Where are you based?
We are based on the beautiful Isle of Mull, near the village of Bunessan where we have set up a stunning new teaching space. But we travel across Scotland to work with groups and communities that would like to build boats.
What is a Folkschool?
Folkschools (or Folk Schools) are quite an old concept, but one interpreted in lots of different ways. Started in Denmark in the 19th century, they spread around Scandinavia and then to the USA. While there is lots of variance, the essential elements are pretty much always the same - education for the people often for adults with a focus on enriching lives and society. We see it as a way to include a whole range of activities under a broad principled banner - the idea that people can connect with each other and with active making through the learning of craft skills.
What is included in a course?
In 2024 all of our weeks are residential in nature and your course fee includes all materials, tuition and use of tools to get the boats built. As well as this we include an option to camp on our croft for a small fee and use the facilities in the workshop - toilets, showers and a self catering kitchen with cooker/oven and fridge space. We provide a welcome meal on the first night, and tea and coffee and snacks through the week but you’ll have to bring your own food for breakfasts, lunch and dinners. We don’t provide alcohol, but many find a wee glass of wine at the end of a day in the workshop is quite nice - you might want to bring a bottle (or two) with you.
How does accommodation work?
We offer a few options for accommodation during a course - you can either bring your own tent or campervan; hire one of our lovely cosy yurts or find your own accommodation off the croft. We love it when everyone stays with us, the groups that form over the week are a really special part of the course for participants and we find it usually works really well. We can usually accommodate a few extra people too, if you’d like to have someone else come but not take part in the course do ask us, that’s usually fine. If you prefer something more than we can offer there are lots of holiday homes and other options nearby, let us know if you need any advice or help with that.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes! We love to have good natured dogs hanging out on our course weeks. A few things to keep in mind - you’ll be in the workshop most of the day every day so you dog will have to be happy sleeping somewhere most of the day while that happens. We can’t have dogs actually in the workshop so if the weather is bad they might need to be in your tent/car or van for most of the day. As other participants might bring dogs it’s important that yours is relaxed around other dogs too. We have lots of ground nesting birds on the croft so we ask that dogs are kept undr control - either on a lead or close by at all times, and that they are cleaned up after too.
Yes! We run courses all around Scotland in all kinds of ways - we can fit a whole workshop in our van and can come to you. In some cases it can work out cheaper for us to travel to you and work with your group where you are, rather than to book onto a course. We work with community groups as part of funded projects but also for private clients. In 2023 we organised a week of boatbuilding for an individuals’ 50th Birthday celebration!