Unique charity project, helping with alpacas and other animals in Callanish, Isle of Lewis, Scotland, UK
Last activity
: 15 Dec 2025
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Usually responds within 1 day
Min stay requested: 1 month or more
Workawayers needed
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Host ref number: 286635188417
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Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback (9)
Do not let their age deter you, Jamie and Annabel have everything that many of the youth of today lack; organisational skills, a sense of responsibility, solid work ethic and social skills beyond their years. And above all they enjoyed every task and as a result gained hugely in confidence and ability. They were always keen to offer more and to
… read more learn new skills. We trusted them implicitly to complete a multitude of jobs involving our animals which is no mean feat as we keep alpacas, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, turkeys and peacocks in considerable numbers. They had full responsibility for all the morning duties and perhaps to their surprise as time went on they carried out much more specialised jobs like medicating the animals and cutting the horns of sheep. They stayed for a month and we appreciated every moment of it. Enjoy your travels around the world and hopefully we’ll meet again in the future!
This was our first Workaway experience, and we honestly couldn’t have found anywhere more perfect! We spent a month with Clare and Martyn at The Croft, and they were both incredibly generous and welcoming, we felt truly appreciated and right at home from the start.
We stayed in one of the caravans, which was very comfortable and cozy. We were
… read more able to choose our own shopping, cook what we liked, and also had access to the café, which was a lovely bonus.
If you’re an animal lover, you will absolutely adore it here! We got to work with and learn about all the animals, with guidance and support from Clare and Martyn. The tasks were enjoyable, rewarding, and never felt like work at all.
We also had plenty of free time to explore. Even without a car, it was easy to get around, we often used their e-bikes, which were brilliant, and there are also buses that can take you into town or to one of the many stunning beaches. Clare very kindly took us on a couple of island tours herself, so we got to see Harris and Uig - places we wouldn’t have been able to reach otherwise.
We would 100% recommend this Workaway and Clare and Martyn as hosts. The island is absolutely beautiful and full of things to discover. We can’t wait to come back!
Left by Workawayer (Yvonne) for host
I have just spent a couple of months with Clare and Martin at this place. It was my first time as a workaway and it has far exceeded my expectations. My hosts were kind, generous and wonderfully accommodating. They went out of their way to ensure my time on Isle of Lewis was special and that I was happy with what they needed help with. They have
… read more the most wonderful set up . Their love for their animals is foremost. They aim to share their love and enjoyment with everyone who visits their farm. They encourage everyone to immerse themselves as much as they would like with all the animals, their pets. A special couple of months in a special place. Would highly recommend this workaway experience.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Alex)
Alex came at short notice and helped us considerably at a time when it was particularly appreciated. He was incredibly organised and efficient and frequently took the initiative to complete jobs that we regularly overlooked! He is knowledgeable about a wide range of skills and prepared to learn new ones ie care of our many and varied animals. We
… read more really enjoyed Alex’s stay with us; indeed he plans to return next year!
Left by Workawayer (Alex) for host
What an awesome place to workaway! Clare and Martyn were great hosts, friendly, welcoming and generous. My tasks were varied and enjoyable, it's clear that they have a real love for their many animals (Pigs, Ducks , Chickens, Turkeys, Geese, Alpacas, Peacocks, Goats and Sheep) and are very knowledgeable about them all, I learnt lots of random
… read more facts! The peacock, 3 pigs and lamb are my absolute favourites. The island is stunning, it was great to head off when the sun appeared, I got plenty of recommendations for places to visit and the southern beaches are definitely worth exploring. Thanks for a great stay 😊Chat with Workawayers who've visited this host
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(5.0)
Do not let their age deter you, Jamie and Annabel have everything that many of the youth of today lack; organisational skills, a sense of responsibility, solid work ethic and social skills beyond their years. And above all they enjoyed every task and as a result gained hugely in confidence and ability. They were always keen to offer more and to
… read more learn new skills. We trusted them implicitly to complete a multitude of jobs involving our animals which is no mean feat as we keep alpacas, sheep, pigs, chickens, ducks, turkeys and peacocks in considerable numbers. They had full responsibility for all the morning duties and perhaps to their surprise as time went on they carried out much more specialised jobs like medicating the animals and cutting the horns of sheep. They stayed for a month and we appreciated every moment of it. Enjoy your travels around the world and hopefully we’ll meet again in the future!
This was our first Workaway experience, and we honestly couldn’t have found anywhere more perfect! We spent a month with Clare and Martyn at The Croft, and they were both incredibly generous and welcoming, we felt truly appreciated and right at home from the start.
We stayed in one of the caravans, which was very comfortable and cozy. We were
… read more able to choose our own shopping, cook what we liked, and also had access to the café, which was a lovely bonus.
If you’re an animal lover, you will absolutely adore it here! We got to work with and learn about all the animals, with guidance and support from Clare and Martyn. The tasks were enjoyable, rewarding, and never felt like work at all.
We also had plenty of free time to explore. Even without a car, it was easy to get around, we often used their e-bikes, which were brilliant, and there are also buses that can take you into town or to one of the many stunning beaches. Clare very kindly took us on a couple of island tours herself, so we got to see Harris and Uig - places we wouldn’t have been able to reach otherwise.
We would 100% recommend this Workaway and Clare and Martyn as hosts. The island is absolutely beautiful and full of things to discover. We can’t wait to come back!
Left by Workawayer (Yvonne) for host
I have just spent a couple of months with Clare and Martin at this place. It was my first time as a workaway and it has far exceeded my expectations. My hosts were kind, generous and wonderfully accommodating. They went out of their way to ensure my time on Isle of Lewis was special and that I was happy with what they needed help with. They have
… read more the most wonderful set up . Their love for their animals is foremost. They aim to share their love and enjoyment with everyone who visits their farm. They encourage everyone to immerse themselves as much as they would like with all the animals, their pets. A special couple of months in a special place. Would highly recommend this workaway experience.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Alex)
Alex came at short notice and helped us considerably at a time when it was particularly appreciated. He was incredibly organised and efficient and frequently took the initiative to complete jobs that we regularly overlooked! He is knowledgeable about a wide range of skills and prepared to learn new ones ie care of our many and varied animals. We
… read more really enjoyed Alex’s stay with us; indeed he plans to return next year!
Left by Workawayer (Alex) for host
What an awesome place to workaway! Clare and Martyn were great hosts, friendly, welcoming and generous. My tasks were varied and enjoyable, it's clear that they have a real love for their many animals (Pigs, Ducks , Chickens, Turkeys, Geese, Alpacas, Peacocks, Goats and Sheep) and are very knowledgeable about them all, I learnt lots of random
… read more facts! The peacock, 3 pigs and lamb are my absolute favourites. The island is stunning, it was great to head off when the sun appeared, I got plenty of recommendations for places to visit and the southern beaches are definitely worth exploring. Thanks for a great stay 😊
Left by host for Workawayer (Victoria)
Victoria kindly agreed to come at extremely short notice; in fact after our first contact she left the next morning for the 600 mile drive to the Outer Hebrides. She arrived like a whirlwind and left the same despite all the hard work in between! In fact she planned to be here 2 weeks and loved it so much that she stayed for a month in total.
She
… read more got to know the characters of the animals, treated them as individuals and perfected the daily tasks really quickly. A big bonus for us was that she naturally wakes very early so treated us by letting all the animals out at sunrise which allowed us to stay in bed a little longer than usual.
One day Victoria asked us if she could help clear and organise the downstairs of the house and porch. She was particularly confused by the “roundabout” of varying items on the kitchen floor and the many tens of unpaired wellington boots! She spent days finding a place for everything and more amazingly there hasn’t been a single thing we haven’t been able to find. Almost everyday since she’s left we say to each other “Vikki wouldn’t like that” if something is out of place!
Victoria gets on with everything in such a cheery way that it’s infectious. She is really good with people although she doesn’t realise quite how good as modesty is part of her make-up. She’s prepared to help with anything and is a tour de force in everything she does; she’ll never leave anything uncompleted.
She is truly one of the most uplifting people we have ever met; always a delight to be around and we looked forward to our 8am chit-chats over coffee. We miss you Vikki. I know how you hate goodbyes so let’s just say “See you again”…because we surely will! Thank you.
Left by Workawayer (Victoria) for host
I don't know where to begin with this stay.firstly the hosts were amazing.thier generosity and kindness were outstanding .I found these people so approachable and easy to get along with.i had freedom to do whatever I wanted.foid and drink easily execrable. Work was flexable and so enjoyable .we had 3 new welcome additions while I was there a
… read more mother sheep and her babies. The Alpacas were truly adorable along with Humpty Dumpty and Wallace ( the pigs) chickens and ducks galore .My accommodation was excellent. I originally was there fir a week but found it hard to leave after a month .I met some lovely people including previous workaways.cant wait to visit again and thank you martyn and clare for a truly unforgettable stayYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Samantha & Alan) for host
Clare and Martyn are brilliant hosts. They are exceptionally kind, thoughtful and caring people who made sure our volunteer experience at here was fantastic.
Accommodation was provided for us in a cosy cabin which is located at the front of the property. We had the pleasure of seeing the alpacas and pigs right outside our cabin window!!
With
… read more Clare and Martyn's guidance, we got to learn about and interact with all the different animals here. Sure we helped muck out, and did a few other tasks, but none of it ever felt like work!!
We were encouraged to spend time to interact with the animals and get to know them, and we did. We learned to quack with the ducks and cluck with the chickens. We even befriended Topaz the peacock who came up to us with his neck stretched out for us to scratch it!!! One of the highlights (there were so many!!) was sitting in the alpacas stable at night time with them and listening to them hum, whilst now and then receiving "alpaca kisses".
Clare and Martyn care so much for all the animals here, their whole body and soul goes into these animals and they extend this to all the wild ducks and rabbits who have chosen to be there as well.
When visitors arrived to look around, we were encouraged to introduce the animals to the visitors and show them around.
We got plenty time off during our visit to explore the island to go hiking and pony trekking. We were also very lucky enough to see the famous northern lights.
We can't recommend this workaway experience enough. It was such an amazing place to be, and we can't wait to visit again as soon as the opportunity presents itself.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Samantha & Alan)
As a couple Samantha and Alan complement each other beautifully.
They arrived at 10pm after a rough ferry crossing but were up raring to go the next morning at 8am!
Neither had worked specifically with animals before let alone alpacas, rare breed sheep, Kunekune pigs, peacocks and a huge variety of unusual chickens and ducks (150+ animals in
… read more total) but they were naturals from the start. That cant be taught.
They went from strength to strength in their confidence both involving the animals and in completing a range of physical activities. These included heavy repetitive work such as mucking out and digging ditches plus expert painting and bespoke tasks.
One of our alpacas has an injured back and it means so much for us to see her trit-trotting over a series of custom made bridges rather than negotiate the deep drainage channels.
They were so caring and compassionate about the animals and soon picked up on their individual personalities and developed special relationships with them.
They both had incredible patience and positivity and were also incredibly hard workers.
It was a delight to us that they took time to explore and enjoy the island further afield.
We developed a close bond with Samantha and Alan simply because they were full of fun, so easy to get along with, used their initiative (but werent afraid to ask for advice) and were very undemanding.
They have left a legacy here and they are very welcome back at any timewe and the animals miss them!
Left by host for Workawayer (Natasha)
It’s not often that you find the exact right match with a Workawayer and your expectations of help with the animals, but Tasha is one of them! In the two months she was with us she devoted her time not just to the care of but also the happiness of every one of our 150+ pets. We have alpacas, rare breed sheep, pigs, peacocks, chickens and ducks;
… read more not your normal animal gig but Tasha took to the challenge from day one.
She went over and above what we could possibly hope for and worked so hard to keep all the animals healthy and entertained. She even bought mirrors, bells and perches for some of the chickens and ducks. Every time we hear a bell ringing or see a funny little chicken perching on a stick we think of Tasha!
Tasha worked both independently and with us equally well. For many tasks she didn’t need to be asked or guided as it came naturally to her. We felt totally reassured about the well-being and safety of the animals in her care instantly. She took a huge workload from us enabling us to get on with otherwise neglected tasks relating to the general running of the croft and visitor centre.
Without doubt she’s a hard worker and even out of her “working hours” we’d find Tasha sitting in with the animals. As a result she got to know them well and saw any problems early making it easier to deal with.
Tasha is an absolute gem when it comes to unsurpassed love and care of animals…….but please don’t snap her up as we want her back!
Thank you Tasha from Clare, Martyn and all the animals P.S. Topaz, Crumble, Portia and Leo are missing their cuddles!
Left by Workawayer (Natasha) for host
I spent just over two months with Martin and Clare and it was amazing. From the moment I arrived I felt completely at ease. The animals are fantastic. You have to be a real animal lover though, this isn't a pet sitting gig. If you love to make sure animals are happy and healthy then you'll love it. I would spend my free time sitting in with the
… read more ducks or the chickens, maybe go give the pigs some belly rubs, or give Leo the sheep some snuggles. He's a big cuddle monster. Topaz the peacock would greet me first thing in the morning, he's cheeky. It's just a really nice place to be. The accomodation was great too. You get a great view of the alpacas from the window. Great views in general. The only stressful part of the whole experience was worrying about all the wild baby ducklings that would come and visit!
I had a really great time and learned alot. I look forward to going back next year. 😊
Left by Workawayer (Kate) for host
I stayed here at the end of last year for nearly 2 weeks. I leant lots especially about Alpaca's, they really are beautiful animals. The work involved feeding everyone, fresh water and paddling pools, releasing everyone outside ( watch the runner ducks do this is great fun!!) After this I often had a short break before helping 2 other volunteers
… read more do DIY projects.
Accommodation is converted stable,heated by gas heater so if your staying in the winter bring extra layers, was fine at night due to extra bedding.
Depending on how many volunteers are around, might be a bit quite. Martin very kindly took me to various beaches after we'd finished work. Also had 2 day trips with the other volunteers.
It can be cold windy,rainy etc on the island so definitely bring warm clothing 😀You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Workaway member)
Alex and Pauline stayed with us for 3 weeks but we wish it could have been 3 years…or more!
They offered us the perfect balance of efficiently helping with all aspects of animal management (both daily routine and more challenging tasks!) and tackling some very complex practical jobs. Their mother/daughter relationship was heart-warming to
… read more witness, with each respecting the other when planning and completing projects. There are very few people who are capable of thinking out of the box with regard to the unique problems we presented them with and each one was achieved with results better than we could ever have hoped for. The term hard working doesn’t even come close!
The care and consideration towards every single one of the 121 animals was palpable. In the short time they were here they knew the names and personalities of many of them and sensitively helped us to look after the ones that needed extra care. They were also great with the many members of the public who visit informally and they were happy to take people round and chat about the animals.
Alex and Pauline being so appreciative of everything we offered meant a lot to us. We wish them well in their current project but secretly hope that the Tardis Bothy would whisk them back here!
Left by Workawayer (Workaway member) for host
My mother and I stayed for three weeks with Clare, Martin and all their 'babies' and what an amazing experience this was. These two are amazing hosts and enjoyable to be around. Their passion and generousity were faultless. This is what a Workaway experience SHOULD be like. they both had so much local knowledge of great things to see around the
… read more island and have many connections with lots of interesting people that were more than happy to meet with us and share their stories and crafts. We had ample time off to explore the island, which is such a beautiful paradise. The work was always interesting and varied. accommodation was so cute with everything you need in there. We would highly recommend spending some time here. You will not regret it.
Have made some great friends out of this and we hope to come back sometime soon.
Thank you for everything Clare and Martin!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Pauline)
Pauline and Alex stayed with us for 3 weeks but we wish it could have been 3 years…or more!
They offered us the perfect balance of efficiently helping with all aspects of animal management (both daily routine and more challenging tasks!) and tackling some very complex practical jobs. Their mother/daughter relationship was heart-warming to
… read more witness, with each respecting the other when planning and completing projects. There are very few people who are capable of thinking out of the box with regard to the unique problems we presented them with and each one was achieved with results better than we could ever have hoped for. The term hard working doesn’t even come close!
The care and consideration towards every single one of the 121 animals was palpable. In the short time they were here they knew the names and personalities of many of them and sensitively helped us to look after the ones that needed extra care. They were also great with the many members of the public who visit informally and they were happy to take people round and chat about the animals.
Pauline and Alex being so appreciative of everything we offered meant a lot to us. We wish them well in their current project but secretly hope that the Tardis Bothy would whisk them back here!
Left by host for Workawayer (amymel)
Amy was an absolute delight to have around. Always cheery, she tackled any job with forethought and planning. Her patience, organisation and neatness with time-consuming and fiddly tasks deserves an award and her approach to filling water bowls in a meditative way was inspiring! Amy helped us immeasurably by freeing us up to do tasks that we find
… read more difficult to fit into the hectic daily routine. Above all she was great with the animals and was truly appreciative of the whole experience here with us. See you again sometime Amy!
Left by Workawayer (amymel) for host
I had the most amazing week with Clare and Martyn, they are some of the kindest and welcoming people I have ever met, they made me feel at home straight away and were always checking I had everything I needed! The 'bothy' I stayed in was cosy and comfy with the best views out to the alpacas! I learnt so much about the animals they have, with lots
… read more of interesting rare and unusual breeds. All the animals are such characters, I could spend hours watching the alpacas and the babies are the cutest thing you'll ever see! It was lovely meeting all the visitors that came and friends and neighbours - there was never a dull moment! The farm is located in an amazing place for exploring the island, you can see the Callanish Stones from the house and there's lots of historical sites and beautiful beaches all around - the landscape is breathtaking. They let me borrow one of their bikes to explore on my days off and were so easy going about what tasks I would like to do. It was always fun helping them with the animals and chatting as we did it! They always showed such gratitude for my help and are such generous and connected people. There is a positive energy that surrounds the farm and makes you feel at peace! Seeing a rainbow and the Callanish Stones at sunrise on the morning I left is a memory I will treasure forever, not to mention having made such lovely new friends - both in human and animal form! :-)You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
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