Cob, Welsh Mountain Pony and Shetland Ponies
Directions: On the west side of the Isle of Lewis, Forgebraehead lies on the shore road off the main Barvas to Garynahine road. From Stornoway take the road to the west, at Barvas turn left to Garynahine. 6 miles along this road once you have passed the church on your left, turn right towards the shore or Shawbost beach. Forgebraehead is the second property on the left. (Sat nav is inaccurate and will try to take you further along the road).