about

We run Lamraig cottage as a family from our croft at Sunhill on the Isle of Berneray, so someone is always close at hand to make sure you have everything you need.

The cottage is referenced on a map dating from 1830, so the original building is around 200 years old. There are three cottages in this group and as such they are ‘B’ Listed by Historic Environment Scotland, as they are among the few remaining examples of Uist marram thatched cottages.

The cottage is thatched with marram grass from the sand dunes on the west-side of Berneray. We cut the marram grass in the autumn, then work very fast to get it on the roof before the winter weather closes in. Once there is a good layer on the roof this only needs to be added to every four years. We always love to stand back and marvel at our handy work, when the cottage roof looks plumb, golden and cosy with a fresh layer of thatch.

On our croft at Sunhill we rear Hebridean sheep, a primitive rare breed originally brought to the islands by the Vikings in their long boats around 850 AD.

From this flock, and working with neighbouring crofters, we produce knitting yarn and sheepskins through our business The Birlinn Yarn Company. Every Autumn we also sell mail-order Hebridean Hogget through our business Sunhill Croft.