Peacefully nestled in the beautiful north west of Skye, Aoife, Jake and Corran have called Flashadder home since 2014. In 2020, they took on their croft, alongside Buster, their hardworking collie, and Tedward, their sociable Labrador and unofficial social manager!
Land Management
With a focus on raising and sourcing native breed Hebridean sheep, their approach to sheep management is closely tied to the land itself. The flock is used in rotational grazing across species rich crofts, helping to naturally manage and improve the ground.
The family feel fortunate to be able to graze in Kildonan and Edinbane, while also using grazing land in Uig, Galtrigill and common grazing in Flashadder itself.
Hebridean sheep are perfectly suited to the terrain and climate on Skye. They are hardy, good natured animals and excellent mothers.
In some years, with limitations in grazing land, small amounts of lambs are sold on to neighbouring crofters. With males reared for hogget meat and females kept to gradually expand the breeding flock.
Like many land managers in Scotland, they face challenges with bracken spreading across the land. To help manage this, rare breed Mangalitsa pigs from Matthijs Geerdink are strip grazed across steeper croft banks that machinery cannot easily reach. It is an effective way to control the bracken and also produces excellent pork.
Calum Munro, chef of Scorrybreac Restaurant, pictured at Portree Bay.
Image: Sandy McCook/DC Thomson.
Sustainable Practices
Most of their home raised male lambs are processed as hogget and sold locally on Skye, mainly to restaurants and private customers. By sharing recipes and showcasing different ways to cook with hogget, Dun Flashadder hopes to encourage using as much of the animal as possible.
Last year, their meat featured on Great British Menu through long time friend and customer Calum Munro of Scorrybreac Restaurant. His haggis, made with their hogget, was praised by Tom Kerridge as the best he had ever tasted!
Exciting Partnerships
In autumn 2025, Skyeskyns began purchasing the croft’s Hebridean skins to create sheepskin rugs. This fits closely with the aim of making full use of the animal while supporting other local businesses.
Creative Endeavours
The flock is sheared by hand each year, with the wool used to create felted fleece rugs, tea cosies, pot handle holders and other handmade items. They also now offer felt making courses for anyone interested in learning the craft.
For the past few years, the croft has taken part in the WWOOF programme, welcoming volunteers who help with the day to day work while getting a chance to experience crofting life on Skye. The programme has brought visitors from around the world and helped build connections beyond the local community.
The family now own a mature fruit orchard on Skye, where they harvest and sell blackcurrants and blueberries. Whenever possible, bees are kept in the orchard to support pollination and the wider environment. There are also plans underway to open a unique self catering property nestled within the orchard itself.
With ongoing encouragement from their family, friends, and neighbours — whom they are truly thankful for — the family has many plans for Dun Flashadder. New ideas and projects are continually developing alongside the croft itself. We're excited to see what's next for this family business!
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