Creative Crofting
Artists, Crofters and Glampsite Hosts?
Here's our story....
We moved to the stunningly beautiful Uig peninsula many years ago. We wanted to bring our children up in an island environment, to be able to grow (and catch) as much of our own food as possible and generally have more of an outdoor life.
Crofting in Uig
When the opportunity arose to work a croft in Mangersta (Mangurstadh) on the Uig coast, we jumped at the chance. Here we grow and harvest fodder crops in our in-bye croft fields and grow our own vegetables in a sheltered garden and polycrub.
Island Glamping
We diversified our crofting activities when we set up the first Glamping pod site on the Isle of Lewis and Harris. The luxury Wigwam® Cabins and Shepherd's Huts can be booked on-line for holiday lets. They are sited in the croft fields next to our home and gallery. For the last 12 years we have loved welcoming visitors from all over the world to our tiny island homes and introducing them to Uig, one of the Outer Hebrides hidden gems.
Here's our story....
We moved to the stunningly beautiful Uig peninsula many years ago. We wanted to bring our children up in an island environment, to be able to grow (and catch) as much of our own food as possible and generally have more of an outdoor life.
Crofting in Uig
When the opportunity arose to work a croft in Mangersta (Mangurstadh) on the Uig coast, we jumped at the chance. Here we grow and harvest fodder crops in our in-bye croft fields and grow our own vegetables in a sheltered garden and polycrub.
We keep a small herd of grass fed Aberdeen Angus Beef cattle and Blackface sheep, which graze our croft fields and the Mangersta crofting township’s common grazings.
Derek designed and constructed the croft house where we live, and in which our Art & Craft Gallery and artists’ studio are situated.
Derek designed and constructed the croft house where we live, and in which our Art & Craft Gallery and artists’ studio are situated.
Island Glamping
We diversified our crofting activities when we set up the first Glamping pod site on the Isle of Lewis and Harris. The luxury Wigwam® Cabins and Shepherd's Huts can be booked on-line for holiday lets. They are sited in the croft fields next to our home and gallery. For the last 12 years we have loved welcoming visitors from all over the world to our tiny island homes and introducing them to Uig, one of the Outer Hebrides hidden gems.
Follow @mangerstacroftholidays on Instagram for reels and photographs showing the seasonal changes in the Uig landscape, our crofting activities in Mangersta (Mangurstadh) and the spectacular coastline surrounding our glamping site.
ART AND DESIGN
it’s a family affair
Derek Scanlan has a BA Honours Degree in Fine Art from Falmouth School of Art. His expressive oils and pastels are influenced by his experiences as a lobster fisherman and crofter. He starts by making rapid pastel drawings outdoors, of local subjects. These are then worked into oil paintings back in the studio. His work has been exhibited in the UK, The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium and purchased by many visitors to the islands.
it’s a family affair
Derek Scanlan has a BA Honours Degree in Fine Art from Falmouth School of Art. His expressive oils and pastels are influenced by his experiences as a lobster fisherman and crofter. He starts by making rapid pastel drawings outdoors, of local subjects. These are then worked into oil paintings back in the studio. His work has been exhibited in the UK, The Netherlands, Germany and Belgium and purchased by many visitors to the islands.
The Shepherd's Huts at Mangersta Croft Holidays are unique one offs designed and built by Derek in collaboration with our son Campbell Scanlan.
Campbell Scanlan is an award winning graduate in Product Design from the University of Dundee. He returned home to the Outer Hebrides to establish a bespoke cabinetmaker's workshop here in Uig, Isle of Lewis . He specialises in contemporary wood interiors, lighting and furniture design.
Follow @campbell.design on Instagram to view his full product range, including these stunning wooden ‘Lasair’ light boxes featuring art work by Lewis based printmaker Alice Macmillan.
Follow @campbell.design on Instagram to view his full product range, including these stunning wooden ‘Lasair’ light boxes featuring art work by Lewis based printmaker Alice Macmillan.
Our daughter Lorna Scanlan has a First Class Honours and Masters Degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from the University of Dundee.
In addition to her work as an architect, Lorna also creates digital illustrations of pets, people and special memories. Direct Message Instagram lornascanlan_archnart to commission a thoughtful gift for friends and family.
In addition to her work as an architect, Lorna also creates digital illustrations of pets, people and special memories. Direct Message Instagram lornascanlan_archnart to commission a thoughtful gift for friends and family.
Elsie Mitchell has a BA Honours Degree in Fine Art Photography from Glasgow School of Art and a postgraduate qualification from the Slade School of Fine Art. Her work has been exhibited extensively throughout the UK at venues including The Tramway in Glasgow, the I.C.A. and the Crafts Council Gallery in London, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh and An Lanntair Arts Centre in Stornoway.
Elsie's recent work includes sand art exploring the place names of Uig beaches and a map of Mangersta Common Grazings, delineated in paper, handmade from grasses and bracken growing in the area, and potato shanks harvested from the croft fields. The work explores the biodiversity of the Mangurstadh coastline and the historical and contemporary agricultural practices which have helped shape it. A labour of love, the map is on permanent display at Mangurstadh Gallery.
MANGERSTA CROFT HOLIDAYS
GUEST REVIEWS
GUEST REVIEWS
“ I could have listened to the owner's Derek and Elsie, chat about the Isle of Lewis and Mangersta all day long. Their accents paired with local knowledge make them the perfect hosts to share all the area offers, plus they're both talented artists and if you ask nicely, there's a gallery inside with some incredible work featuring locally sourced materials. Elsie's giant map of Mangersta's boundaries made from natural materials is one of the most incredible pieces I've ever seen..also she's a photographer so can point out where to go to capture the best shot based on the conditions.” The Wandering Lens
“Very friendly welcome, lovely cosy shepherd's hut with beautiful view, art studio, saw an eagle - what's not to like?!”
“An altogether uplifting experience”
“Great hosts in a beautiful location. It's a part of Lewis I was not familiar with but will 100% return to..”
“An idyllic little haven on beautiful Lewis”
For further information on our art and craft work or to Book a Glamping Holiday in the Hebrides, please contact:
Derek Scanlan and Elsie Mitchell
Mangersta Croft Holidays
Mangurstadh Gallery
5 Mangersta
Uig
Isle of Lewis
Outer Hebrides
Scotland
HS2 9EY
Derek's Mobile: +44 (0)7814 895 796
or
Elsie's Mobile: +44 (0)7949 412 307
Email: derek@derekscanlan.co.uk
“Very friendly welcome, lovely cosy shepherd's hut with beautiful view, art studio, saw an eagle - what's not to like?!”
“An altogether uplifting experience”
“Great hosts in a beautiful location. It's a part of Lewis I was not familiar with but will 100% return to..”
“An idyllic little haven on beautiful Lewis”
For further information on our art and craft work or to Book a Glamping Holiday in the Hebrides, please contact:
Derek Scanlan and Elsie Mitchell
Mangersta Croft Holidays
Mangurstadh Gallery
5 Mangersta
Uig
Isle of Lewis
Outer Hebrides
Scotland
HS2 9EY
Derek's Mobile: +44 (0)7814 895 796
or
Elsie's Mobile: +44 (0)7949 412 307
Email: derek@derekscanlan.co.uk