Enjoy a workaway in a spectacular cottage close to Edinburgh in the Kingdom of Fife, UK

United Kingdom

updated Last minute

Favourited 243 times

Host rating
Feedback
33
Last activity
19/08/2019
Nº of Facebook friends
658
Reply rate
81.6 %
Average reply time:
within 4 days
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This listing is a Last minute host. They have let us know that they are looking for help immediately as well as at other times of the year.

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Availability

2019

Min stay requested: at least a week

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What's this?

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Description
I rent a spectacular cottage that’s off the beaten track in the Fife countryside. I’m endeavouring to restore it to its former glory. The views look over the Firth of Forth to Edinburgh & North Berwickshire, I’m close to St Andrews and the East Neuk of Fife.

The cottage dates back to the 18 hundreds and is in good repair and the projects for this year are mostly painting & decorating. There’s also a stone building attached that I want to make a communal area, there’s always jobs in the huge gardens that need restored to their former glory.
Absolutely no 25s unless you have previous work experience..! Repeat absolutely no one under 25 years of age..!
Type of help
Gardening
Building
General Maintenance
Help with Eco project
Help in the house
Animal care
Language practice
Art project
Help with Computers / internet
Cultural exchange and learning opportunities
The East Neuk of Fife has its own micro climate and is usually dry in summer, we are surrounded by history and spectacular fishing villages. There are busses locally and we even have a flexy bus that will collect you from the cottage but this must be booked in advance.
Help
Interior decoration, exterior decoration, re pointing walls, veg & flower gardening. For 2019 the big projects will be building a polytunnel and a feature deck with steps leading up from the bottom terraced gardens. There are also quail and hens to look after.
Languages spoken
English
Accommodation
Two private bedrooms. Food from the gardens will be supplied and as I’m a great cook a large evening meal will be provided. Workawayers are welcome to responsibly use the kitchen at other times but must supply their own individual needs and I visit the local village every day so guests are more than welcome to join me for shopping.
A little more information
- Internet access
- Limited internet access
- We have pets
- We are smokers
How many Workawayers can stay?
More than two
Hours expected
5 hours a day, 5 days a week

Photos

The side view to the cottage summer 2018.

St Andrews Cathedral.

New hens on the 7th April. Lots of fresh eggs now.

Pittenweem the local fishing village.

Paula limewashing the stone shed.

Mr Rebus. He’s the head of garden protection.

I mostly cook with wild sustainable meats. This is woodpigeon & duck salad.

Show all photos

Vegetarian options always available 😀

Myself feeding pet lambs.

Gabriella baking fantastic Italian cakes.

The front of the cottage.

The views from the kitchen overlooking the new gardens and the Firth of Forth. You can see Edinburgh Castle on a good day.

Side view of the cottage with wonderful wild flowers.

Another tasty vegetarian meal.

Feedback left by and about host (33)

These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.

Accuracy of profile:
(3.5)

Cultural exchange:
(4.0)

Communication:
(3.5)

19/08/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Shihpei)

Lulu is a wonderful person and she fitted into cottage life within hours of arrival.
Nothing was to difficult for her and she worked outside in the gardens, wire brushing some Victorian iron work and cooked fantastic food.
Sad to see her moving to pastures new.

(Excellent )

26/07/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Maari)

Please see our feedback policy for more info about why this review is not displayed

(Good )

22/07/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (fabrizio)

Fabrizio was unfortunately only here for a few days but he carried out an amazing amount of work. Should be a 10 star option..!
He’s also a fantastic cook.

(Excellent )

15/07/2019

Left by Workawayer (Janja) for host

I had a wonderful Workaway experience staying at Andy's cottage. If you like nature, you will definitely enjoy it. Andy knows a lot about Scotland and wildlife and it was a joy listening to his stories.

(Excellent )

15/07/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Janja)

Janja is an amazing girl who brings laughter into the home. She works without issue and is a fantastic cook, just what I needed at the time as I was under some pressure 😂.

(Excellent )

15/07/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Marianna & Elke)

Elke is an unbelievable woman. Never was so much work done here in such a short time.
All the interior doors & windows were prepared and painted within a few days. Jobs in the gardens done in no time at all and to a high standard even though it was raining a fair bit of the time.
I really hope she will visit again.
Should be 10 star option.

(Excellent )

05/05/2019

Left by Workawayer (Niklaus) for host

Had a great time in the picturesque cottage. As a guest you can feel at home, learn about nature and culture. Andy also showed me the great surroundings and helped a lot in finding my way around in Scotland. Glad to have started my workaway experience there.

(Excellent )

04/05/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Niklaus)

Niklaus Arrived after cycling a huge distance and immediately wanted to start to help. He’s a fantastic guy with many skills and can’t sit still, a credit to workaway and I expect to see many more great reviews from hosts as he cycles around Europe.

(Excellent )

21/04/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Lorène)

Please see our feedback policy for more info about why this review is not displayed

(Good )

17/04/2019

Left by Workawayer (Lorène) for host

I stayed 5 days with Andy and Rebus my first Scottish friend ;)
Andy is an unusual person, who lives like a true caveman without heating in his house, and eat his own food thanks to hunting.
He's a verry good cooker, for my first day he cooked me a meal with pigeons ( vegetarians abstain!), and a true rural politician with strong ideas.
The… read more

(Good )

07/03/2019

Left by Workawayer (Jan) for host

Andy abundant in humour, devoted Rebus and the magic cottage with amazing views on feeding birds and coastal countryside further. Whenever making a tea break between work you can enjoy the atmosphere of that part of Scotland. Andy will show you within work that good tactics is more than plenty of gear. All the dishes were home made and simply… read more

(Excellent )

05/03/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Jan)

Jan is an incredible guy and spent around 2 months here at the cottage. Most of the time we had good weather so he worked on many tasks in the gardens. On wet days we made shelves and he also helped prepare around 500 pheasants for future meals including sausages.
I wish him well on his bicycle travels around Scotland and beyond.

(Excellent )

05/03/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Clara)

Clara was a fantastic help around the cottage even though it was really cold at the time. She spent a lot of the time in the gardens and also helped in the house. Unfortunately for me she got a great job in the north of Scotland and left after 10 days or so.

(Excellent )

05/03/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Fanny)

Fanny was a wonderful workaway person. Warm chatty personality, friendly and loved my Lab Rebus. The weather was mostly good and she spent days moving hundreds of snowdrops from the woods into the gardens. On the one wet day she cleaned the cottage from top to bottom. Hopefully she has many more exciting visits during her travels.

(Excellent )

28/02/2019

Left by Workawayer (Thomas) for host

Staying with Andy was a great way to experience rural Scottish life. The work revolved around renovating and maintaining the cottage. Andy’s fairly laid back and gives good instruction, he’s also a good cook.

(Excellent )

28/02/2019

Left by host for Workawayer (Thomas)

Tom is a star, a credit to the workaway ethos. Good communications, arrived on time and settled in immediately. Unfortunately Tom was only here for a week but in that time he cleaned up a wood stove and then helped chop and barrow a huge tree that will provide heat for next winter. It’s a shame he didn’t stay longer and explore the area.

(Excellent )

29/11/2018

Left by Workawayer (Joaquin & Louise) for host

It was such a pleasure to stay with Andy ! Not only did he show incredible patience in teaching us how to work around the garden, and therefore taught us a lot, but he created a lovely atmosphere, inviting us in his house and at his delicious table.

An amazing experience and a real shame we could only stay for a week !

Thanks again Andy and… read more

(Excellent )

28/11/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Joaquin & Louise)

This pair are going far..! Far in their travels and far in life. Intelligent, willing to learn, hard working and genuinely nice people. Work in the gardens was done with pleasure and my trick, technical tests done after slowing down and thinking projects through.
What a shame they only had a week hear as after two everything would have been… read more

(Excellent )

22/11/2018

Left by Workawayer (Paula) for host

Andy is an exceptional person, with a sense of humor and that will make you feel better than in your own home. I spent 5 fantastic days with him and Ribass, the adorable dog. I felt like a true cavewoman, enjoying life in the countryside. I think that the stay with Andy is ideal for those who do their first volunteering, because working with Andy… read more

(Excellent )

11/11/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Paula)

Paula quickly settled into cottage lifestyle and took on the huge task of painting the walls inside a large stone building with a traditional limewash. On the sunny days she also helped in the gardens planting onions & garlic. In the evenings she sampled a variety of game dishes which she enjoyed.
Fantastic help around the house and hopefully one… read more

(Excellent )

14/11/2018

Left by Workawayer (Gabriella) for host

Andy and Rebus are an "amazing world" to discover!
This was my first time in Scotland and Andy showed me around a lot of spectacular places.
He helped me with the English, he was so patient!!!
The work was easy and interesting. I tried, for the first time in my life, to harvest and to paint a shed with a special painting.
It's incredible how… read more

(Excellent )

11/11/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Gabriella)

Gabriella brought the sunshine with here in many ways. No jobs were to difficult and she used her initiative to do many small jobs without me having to ask. She excelled in the kitchen and her baking skills are excellent.
Looking forwards to her next visit to the cottage.

(Excellent )

28/09/2018

Left by Workawayer (Iris Dariana) for host

Andrew was awesome! This was my first experience as a workawayer, and first time in Scotland. I was very lost at first, but Andy was very patient with me! He picked me up at St Andrews Station and showed me around. I also met Rebus, the most adorable and loving dog ever! I had my own room, my bed was very comfortable. I was always cold inside the… read more

(Excellent )

18/09/2018

Left by Workawayer (Anouk) for host

Lukewarm experience with Andy.
Work has been fine, mostly painting, strimming, wallpapering. The cottage has a gorgeous view on the sea, there's an adorable labrador, some nice walks to do around.
But Andy's quite...rough around the edges, let's say. While we had a rather peaceful, although a bit aloof, cohabitation during the first week of my… read more

(Good )

25/08/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Augustin)

Fantastic guy with a lot going on for him in the future, young and enthusiastic who took on tasks such as painting windows and cleaning out a stone building along with strimming areas that were like a jungle. Highly recommended.

(Excellent )

17/08/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Cécile)

Sadly Cecile leaves today after a two week visit to the cottage. During this time several important projects have been completed to an exceptionally high standard including window glossing & the kitchen painting.
She also helped in the gardens and enjoyed playing with Rebus my labrador.

(Excellent )

16/08/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Ophelia)

5 star plus. Ophelia bounced into action the night she arrived by throwing balls for my Labrador Mr Rebus. From then on she took over decorating rooms with colour choices that reflect the old cottage. From sanding floors to building up furniture was not an issue, in the gardens picking fruit and watering was done with ease. She even got me into… read more

(Excellent )

12/08/2018

Left by Workawayer (Jindati) for host

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(Negative )

11/08/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Jindati)

Please see our feedback policy for more info about why this review is not displayed

(Neutral )

08/08/2018

Left by Workawayer (Marlène) for host

That was a pleasure to help Andy to work in the house during this short stay. This place is very beautiful with and incredible view and a magic tree! Andy is an excellent cooker and he knows secret places around his home wich are very beautiful. Thank you very much and hope see you and Rebus again!

(Very good )

02/08/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Marlène)

Marline arrived in the Kingdom of Fife during August and immediately set to work in the cottage. No task was to difficult and several important jobs were completed including the now wonderful bathroom. She also took time to explore the area and produced some wonderful artwork from local driftwood.
Household chores such as cooking and cleaning… read more

(Excellent )

27/06/2018

Left by Workawayer (Monica) for host

Andy was a fantastic host and although my stay was very short I learned so much about the surrounding area and the local wildlife. The work was very relaxed and there was always a great home cooked meal for me at the end of the day, which I really enjoyed! Great views and a great host, couldn’t recommend Andy enough

(Excellent )

27/06/2018

Left by host for Workawayer (Monica)

Monica is the most perfect workaway person you could have.
No job is to difficult and she even did the dishes after meals.
I hope she has many more interesting journeys.

(Excellent )

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