Come learn about permaculture on our registered CIC organisation in the wilds of south west Scotland, UK
Last activity
: 8 Jul 2025
Min stay requested: at least 1 month
Workawayers needed
Possibility that workawayers are needed
No availability
Details
Host ref number: 724664645977
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Feedback (19)
Left by host for Workawayer (Abi & Bruce)
Abi and Bruce have spent several months more than anyone expected on our farm.
They have endless skills and abilities; abi can grow fruit and veg, design gardens, build soil, run a program of land based events or even revolutionise a local food system. No bother.
Bruce can create wonderful bits of appropriate technology from the waste of
… read more society. V useful indeed. He has helped us with a smashed clay waste pipe, a broken microwave (now fixed), fitted a stove and replaced a door. (To mention only some of the more accessible ways of being helpful.)
Beyond this they are extremely community spirited, lots of fun and dangerous on the dancefloor.
We hope you enjoy them as much as us, we look forward to their return.
Left by Workawayer (Sara & Irene) for host
The Mill is a wonderful place to be!
I spent a month there, and I'd love to go back. Lorraine and Uula are super welcoming. The tasks were nice (mostly gardening), and I learned how to make butter! I actually learnt more stuff, but I can't write all of it.
We didn't work many hours, the accomodations were super nice and private, and the food was
… read more superb.
There is a morning meeting to decide what will be done during the day, and you can say how you feel and what you prefer.
Loch Ken is nearby, and they are super kind and will lend you bikes to get there, or wherever you like. You can also walk to the loch! And the weekends are free, so you can hop on a bus and visit Castle Douglas.
This is the best workaway experience I've had. 100% reccomended
Best wishes,
SaraYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (TravelwithNess)
Nessa, aka Laura
Was a great wee worker.
She's very keen to learn and asks lots of good questions.
She's at a great point in her life where she is absorbing information like a sponge and really starting to crystalize her world view.
She was especially good with the donkies with whom she had a special touch.
We wish her well.
L
Left by Workawayer (TravelwithNess) for host
Lorraine is a wonderful teacher, and an inspiring lady. She has such a creative energy about her, whilst still stating the facts.
I learnt lots about the surrounding plants, and the abundant uses they had. Oh, how I do appreciate nettles much more knowing what I do now Lorraine ;)).
Both her and partner Uula were extremely welcoming and I very
… read more much enjoyed my stay with them.
They are social people and have good people around them. I loved meeting their neighbours; Abby, Bruce & Will, and being shown their different ways of living.
There was good communication between us, and clear boundaries were set in place. We often sat and had lunch together, and on the occasion where she was away, we would have the opportunity to make our own lunch in the volunteer kitchen. Lorraine is an superb wee cook btw, so enjoy her meals whilst you can!! Food is always provided, and sufficient amounts at that.
Despite being nestled away up a country road, if you walk to the end of the track, they are on a bus route, which allows you to get to the nearby town of Castle Douglas.
They have two donkeys named 'Heather' and 'Jackson'; they are both sweethearts. Myself and another volunteer managed to get them in their headcollars and took them on a walk on our last week. It was the cutest thing ever. I miss them already.
All in all, I had the most eye opening time here in this beautiful part of Scotland.
I definitely won't forget the time I had at The Mill anytime soon, and I wish Uula and Lorraine all the best in all their future projects.
Thanks again,
Ness.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Feedback
These are extra optional ratings when members leave feedback. The average rating left for each option is displayed.
Accuracy of profile:
(4.8)
Left by host for Workawayer (Abi & Bruce)
Abi and Bruce have spent several months more than anyone expected on our farm.
They have endless skills and abilities; abi can grow fruit and veg, design gardens, build soil, run a program of land based events or even revolutionise a local food system. No bother.
Bruce can create wonderful bits of appropriate technology from the waste of
… read more society. V useful indeed. He has helped us with a smashed clay waste pipe, a broken microwave (now fixed), fitted a stove and replaced a door. (To mention only some of the more accessible ways of being helpful.)
Beyond this they are extremely community spirited, lots of fun and dangerous on the dancefloor.
We hope you enjoy them as much as us, we look forward to their return.
Left by Workawayer (Sara & Irene) for host
The Mill is a wonderful place to be!
I spent a month there, and I'd love to go back. Lorraine and Uula are super welcoming. The tasks were nice (mostly gardening), and I learned how to make butter! I actually learnt more stuff, but I can't write all of it.
We didn't work many hours, the accomodations were super nice and private, and the food was
… read more superb.
There is a morning meeting to decide what will be done during the day, and you can say how you feel and what you prefer.
Loch Ken is nearby, and they are super kind and will lend you bikes to get there, or wherever you like. You can also walk to the loch! And the weekends are free, so you can hop on a bus and visit Castle Douglas.
This is the best workaway experience I've had. 100% reccomended
Best wishes,
SaraYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (TravelwithNess)
Nessa, aka Laura
Was a great wee worker.
She's very keen to learn and asks lots of good questions.
She's at a great point in her life where she is absorbing information like a sponge and really starting to crystalize her world view.
She was especially good with the donkies with whom she had a special touch.
We wish her well.
L
Left by Workawayer (TravelwithNess) for host
Lorraine is a wonderful teacher, and an inspiring lady. She has such a creative energy about her, whilst still stating the facts.
I learnt lots about the surrounding plants, and the abundant uses they had. Oh, how I do appreciate nettles much more knowing what I do now Lorraine ;)).
Both her and partner Uula were extremely welcoming and I very
… read more much enjoyed my stay with them.
They are social people and have good people around them. I loved meeting their neighbours; Abby, Bruce & Will, and being shown their different ways of living.
There was good communication between us, and clear boundaries were set in place. We often sat and had lunch together, and on the occasion where she was away, we would have the opportunity to make our own lunch in the volunteer kitchen. Lorraine is an superb wee cook btw, so enjoy her meals whilst you can!! Food is always provided, and sufficient amounts at that.
Despite being nestled away up a country road, if you walk to the end of the track, they are on a bus route, which allows you to get to the nearby town of Castle Douglas.
They have two donkeys named 'Heather' and 'Jackson'; they are both sweethearts. Myself and another volunteer managed to get them in their headcollars and took them on a walk on our last week. It was the cutest thing ever. I miss them already.
All in all, I had the most eye opening time here in this beautiful part of Scotland.
I definitely won't forget the time I had at The Mill anytime soon, and I wish Uula and Lorraine all the best in all their future projects.
Thanks again,
Ness.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Workaway member)
Lola and Ian were very sweet work awayers.
They worked hard and coped well with cold winter conditions. They were very generous with their spirit and we were sad to see them go.
Left by Workawayer (Workaway member) for host
Lorraine and her family were really lovely. The place is very beautiful, the landscapes are amazing, there's a river and a pond, they have 2 lovely donkeys, Kaya an amazing doga and Mama and Bojo the crazy cats . We had a really good time there and actually hope to be back someday. We stayed there for a month and we had the chance to learn a bit
… read more about permaculture. The only downside is that there is no WIFI, and it was essential for me as Im studding online. Besides that we would for sure recommend this host and experience, you wont regret it!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Amazing experience and amazing people. Such a beautiful time spent here and so many good activities. I got to know many people from the community and I'm really grateful for the fact that I felt part of the family. The surroundings are very beautiful, but you could use a car for a better coverage of the area.
Left by Workawayer (Emily) for host
I spent 4 very happy and fun weeks at this wonderful place. Lorraine, Uula, Unti and Arnie are such a lovely family. What they have achieved and continue to do on their land is really amazing and super interesting for anyone interested in permaculture like me. I really loved all the work, it was mostly in the garden and there is an endless list of
… read more different jobs to do which keeps it all really varied and interesting. It always involved a lot of teamwork and we had a lot of fun and laughs all working together. Lorraine and Uula are both so knowledgeable and passionate about what they do; it’s really infectious and you can learn so much from both of them. Their land and the area that they live in is absolutely stunning. You can go on lots of cool bike rides and walks; there’s a loch a 10 min cycle away and it’s a great area for wild swimming. If you have a car its ideal because you will be able to explore much more of the region and there are some incredible places you can visit.
During my stay I was in one of their caravans, they are basic but I was fine with that. I do think the caravans could benefit from some improvements as they are older now but it’s your own private space and Lorraine will always help if you need anything. Lorraine was a really attentive host and always checked in on us, it was a really lovely environment to be in. She is also an insane cook and you will be treated with her amazing food.
They have a really cool and exciting community in this fab part of the world. You will meet lots of interesting people, including Abi and Bruce who live on site and are both so fab and many other amazing neighbours, friends and volunteers. There’s a great social life and you’ll be sure to have fun.
I’m so grateful to have gone to this beautiful place. I met so many great people, had many laughs and learnt a lot about permaculture and many other things. Thank you so much Lorraine and Uula! I look forward to the day I can return!
Bisous xxxYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Luci)
If you have a chance to host Luci grab her!
Luci brought a lot of great energy to the mill, she is a skilled decorative gardener and very handy to have in the greenhouse and veg garden also. She was able to self direct and find useful tasks for herself. equally if we had a group activity she would happily muck in and take direction.
Her creative
… read more energy is strong and she has left us with many beautiful signs and painted objects.
Whilst she was here, she engaged in her own interest in moths, setting humane traps each night to conduct a survey. her enthusiam for the subject captured us all.
Luci also has specila interpersonal gifts, and acted as wonderful mother figure to our younger volunteers who often went to her for advice and wisdom, which she is brlliant at giving in a warm and non judgmnetal way,
All in a great package.
We were all sad to see her colourful ambulance head off and away, we hope to see her again.
Left by Workawayer (Luci) for host
Lorraine and Ulla have created something very special here in this beautiful corner of Scotland. I stayed in this little community for six weeks during the freakishly hot summer, and felt really welcomed and appreciated. I arrived there in my camper van and had a great park-up overlooking Lorraine's garden, a wonderful mixture of vegetables and
… read more flowers with the hills behind, swallows and kites swooping around overhead and red squirrels in the trees. It's a very bio diverse area and if you love nature you will find an abundance of wild flowers, moths and butterfly species, deer, foxes, and birds of prey.
As well as the volunteers, there are various people living on site, all creative imaginative kind people always ready to share knowledge and know how and encourage you to be your most creative powerful self. I really enjoyed people just wandering past my van at different times of the day and stopping for a chat or a beer.
The work was mostly in the garden and greenhouse, weeding, planting, pruning, taking cuttings, harvesting and processing of produce, and some painting and some cleaning of the holiday home, though there is also plenty of scope to suggest other jobs that may be more suited to your particular skillset. The work is not hard and you will learn a lot about permaculture, soil and compost and life in a small community. Ulla is such a nice guy and really keen to teach anyone who wants to learn how to use power tools, and always ready to encourage new skills in you.
Lorraine is very inclusive and generous with her friends, and is a a great conversationalist and a great listener, as well as being a lot of fun. We got to meet lots of her neighbours and friends and were invited to dinner with them. We also had some nice trips out foraging for mushrooms, swimming in waterfalls and canoeing on Loch Ken.
Each working day starts around ten with a volunteers meeting which allowed everyone to share ideas thoughts and feelings before the day started in earnest, and I think we all felt very taken care of.
Abi and Lorraine sometimes run courses on things like scything or soil management and there is the opportunity to join these for free.
If you get a chance to visit here then do it, I cried when I left, and will definitely be going back. Hugs xxxxxxYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (AnneDonaldAlbin) for host
I planned on staying with this wonderful family for a month or so, but a week in, I had an accident and had to go into hospital, and I could not have handled the entire situation without these amazing folks. Lorraine found me somewhere to stay, made sure I was fed and watered, checked in on me while in hospital, and comforted me when I had
… read more absolutely no family near. These people are miracles.
While I was with them and working on their lovely land, I was explained my choice of jobs well and clear, nothing too heavy was ever put on me, the hours were chill, the food was good, the smiles were always present! Looking forward to going back someday :)You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Alea) for host
The stay at the little hidden paradise from Lorraine, Uula, Arni, Unti and Kaya was unforgettable.
Waking up in the caravan with the sound of the birds and knowing that I will have the whole day to share with beautiful people and doing mindful tasks made me feel so honoured. It was beautiful to work most of the time outside, planting and pruning
… read more trees, taking care of the donkeys, doing different tasks with the compost, the greenhouse and the hugel beds. I am very glad that I had the possibility to learn about permaculture and how to use cool machines (:
My time there was so fascinating and fulfilling that I am already looking forward to go back.
Thank you all for everything
AleaYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Paco) for host
Wow... I don't know how to describe the days that I spent in this amazing place. It was my first Workaway experience and my first time without my family and friends but Lorraine, Uula, Aarnie and Unti made me feel at home. They were all lovely and of course the amazing volunteers that I met there were amazing, too.
At first I was insecure and
… read more afraid of mess things up but in such a relaxed place every thing that you do wrong is an opportunity to learn. I left this place much more confident and I have learned a lot about permaculture and a lot of new skills.
Thank you so much for the opportunity, it was an amazing experience.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Rachel & Nick) for host
Lorraine and Uula were amazing hosts, they made me feel so welcome from the moment I arrived. Their communication and flexibility with arrangements was excellent. They are so easy going and really include you in their daily activities. The tasks were varied and Lorraine always asked what you wanted to do or if you had any preferences to chores.
… read more The caravan I lived in was such a dream, it was right on the edge of a little lake/pond and I spent a lot of my spare time losing myself in the magical forests on their property and in the surrounding area on Lorainne and Uulas bikes. It was such a beautiful month that I spent at the hidden mill, I highly recommend this host, I would love to go back.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Felipe & Sofia) for host
lorraine, ulla, arni unti, alex kaya pops ! they are very nice people with lots of talents. we spend 3 weeks in the hidden mill and we had a really nice time! They have an interesting permacultural project...so you can learn about plants, greenhouses, buildings!
the nature around the house is beatifull you can take the bikes and explore the
… read more area..
thank you for receiving us in your home! it was a pleasure to meet you.!
felipe and sofiaYou can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Liam) for host
I had a fantastic stay with Lorraine and Uula! Truly a wonderful 2 weeks of enjoyable work and great company. They were kind, generous and fun loving, as were the other volunteers staying with them at the time who I made great friends with. I helped with building the greenhouse and compost toilets, erecting festival tents and other various tasks.
… read more They gave me these jobs despite my limited practical experience with this kind of work, so I learnt some useful hands on skills which I appreciated. We shared delicious meals, went for some refreshing swims in the creek, had an outdoor sauna and a few parties! Thank you again very much for having me. I would thoroughly recommend to anyone a stay with you Lorraine and Uula!You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Miguel & Brenda) for host
An incredible experience! Lorraine and Uula are wonderful people, we miss them a lot, they made us feel as family and we learned a lot from them. We enjoyed a lot of delicious dinners and great conversations, met a lot of interesting people. Our caravan was very nice and cozy, with a great view. The place is beautiful, we fell in love with
… read more Scotland. We had a lot of fun in the project and we leave with a lot of ideas that we want to do when we get back home. You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Andres) for host
A great place, my first workaway ever.
The place is lovely, but the best are Lorraine and Uula. You guys rock!!! I can definetly say that my time with you was one of the best in my life. ^^ And what to say about the kids, I'll miss them forever, they got a piece of my heart.
Also a great opportunit to learn lots of new things. I learn a few new
… read more tricks and lots of stuff about my self.
Thanks a lot for making a wee bit of space in your home for this guy ^^You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Maude ) for host
I spent the last days of my trip in Scotland with Lorraine and her family, they were such amazing human beings! At first I wanted to thank them for supporting my disease and my fear of returning from the trip. The site is a fairy tale, and so are Aarni and the little monkey! I've slept in an old school Westfalia, the other amazing workawayers and
… read more I did plenty of jobs, couldn't forget the smelly lasagna!
The Lorraine's house is a home for everybody, and everyday you get to meet her lovely friends. She's an amazing woman, she just take care of you like you were her child, and she teach you so many tips and knowledge! Lorraine's always up for novelty.
I had fun cooking for the family, just did a Poutine! The woods all around were at least mystic, I enjoyed every ride with my companions out there!
Thank you for everything, I'll see you again, soon! You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Aurélie) for host
Hi Lorraine and Uula, I am well arrived in Ireland now.
For anyone who wonder if it's a good place to go: it is. If you love the nature you will be happy with the oak trees, the river, the deers, the fresh air. And if you're lucky and have snow, it becomes magic ! So even if it was cold for me in january, I was warm in my heart thanks to these
… read more people. We were a good team, Lorraine, Uula, Martin, Marianna and me, and the 2 kids of course! I will always remember the barbecue under the snow, tea time and all the funny moments with all of you. Thank you for that, I hope that you're well.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Julie & Kilian) for host
We actually had a great time at the Mill. It is a lovely place in a beautiful landscape. The family is very friendly, easy going and open-minded. The children are so sweet, we loved to spend some time with them. We also met friends of the family who are all very friendly people. Living in the truck was a nice experience. It is a cozy place, which
… read more does provide everything you need. Lorraine and Uula were very flexible and spontaneous and offered us using bikes and anything else, they are also great cooks. Uula offered us to use his self-made sauna, typical finnish, so sweet. Thank you very much for everything.You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by Workawayer (Nelson) for host
This family... Where should I begin? With the fact that they are purely and simply an amazing bunch of people or that I expected to stay two weeks and ended up staying for two months.
The property is absolutely gorgeous and the work was very interesting and ranged a great deal. I learnt so much working with Lorraine and Uula, and from
… read more conversations with the family and their large array of friends. I highly recommend to anyone to stop by and help out, you won't regret it.
So many great times! thanks again for having me and I look forward to seeing you again :)
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
Left by host for Workawayer (Nelson)
If you are lucky enough to receive a request from Nelson. Grab him. He is easy to live with, works hard, does good quality work and answers all the children's questions with endless patience. He came for a few days and stayed a couple of months. We hope to see him again.
Left by Workawayer (Em) for host
Lorraine &her family are absolutely lovely! Even though I wasn't there long they were all very kind &understanding. They live in a beautiful place, it looks like its jumped straight out of a fairy tale!
You can only contact Workawayers who have an active membership.
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Pet sit our dog in a beautiful, peaceful rural setting in Balblair, Scotland, UK
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Please note due to the UK leaving the EU, freedom of movement from the EU to the UK ended on 1st Jan 2021. If you are not a UK citizen, Irish citizen, settled status holder, Commonwealth citizen with the right to abode in the UK, BNO passport holder with valid visa or have a Tier 5 Youth Mobility Scheme (working holiday) visa and you are entering the UK to work or study you may be refused entry to the UK after Jan 1st 2021 unless you have the correct visas and permits in place. To find out more information about visas and work permits for your nationality you need to contact the embassy in your home country BEFORE travelling.
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