17: Exploring an Abandoned Schoolhouse on the Mainland; Garden Renovation; Island Life Scotland Vlog

Welcome to The Scottish Isle, where we share the captivating world of our life on this private island in the Hebrides. Our channel is your window to the rich treasures of this unique way of life, showcasing Scotland's beauty, local traditions, and the enchanting, old-fashioned lifestyle we embrace. Join us on this exciting journey as we explore the stories and wonders that shape our island life, from breath-taking landscapes to cherished traditions; the renovation of a 300-year-old cottage, and the restoration of antiques. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to stay up-to-date with our latest episodes. Let's embark on this remarkable adventure together!
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Title music 'Wild Mountain Thyme'; a traditional Scottish folk tune, performed by Tara Howley.
Background music:
Reidun Schlesinger on harp, a Belgian classically-trained musician plays Fanny Power, attributed to Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738).
harpmusic.ie/
Please follow her KZbin channel at / @rheidun
Stephanie Liney playing Si Bheag, Si Mhor on harp, traditional Irish folk tune by Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738)
stephanieliney....
/ stephanieliney
Reidun Schlesinger on harp, a Belgian classically-trained musician, playing Blind Mary - attributed to Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738).
harpmusic.ie/
Please follow her KZbin channel at / @rheidun
Rocio Galena playing The Clergy's Lamentation, traditional Irish folk tune by Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738).
/ @galenaros
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[@TheScottishIsle]

Please support our channel at www.ko-fi.com/thescottishisle Paypal: [e-mail] Patreon subscription: www.patreon.com/TheScottishIsle Starlink internet campaign: ko-fi.com/thescottishisle Please follow The Scottish Isle on Instagram: instagram.com/thescottishisle?igshid=NGExMmI2YTkyZg%3D%3D Amazon Wishlist: www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/1TD40LOSIWHIH?ref_=wl_share For further information please contact us at: [e-mail]

[@sarahmaddigan8869]

I adore how you two pause to reflect on and admire an old stone bridge. Most folks would not give it a thought.

[@greatlambrini8722]

How idyllic. Lovely cat sleeping in front of a roaring fire. ❤️

[@liesavillandre3481]

The stone work is beautiful. Too bad it is gone, maybe someday it will be gutted and repurposed. I am glad you found a way to keep the water from your porch. Your stone steps are going to be lovely in the spring.

[@lauraautry6992]

So sad to see the school house in such bad shape. I love heather and seeing grow in the moss will be so pretty. Always look forward to hearing the beautiful and relaxing music 🤗🤗

[@davidfellowes1628]

The more I watch your programme, the more I think hempcrete could be a viable and relatively easy solution. It would both bond to the stone outer walls as well as insulating the home and it would breath at the same time. A lime render would be the final coat. This as a task wouldn’t be to overwhelming. French are great exponents of hemp and hempcrete. The hempcrete slowly hardens over time into almost a rock without losing any of its wonderful qualities.

[@shaunsworld430]

What a beautiful school house, oh to be young again and to bring it back into use

[@belbarratt5657]

Firstly thank you for beautiful videos. They take me back to when my children were little and we lived in a cottage in the highlands. My daughter for the first few months of schooling in the late 80’s went to a school very like this before sadly it was closed. Such incredible buildings left to fall into ruin.I renovated our cottage slowly, not to your extent, but wow it was satisfying. I love the videos and transported back to those days in Scotland. So lovely that this cottage and island with all its history isn’t going to be lost. I now live abroad so to see the beauty of Scotland here is precious. There is nowhere more beautiful on earth, when the sun shines 😊

[@JanisTilyard]

Thank you both for the breath of Scotland in these videos. The pipes and lush landscapes are delightful. Watching from NZ but Scotland was where my earthly journey started in Jan 1953. I’ve been back 3 times in the last 16 years. Again thank you 🙏.

[@TheScottishIsle]

Such a joy to be able to give you these reminders of your homeland.

[@patriziadelorenzis378]

Magical.

[@susangotchy2887]

The two story building It's a shame to see it falling apart. It sure was a beauty. The flowered plant would be pretty transplanted back at the cottage. You're very talented with the camera. I love your photography as well as your restoration work.

[@gaffysmenk]

The decor in the school building is exactly the same as the decor in one up the road from us in Westray. This one's owned by a guy South who had the roof retiled about 15 years ago which stopped it from ending up like your one.

[@SurreyHillsMole]

Every video is balm for the soul.

[@CrankyBubushka]

So sad about the old school. It was a beautiful building.

[@dianay.servin3949]

Wow! I love your videos- you all work so hard, the land is so beautiful-all the water, ferns, trees, heather😍I’m in Texas where we’ve had over 70 days of 100degree F and over heat, and watching your videos cools me off🥵. I love the music, the nature sounds, your sheep and kitties😻you are an engaging couple, and your accents are wonderful! Keep up the good work! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@paulaharris4667]

Loved the video ❤

[@beatieswanepoel3004]

So beautiful and peaceful. I love your hat K!❤️🌹🐝

[@kathyoh9713]

Your island, a sketchers paradise!

[@Rbmc2611]

You’re one of the first I watch because you bring joy and happiness!! I have my regulars, but you’re usually at the top of the list. Can’t wait to see what evolves.

[@judiehavard4903]

Hello from south Mississippi! Love the videos. Am currently binge watching them. We have a houseboat on the river. We put a good deal of sand in the paint. To paint the outside decks and walkway to the land. They can get quite slippery during and after a rain. And you will land flat. The sand has helped immensely. We painted the deck because the Grands swim in the river and are dripping wet on they climb back on. And of course they are everywhere. They like to run and jump off the deck back in the water. With out the sand they would slip and fall.😊

[@TheScottishIsle]

That's a great tip - thank you! Kx

[@whiskeycook3323]

Beautiful old bridge.

[@kudzumoose3861]

Where is the bridge located? Its not on your island?

[@KatyThompsonHaley]

I LOVE all your dresses! Truly! Do you sew them yourself? I’m a self-taught seamstress who sees mostly for others and find it hard to sew for myself! Do you use a pattern? And if so, could you share? Thanks so much! I a a Big Fan!

[@TheScottishIsle]

Thank you, I haven't a pattern for these as they're bought, but I do plan to make a pattern at some stage! Kx

[@pjb3583]

There’s an autumn color here in Ohio that is my favorite color of them all. It’s the burnt orange and rust combination of a harvested soybean field at just the right stage of decay. Now I have seen flashes of that same color in your locale, and that is absolutely reassuring to me. I am grateful to be getting a glimpse of your efforts and admire what you are doing. Plus, I love a good island fix! Peace …

[@frankboyd7993]

Is the School Mistress House on your property? That would be quite a project, but seems so worthwhile to bring back to life!

[@irmibullinger1421]

The Heather will look wonderful next to your steps when it starts to bloom. Be sure to seed some wildflowers in the Spring as well

[@hazmania]

Some lovely scantled slates on that roof!

[@dianay.servin3949]

Thanks!

[@TheScottishIsle]

Thank you so much! 💓 It's great you enjoyed the vid. 🤗

[@KiwiBabz]

Robert Redford ......The Way We Were. I loved Rik Mayall in Bottom, lol. 😂 Another beautiful video, thank-you. The old neglected buildings made me sad. I do hope you salvage something before it rots away forever. Wouldn't it be awesome if some past students saw this and got in touch. Cheers from New Zealand.

[@adelinefinlay1582]

You need a couple of goats…they’d soon demolish the brambles and ferns for you…one of my daughters took one in and he eats all in front of him! 😂

[@RoseS-o7v]

Hello from Australia.lovely music and scenery.

[@margaretlynch1494]

🙋‍♀️❤️ That's not a telephone booth! That's Dr. WHOS Tardus!😊

[@DesertBloomBettas]

From one rain dwellter to another - roofing paper, the kind that feels rough like sandpaper, works great on wooden stairs in the rain - gives you a lot more grip, and because it's made for roofs, is far more durable than chicken wire. It would make a decent permanent solution to your slick steps problem. I grew up in a cabin in the woods in a similar climate, and that's what my father used to keep us kids from sliding down the steps constantly. Worked great. Just a helpful tip!

[@TheScottishIsle]

Actually, we have some of that lying around, that is a good idea!

[@ivyjulieharvey3043]

What a beautiful find. I find many like the old school on my travels and in the most outstanding locations like this one. If I had both the money to buy and money to restore I would love to own a place like this on acre you can grow so much and have poultry onsite living off-grid and slowing the pace to a simpler life. Maybe one day.

[@maryannknox7158]

I so enjoyed this…..Thank You both 💗🙏

[@karendaniel8149]

I'm so curious about the history of the island. It seems it was once a community of people. I am wondering why they all left.

[@arthurhartsock1407]

Scotland and Ireland were once small farms. But land was bought up for large scale sheep raising operations and other modern agricultural methods. And small farmers forced off the land. Displaced farmers flooded UK's factory towns, died of starvation, or came to US.

[@raneemilliman7130]

Wouldn't be lovely if you could salvage some items from the other building? Better than just rotting away. Thank you for sharing all of your experiences.

[@TheScottishIsle]

You're welcome, and we thought the same! Will try to find out who owns it and go from there.

[@Sag3w0man]

Thanks for the laugh at the end! Quoting Mony Python...I almost choked on my laughter!😆

[@kevinmountford4541]

Love the monty python ref. 😂😅 p.s. when screwing the sheets together only screw in the tops of the ridges not in the valleys, less rot and drips that way.

[@suehillman7189]

Loved this, especially the old school house. About an hour from us is derelict village called Tyneham, on the south coast in Dorset. The school house has been been saved and it’s all set up as though the children left yesterday. Love finding treasures like this. Makes you step back in time in your mind. Is the school house on your land? Great watching your progress, you are doing a lot of people’s dreams. Xx

[@TheScottishIsle]

Another that's on the mainland. 😊

[@18robsmith]

Great to see another island fix in place - it will last long enough to become permanent (if not longer). As for the old school house - there's nothing wrong with it that deep pockets and time won't fix.

[@tamaravanbommel7564]

I love seeing how you solve problems on the island and I love seeing the island itself! It's been so many years since I got to visit Scotland and I miss it a lot 😢

[@megmills4798]

Love the telephone booth😊

[@bocceball63]

You should ask if you can repurpose things from the school before they are all lost.

[@TheScottishIsle]

That's so funny, we just had that conversation last night!

[@serenitys_zephyr]

I was thinking the same. The windows could become cold frames.

[@Maeceea59]

Such a shame. The stonework is amazing! We were in Scotland in August and all the stonework fascinated me. So beautiful!

[@marylyon1230]

And the wood for burning?

[@dickdavidson3616]

Good idea if allowed. ❤

[@TheFiown]

I grew up in a small Scottish village and of course as there were more people born there was not enough houses and we needed a home. The local authorities offered us an old victorian schoolhouse near the cemetry and just outside the village. I will always remember that place, it was one large room, high ceilings and a huge old stove for heat and attached to it was the schoolteachers house. Of course I remember it as huge, being a kid but it sat in beautiful grounds with old trees and there was a stream on the edge between the school and the churchyard. It had lain empty and somewhat vandalised over the many years and needed a lot of work. Mum didn't take it as she couldn't count on my father to do any work or bring home any money as she usually worked to feed us. She had good reason but I used to go and look at that school for many years until it was bought and restored in a horrible modern way and now looks like a modern bungalow. In later years when oil workers from the US and England came up and housing estates were built to house them, the same people bought up the empty old farm cottages and buildings and modernised them into oblivion hiking up the prices for local couples. To make way (despite there being much empty land) for these estates they authorities forced out the local gentry from their manor house and they demolished it and the outbuildings and build horrible houses in it's place. People there are now more sensitive to the past and houses are being better treated, for some it is too late.

[@mrricky3816]

Thanks!

[@TheScottishIsle]

🤍🤍🤗 Thank you so much!

[@iainhubbard72]

Good job Scott but would recommend securing the orange pipe or the wind moving it will rub against the end of the tin and cut it eventually!😊

[@TheScottishIsle]

Thank you, that's disused now so will be gone soon!

[@whiskeycook3323]

Well done young man

[@jamesprentice5503]

You need some self-cutting screws for the galvanized sheets,works better than drilling holes!

[@jamesprentice5503]

At least your neighbors are quiet,no loud parties,though winter will be quiet, boring and cold!

[@Ocean348]

I … love … this … channel ❤

[@GenXLostInTx]

Love the old school house, it would take a miracle, and although I do see people who spend years working on projects like that, I just don’t know how they do it.

[@nikki27ish]

The old school mistresses house was lovely, I hope you're able to reuse some of that materials.

[@radiogramgramophonetoons5802]

Scott is a very sharp dressed dude all the time, even doing DIY !!

[@jimm8682]

To make sure you are level or the angle is right , is to do it with a string like the olden times, of course nowadays all you need is a leveller.

[@TheScottishIsle]

You're right!

[@Toni-rp3hs]

Hi Scott & Katie from Australia 🇦🇺 The easels would be good salvage the school house looked like it was rented out maybe. God bless 🙏 Trying to think of a name for your property?? Something with Scott & Katie mixed what do you think !!

[@jamesgause9546]

This is my second time of watching your channel. I plan on watching other episodes to catch up very soon. I am from the UK, but retired to the US. My daughter is working and living in Cumbria, so come once or twice a year. I like to have froze there this last whole of December from. -15 f. Most days whilst there. Hopefully one day can up your way again. I’ve been to Ft. William, in your area somewhat I believe. Stay well and warm both of you! All the best, M.

[@TheScottishIsle]

You're very welcome! We're happy to have you watching and following our progress. Hopefully we can show you some of the 'old country' as we go. All the best, Kx

[@lieuwina]

The school mistresses house must have been cosy and lovely in its hey day. It must have had quiet a community then. Would be lovely to hear if any body remembers the history of the place. Thank you for taking us on your walks, I thoroughly enjoy them. Also Katie and her antics really make my day and how Scott reacts to her antics is also so funny.

[@adelinefinlay1582]

Love the island fix…

[@mr.underhill7072]

Another lovely episode. What is the music you use, particularly over the schoolhouse scene ?

[@TheScottishIsle]

It's called The Clergy's Lamentation by O'Carolan. Thank you for watching! Kx

[@goldenstaph101]

What is the lovely bagpipe and harp theme tune your show opens with, please?

[@TheScottishIsle]

The pipe music is Wild Mountain Thyme and the first harp music on this episode is the Clergy's Lamentation - a Turlough O'Carolan tune. Kx

[@chrisbeckstrom6182]

You've pulled my heart strings again! There's nothing more bittersweet than a derelict building, with piles of evidence of its past life. I wonder if you know any architects or engineers who could do a structural evaluation. Just from viewing your video I couldn't say for sure, but maybe it could be stabilized and propped up where it is vulnerable to further ruin? Maybe you could find a builders academy to send a crew to clean it out and come up with a plan to use part of it for guest accomodation or an event space? Anyway, everytime I see your sheep I imagine you spinning and knitting their wool when you will spend more time indoors soon...

[@marypasco2213]

If you can find any intact, framed windows, not attached to a building, you could cobble together a small greenhouse for plants.

[@rogerhance2057]

Would be nice if somebody restored that school building and live there

[@justmeted1969]

The 1990s looking mountain bike seems quite a juxtaposition in the old schoolhouse. Probably the most salvageable part of it. I loved the Monty Python reference. Also a fan of the infrequent Tolkien reference y'all make. In a way, your life there reminds me of another fiction series known as the Emberverse, by S.M. Stirling...but without the apocalyptic elements haha.

[@lisaminglet7229]

I hope your moss and heather transplants well. It is ashame to see something that once was a home and school in such a sad state. I feel sad when I see homes abandoned and reclaimed by the force of nature.

[@dianay.servin3949]

P.s. I would love to spend one quiet week there. Please consider a guest house!

[@KAZSANable]

Defo ❤

[@suzannetodaro5494]

Hi loved the video. A tip to sort your screw, nuts, nails and bolts. Get screw cap jars and attach them to a plank which you attach over you work bench. You then sort the messy lot into like for like and re screw the jars to their lids hanging from you plank at eye level. 😊

[@Maywyn]

Expansion and contraction continues to take place when it is hot and cold, year after year. It is a natural course for wood. The silicon might cause more problems than it solves.

[@r.beerkens1935]

The school is really lovely. You can make a cute house.

[@abigailgerlach5443]

The first thing we all focused on were the windows. Great minds think alike! There is actually a lot there that is salvageable. Sink, doors, pipes, wood for flooring, shelving, and hooks and more. Definitely ask if the materials can be used. It will rot away if you don't use it, which would be a crying shame.

[@robynclarke5274]

Do you own the whole island or just the cottage? The schoolhouse was interesting, could use anything there? Amazing you've reached 20k. I started watching around your 2nd week when your subscribers were 245. You're living a dream that many of us would like. Keep on doing what your doing.

[@TheScottishIsle]

We were thinking of seeing if we could get in touch with the owners and salvage something!

[@alisong2328]

I loved the Monty Python Holy Grail references! ❤

[@Remoskateer]

Glad you used the tin to shed the water, better then that terrible silicone . Silicone has its uses but not in this application. You should share your store of bits and bobs with us so we can help you choose the right materials to get you on your way.

[@pfles1]

Go away or I shall taunt you a second time!😂

[@tylerjenkins91]

Wonderful channel been watching all the videos in my spare time the last few days. A little cheat for when you are doing metal roofing, use a 16 penny nail to punch holes in said roofing. Quicker and cheaper then drill bit. Cleaner hole too.

[@TheScottishIsle]

Thank you!!

[@Andrea.S.Alvey12]

The bridge is beautiful! Do you know how old it is? It seems like it's timeless-the sides anyway. I love stuff like that. ❤

[@TheScottishIsle]

Not sure, could be anything from medieval to Georgian by the look of it!

[@excossack]

Given the lack of drill bits could you wedge some wood between the metal sheets and above or add some more blocks above and screw to the uprights?

[@lindagage7315]

What a shame the old school house is rotting away, love the idea with the moss!

[@lesliezapshala1311]

Bravo to the subscriber and for you listening! Happy for you all.

[@aquasapien9275]

Hope you renovate the shool mistress house and attached. What a home that would be. Thank you for sharing , be well.

[@radiogramgramophonetoons5802]

If you haven’t got a drill bit for that corrugated metal sheet, I guess you could try using a 6 inch nail and a hammer to make a hole in it.

[@lindabaker2905]

What caused the population on your isle to decline and why? I am always amazed at what is left behind.

[@TheScottishIsle]

The schoolhouse is actually on the mainland, but we still don't know why it fell into disuse as that area still has a population. It's a shame.

[@CrankyBeach]

@@TheScottishIsle Declining birth rates and thus declining school-age population? I grew up in an area where there were 4 elementary schools in the district. Now there are only two. (For those on the east side of the pond, American elementary schools generally serve children between the ages of 5 and 10.)

[@allonesame6467]

Blessings

[@radiogramgramophonetoons5802]

Buy it and renovate it, back to its glory

[@BrentJJ]

🍻

[@Misty_Murphy]

Is the school house on the island? If so can you possibly restore it at some point also? It really is a beautiful building. Blessings to you both from the southern us.

[@TheScottishIsle]

It's over on the mainland, that building. Thank you for your blessings, same to you! Kx

[@TheGramophoneGirl]

That school house has much potential as a home. Just needs a fair bit of work.

[@christinehodge3608]

Good and interesting video, shame about the school being derelict 😊

[@TheScottishIsle]

It really is! Thank you for watching. Kx

[@brashers759]

Hi guys, It looks like the cabin roof stop short of overhanging any of the decking? could you not just extend the roof beyond the decking? If you overhang by 1-2 ft beyond the front, that’ll solve all your issues, no need to mess around with the planking, no worry about drainage..

[@TheScottishIsle]

Extending the roof would have a marginal effect as the wind blows the rain directly onto the decking (in front of the sliding door). The rain here falls straight down approximately 10% of the time. Also, there was not enough material to extend the roof.

[@CrankyBeach]

@@TheScottishIsle The day I visited Skara Brae in 1998 it was raining sideways so there was no point in trying to use an umbrella.

[@violettatorok5556]

Could you please clarify a bit more if those ruins are on your island or on the main land? It is not always easy to understand where are you 😊

[@TheScottishIsle]

They're on the mainland! 😊

[@beatieswanepoel3004]

At least the toilet was a flush toilet and not a long-drop like my in-laws had on the farm 😂

[@kudzumoose3861]

What do you think that darling little building with the blue door, at mark 9:42 is? Absolutely charming. Maybe just a shed, but so beautiful. Love the shape.

[@rickklemenz6419]

I see you’re talking about the tin roofing. I hope you do a better job than my son-in-law did and didn’t get it long enough and therefore it drips inside the shed. We’re I’ve had to go back in and fix it.

[@rjbrewer09]

could you put a couple of stones to weigh down the places where the metal rain drain doesn’t touch?

[@obiwankenobi6952]

Very sad for such a beautiful Building to just be-left for decay ..i guess there wasn’t anybody interested in making another use of it..😮

[@Marval3s]

maybe now ... if its for sell..

[@hazellinajane]

The problem with buildings like schools, churches, etc is that there is so much red tape about who can buy, who can convert, who owns, it etc. We have an old church in our village, sold off cheap as chips to a lady years ago. She's completely abandoned it and now we as villagers have to watch our village history rot and decay and can't do anything about it because it's privately owned. It's just such a waste when these beautiful, well built buildings are left to crumble when if they had been passed on in good time would have made a very happy home for someone!

[@obiwankenobi6952]

@@hazellinajane Now that’s very sad to hear…😖

[@TikJimmi]

Do they have a system in place where you can send a letter expressing your interest in starting a business in the Scottish Islands, and the local government will provide funding? I can't recall the exact amount, but it might be up to £100,000!

[@maxstewart635]

Love ❤️ the hat GIRLEY 😊

[@sarahgillanders8578]

Your videos are great! Which isle is this?

[@TheScottishIsle]

Thank you! We need to be cautious regarding some info about the island for its owners, to keep it private for them. Kx

[@PhilONeill]

👍

[@KAZSANable]

🐐❤️