02: Journey Back in Time Scotland, Highlands, Hebrides, Island, Off Grid Scottish Island 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!
Episode 02
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Title music 'Wild Mountain Thyme'; a traditional Scottish folk tune, performed by Tara Howley.
Background music: Stephanie Liney playing Si Bheag, Si Mhor on harp, traditional Irish folk tune by Turlough O'Carolan (1670-1738)
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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]

[@choochoo9506]

Let's just take a moment to acknowledge a very beautiful woman who works very hard in a DRESS, while rockin' gorgeous hair.

[@TheScottishIsle]

Wow, thank you. Gosh...

[@deanaelf4140]

your dresses are the best!! I love your outfits @@TheScottishIsle

[@tbd419]

Those were my thoughts exactly!. Cheers!

[@kudzumoose3861]

Whats with the dresses? I am not judging, just find it surprising in the wild.

[@emilyflotilla931]

​@kudzumoose3861 Actually, they're very practical, and comfortable anywhere!

[@Margarethomson]

Hi, have a look at Martijn Doolard who is presently renovating a stone cottage (cabin) on the hillside in the Italian Alps. He had the same problem with water running down the hill and seeping through the building, his postings will show you step-by-step how he installed a French drain successfully. I wish you both all the very best in your venture.

[@TheScottishIsle]

Thank you Margaret! We will definitely catch up with Martijn, as you suggest! Kx

[@lindaharvey2649]

Would like to see more of the work using more self sustaining methods. Really enjoyed the section on creating useable salt from seawater

[@jenesisjones6706]

I definitely agree with your suggestion regarding Martiijn.

[@williammaykel138]

I also watch Martijn’s channel. I love what you both are doing so much. Keep up the good work, your on an adventure most of us will never know

[@megbond]

Yes, I look forward to Martijn's posts every week. What he's done on those cottages is stunning. He just keeps plodding along, every action precise, and has achieved so much on the side of a steep mountain!

[@dcimedic]

1. Put in a roof gutter to move the bulk water away from the foundation. 2. You can use a perforated garden membrane over top of the perforated pipe/stone with stone over that. The membrane exists to keep fine dirt and particles from clogging the drainage pipe.

[@stephenhall3647]

Yes, fix the roof guttering! There is probably more water coming off the roof than from the hill.

[@mcgroot2690]

Would love to know how you actually found this little crofters cottage :) I'm 4 miles from Drumnadrochit in the Highlands, kind of in the wilderness, but loving your remoteness. That's the next step in our moving guide away from people and all the noise that they bring :P

[@Delta-fs8jm]

You have taken on an awful lot of work there. The walls are bound to have rising damp due to there being no proper foundations, those old cottages were built straight on to the ground with no damp proof barrier layer in the walls. I note that the wooden floor has been laid straight on to compacted gravel (it looks like). The whole wooden floor needs to be removed and all the gravel excavated out leaving cavity , floor joists fitted and then the wooden floor fitted. There should be a cavity under the floor for ventilation and to get this ventilation vents should be cut into the outside walls to provide an air flow.

[@MattyO-72]

Drainage suggestions: (1) looked like you need a larger gutter system to better move the rain water away from the house (2) a French drain system in the trench ... composition (a) bed of crushed stone, (b) landscape fabric, (c) perforated pipe, (d) more crushed stone on top. The pipe lays on top of the fabric, add some more stone around the pipe and then wrap it all up like a burrito. Then add more crushed stone on top ... not need for soil like you said. You can add a few drainage openings (basic box drains) along the pipe line to make it easier to clean out and maintain the system. All the best !

[@EarthlingsOnBoard]

and dig deeper than he wants too, to put all this in :)

[@chasingretirement]

Totally excellent idea.

[@emmagriffioen7534]

I agree with this proposal, that's what I'd do.

[@adamthomas6559]

The Indie Project did this on their stone building, and documented it too. Might be worth a look and or a chat with them. Lovely couple

[@emiishino5422]

Yes, this is exactly right. You don't want to cover it with a membrane since its right up next to the structure. Just gravel and stone. If it were away from the structure, you could put a membrane on top but not here. I don't envy you the digging!

[@moriorinvictus9054]

You both are a remarkable for daring to brave on to the unknown. Much love and respect to you both and many prayers to your success. P.S. You both always look so dapper. Please bring your fashion sense to America! :)

[@cfps66]

Hello, You mentioned that the island is mostly bedrock. If you want to plant a large garden, start harvesting as much as the kelp/seaweed as you can at low tide. Let it compost over a winter. Alternatively, you could use deadfall laid out in rows and then cover them with your seaweed. It's a great way to ammend soil that may need some help to become fertile. Best of Luck.

[@TheScottishIsle]

Would deadfall covered in seaweed break down in time for next year do you think?

[@cfps66]

@@TheScottishIsle yes

[@dugsey8490]

plenty of roads all around the island, they are called water, a suitable boat will deliver to the bottom of your garden like they did 2/3 hundred years ago. much easier than building a road.

[@TheScottishIsle]

100%! They knew what they were about, the old timers. Just need to save up to buy our own rather than relying on the use of one belonging to someone else, and things should be a lot easier!

[@DomingoDeSantaClara]

​@@TheScottishIslerather than spending money to get a big enough boat, it may be worth considering getting a dinghy with an outboard, then building a raft out of old oil drums to tow larger items over to the island. Most of the time a small cheap dinghy will suffice for commuting and bringing over smaller items.

[@Breanna7]

❤❤

[@smgreenartsprivate]

I would move the kitchen to where the office is and vice versa and do an addition. reinstate the stone area back into an outbuilding or office. Later could be a rental opportunity. I hope the sheep are still ok now and adjusting.

[@kittykat13027]

You have to protect the drain pipe from becoming clogged with fine sediment. That’s why a membrane is typically used.

[@zuzanatauvinkl5195]

Use membrane that let water through but not the soil. Put little bit of gravel on top to hold it in place. Grade the bank if possiblr

[@dyannejohnson6184]

Thank you very much for travelling in your dream!I’ve always admired how green the grass is!…..when I walked my sheep to pasture, I sang one song…..when I gathered them to go home through forest, I sang a different song…they all gathered to me from the bush…and home we went

[@carolbulmer8253]

It may be a good idea to make a ditch for the water higher up so that you can channel the water away from the house

[@jenniferwalker9060]

Thanks

[@TheScottishIsle]

💕Thank you Jennifer! Kx

[@lauraautry6992]

It is so beautiful there I’m in aww every video I have watched. The sheep are precious and very lucky to have a home there. There is a lot to do however it will be worth it. 🤗🤗

[@TheScottishIsle]

You're so kind. We love it and so do the pets!

[@annehicks9992]

Re the drain, we've got an okd bungalow and what we did was dig down, lay half a drainpipe along the length and covered that with gravel, works a treat.

[@justineheinrichs2798]

Ah the beauty of Scotland ❤. The hauling of essentials down a bumpy trail the long drives for household goods. None of that matters when you see the scenery does it? A strange question, what do you smell where you are? The water, the trees around you? The grasses? I grew up on a farm and my favorite smell was in spring when we tilled the land for the first time , mm. What a gorgeous place to make your home. Love your videos, do keep us updated ❤ ♥️🇨🇦

[@TheScottishIsle]

The sea! A mixture of salt and seaweed; it's very fresh and pleasant.

[@Mzlolly_pops]

I am thrilled to be here to witness the remarkable transformation that will take place when you complete your restoration of the croft. wishing you the best of luck on this incredible journey. With each step you take, I know the end result will be nothing short of awe-inspiring. The anticipation is building as I eagerly await the updates and progress reports. I am excited to follow along with you on this remarkable journey!

[@hArtyTruffle]

Hard work aside… what a beautiful place to live. 🌿

[@vivianking8143]

Hello, from Arkansas USA. As I am watching in awe, enjoying each video, I can not help but think of what will you do when you reach my age, 70? I applaud you for your adventurous spirits, yet hope you have a plan. One may not think so far ahead of years, I know I did not and seems as if a blink and I am the age I am. ") Beauty surrounds you. Thank you so much for sharing, I look forward to watching more. In Joy

[@TheScottishIsle]

Thanks for watching, Vivian! Kx

[@sharonlamendola7421]

Have you thought of running a sturdy rope through the trees on the path to the house? Perhaps you could hook canvas bags to the rope and push them along rather than having to carry everything. Sort of like a zip line. I am really enjoying your journey.

[@scottmcfarland2149]

What an incredible journey you are on!!! Slàinte 🥃🇺🇸🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 you described the drainage perfectly. The membrane keeps the dirt out and allows the water to seep into the pipe. Then you cover the whole thing with gravel.

[@allonesame6467]

Awesome! Beautiful!

[@JustOneKnight]

That church was interesting. Being a person with anxiety any built up area is an assault on my senses haha. But I can understand how you woul feel, your abode is lovely. You will be quite comfy once you have it all sorted. Stay safe

[@outdooradventures8662]

You need a new trench further back from the wall, so water hits that and is drained before hitting your wall which is the current barrier. You could slightly V shape the new trench taking water to each side of the building, (New trench with perforated pipe and chippings, no soil) it could even have a waterproof barrier, (polyethene) on the house side of the new trench. See what I mean, so water hits the new trench and is diverted before even reaching your building.

[@barbarajspannaus]

Yes! reroute and drain the water before it reaches the structure.

[@wildwood_cottage]

What Lovely place you have .... Looking forward to seeing your journey. xx With regards to your drain, i would use a perforated black drainage pipe bigger size with a cap over the front to stop vermin getting in & nesting.... plastic against the wall to stop moisture then i would just fill the whole thing in with stones or concrete to keep the water away from the wall. you want a pipe wide enough to take the water away quickly.. the sediment will build up on the bottom of the pipe filling the hole meaning the water will then drain away into the loch in front of the house. You can also get a drain gully with a grill over the top you can install then on a downward angle to take the water away I have used that in landscaping before....well i have used both before to good effect...hope it helps...🙂🙂

[@sonyagair1219]

Concrete as far as I know holds on too much water. I doesn't breathe. Scotland gets way too much rain for concrete anywhere in yer building. I think lime mortar would've been better to use. May be useless info as I live in South Africa. Stunning place you bought. I can't wait to watch all your videos 😊

[@kevinmountford4541]

What your talking about for the drain is i think called a French drain. The membrame is landscaping film and allows the passage of water whilst preventing the soil from blocking g up the slots in the drainage tube. It does work very well. Yes small gravel over but no soil. And fit gutters as a priorty.

[@TheScottishIsle]

Thanks, Kevin, that's really helpful! Makes sense to hear it described like that. Probably still worth installing over bedrock, do you think?

[@kevinmountford4541]

@@TheScottishIsle absolutely, the ground around our house is clay on a slight hill side( nothing like yours I admit, but) during the winter we had 2 inches of standing water around the back between the hill and the house. Dug a french drain across the back and down the side to a soak away, problem solved. Not that expensive either.

[@TheScottishIsle]

Sounds like it'd do the job here, too. We need a "down the back and round the sides" sort of deflection, same as you. Poor old house! We'll set her right. Gutters already sorted and that's half the battle. 👍🏻

[@GetAwake2024]

I agree... gravel only above the pipe

[@jakemiettinen1850]

You should also add moisturebarrier on the housewall, only the perforated drainage pipe covered with membrane+ gravel wouldn’t block water getting into the wall. In Finland we use so called bitumen/tar film or ”dam board” (direct translation), to block moisture, including capillary, to get into wall structure. Once you start heating up a wet wall, conditions for fungii and bacteria are optimal. Good luck with the house project in amazing part of the world. It’s a place I’d also love to live.

[@marylyon1230]

I am so totally enthralled. You are young folks so you will be able to work through the many hardships yet to come. My heritage is Scottish many relatives removed. I don't know if I have ever seen such a beautiful landscape before. This place is magic. More please.

[@TheScottishIsle]

Thank you so much!

[@LC-d5h]

You two are as lovely and natural as your surroundings

[@pernille2389]

Just found your channel and subscribed immediately. I'm renovating an old house in France and although the weater is warmer and drier here you seem to have some of the same issues as I've had. I recognise the cement pointing and the pasterboarded walls. I've removed all the cement, and plastered the walls with lime and hemp and it has made an enormous difference in the damp. Good luck with all your work I'll be following from the Pyrenees.

[@janel4582]

Bravo Pernille, plasterboard, and cement have no place in old houses, hemp is the way of the past AND the future. Using hemp and lime in our place in SW France (Gers).

[@marianfrances4959]

How awesomely beautiful! I do understand its also very challenging. Love the sheep, too! 👍😎🇨🇦

[@brigittepawlica4390]

Oh man, i am already invested in your journey. I can see that you have some problems to overcome, damp being a big issue here. Not sure on your knowledge in restoring properties but i am on board for your journey. Wishing you the best of luck on this venture! Hopefully. Some sound advice is given to you.

[@theresastephens8805]

What a glorious find to come across this delightful video, scenery, music and a 1700 restoration project cottage. Definitely shall be watching avidly for every episode. Good luck in your endeavours ❤️😊🌷

[@TheScottishIsle]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@sandrasmith5943]

I love your videos. Can’t wait to see the Croft change as you restore it. What an amazing place to live. Cute sheep x❤️

[@jophillips111]

Yes love the sheep! Fell for them from the first view in back of the car.

[@GregMaton]

Another way of getting that surface water away is to clean out the existing trench, then pave the bottom of the trench, with a short fall away from the house, and falls from the centre to the out sides. At the corners have grilled gullies with pipes to a nearby water course. The laying of the paving, and pointing of same will have to be professionally done. Good luck

[@colleencunningham4762]

I want to live in Scotland too!

[@jennifermaceachern2155]

Moidart was the name before Fort Willlliam. That is where my ancestors were evicted from in 1791. Landed in Pictou Nova Scotia Canada 🇨🇦

[@jamesbanner8314]

You can get a geo textile filter sleeve that goes over the land drain pipe to stop sediment building up in the pipe. With your situation you will still get sediment clogging up the gravel etc. you may be better installing Aco drain channels that will block with sediment but you can easily fire over the grilles and clean out every so often.

[@RootingForSunshine]

It looks so beautiful there! Thank you for sharing your journey. :)

[@4sstg]

For a mattress ,a duvet stuffed with sheep’s wool, or straw would have been the way 150 years ago.

[@justahappygardener]

My wife and I spent almost ten years living on a tiny island in the Inner Hebrides some years back. It was called Erraid and located just off the south west tip of Mull. It wasn't quite as lush as your place but the beauty was equally outstanding. We both wish you well. May the road rise before you and the wind be always at your back. :) Paul and Debbie

[@maryhelen1011]

I'm curious why you left? You don't have to answer, just wondering! All the best to you! ❤❤❤

[@susanbelida6981]

Best of luck. Your home is paradise.

[@rosemarymee]

Wasn’t that the island which featured in “Kidnapped”? David thought he was marooned there but -like this one-he could access the mainland(or Mull) at low tide.

[@ncot_tech]

I think you figured out your own drainage and damp issues. Once the sides of the house are cleared and all the "modern" boarding is removed, the house will probably dry out. Like you said, the people who built it knew what they were doing and wouldn't have lived in a damp, mouldy building. I'd focus as much as you can on figuring out a less physical way to get supplies to your place. If carrying a mattress was a lot of work, there's no way you're carrying any building supplies up there. Makes you realise how motivated the original owner(s) were to have built that all by hand with local stones, probably in the excellent Scottish weather.

[@louiseswart1315]

Thank you for sharing your story. This South African has been fascinated with rural Scotland since she had to do a geography project in gr5 many moons ago. My suggestion is to handle the runoff problem a bit higher up behind those rocks with a small berm and swale. Then you would have less runoff to deal with ontop of the downhill seepage.

[@Nellie-Helen]

Loving your channel 😊 thank you for sharing your story and all things in between with us🥰❤️

[@scotthoggan2115]

Digging out the back of your cottage use the soak away system dig out lay your pipe use a spirt level have a slight run on it and put your gravel stones on top

[@gordonstoddart6886]

Floor is likely compacted earth or Ash, u don't get damp concrete. Membrane over it and build suspended timber floor leaving gap! Btw make your own beans!

[@TheScottishIsle]

Our first bean comment! Scott was just saying earlier, he's going to get the "every tin of beans" comment put onto a T-shirt. LOL

[@lindashortall8761]

What a beautiful church

[@JJPHAT777]

This may be in the previous comments. I don't know if this is available in the UK but here in Canada we have a perforated drain pipe enclosed in what looks like a sock and comes in a big roll. It goes along the foundation to the lowest drainage point. We also sometimes "paint" the foundation with a rubberized tar like liquid up to just about ground level. Then we attach what a waterproof membrane which is a roll of very durable plastic. Look up Delta Foundation Waterproofing Membrane. You finish by filling the ditch with 3/4" gravel and topsoil.

[@TheScottishIsle]

Thank you, we'll research that! 👍🏻👍🏻

[@EmilyBoltz]

This is exciting and I am in for the journey of watching all you do in this incredibly gorgeous place!

[@TheScottishIsle]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@all5660]

I think you want a non-porous membrane partway up the wall and at the bottom of the trench. Then crushed stone, then corrugated pipe (with sediment fabric sleeve) then more crushed stone... all draining to side of building. Gutters with downspouts directed downhil will also help.

[@svwhippoorwill3599]

I think moving the gutter down spouts to each end of the house would help a lot.

[@renaissancewomanfarm9175]

Since I never do anything the easy way, once the trench is well cleaned, I would pour a concrete base. Make it curved so center is low and sides are high. Then it could be power washed annually and easily maintained. I might even extend the roof so it covers the trench, then the guttering could be drained into the perforated pipe farther back and you would have more room for the perforated pipe and gravel cover. The trench would then just be your last line of defense from moisture.

[@Ogreletmama]

I'm a contractor and came to say something just like this.

[@MrHourlongbiscuit]

Don't pour cement anywhere near it. It was build without cement and cement shouldn't be used.

[@renaissancewomanfarm9175]

@@MrHourlongbiscuit The same effect could be achieved with cobbles. The method is historically accurate and you see it in the streets of ancient towns all over Europe.

[@pompommania]

I remember driving with my sister one day and I kept looking for a radio station. She told me "nothing is good too". I think the landscape speaks for itself.

[@judyplatz2885]

If you layer stones on the bottom of the trench, then lay drain pipe, (that has holes all along the top), then stones on top, that work well for keeping the water off the backside of your house. I did this with a house remodel on rocky soil in Maine USA, & it worked beautifully! Good Luck with your endeavors!

[@TheScottishIsle]

Thanks for the tips!

[@MrHourlongbiscuit]

So the section to the left looks like it been pointed in cement. Which will trap water within the wall. Your drainage might still be an issue but I can guarantee the main cause of the damp will be the cement that's been slapped on in the past. The white section is a traditional lime wash, which would be the ideal finish but you'll need to hack out all the old cement pointing and replace it with lime based. I'm a lime craft fellow that works on traditional and historic buildings. I'm very impressed with what you've taken on, It'll be a massive project.

[@TheScottishIsle]

Oh no, don't say that! 😂 Thank you for the advice. We'll be doing exactly as you say, digging out all the cement and repointing in lime mortar. We intend to finish with lime wash too. We took down another part of interior pannelling two days ago (this weekend's episode!) and even though it all needs redone, it's a much nicer feel to the interior with having limewashed stone exposed.

[@PrincessNicEssus]

“It’s not all beautiful views “ wrong, wrong, wrong - it’s all gorgeous! I love the rocks and rills and the vales and the hills - every blade of grass, fern and especially the tidelands.

[@TheScottishIsle]

I'm afraid the track's too narrow and treacherous! Thanks for watching. ❤

[@PrincessNicEssus]

@@TheScottishIsle Sorry, left my initial message before finishing the vid. So, I just changed it. 😊

[@mikekelly4275]

Could you place an Acco drain at the back of the property, this could sited on top of a bed of gravel, the Acco could go around the sides of the property to a stone/gravel sump. You might also want to consider putting a waterproof membrane up the back wall, similar to when you tank a cellar. It need not go to the top of the wall maybe a meter up from ground level, this would protect the back wall from water coming down the hill as well as anything missing the gutters in really bad weather. An Acco drain has a slotted top that can be lifted off so that if it did become blocked clearing it would be relatively easy.

[@BriarCottage]

The drainage seems similar to my basement. It has a dirt boarder around it and concrete in the middle with a pump that holds the water for the house. It rarely smells damps and when it rains i never see water build up.

[@outingsforoldladieswhoaren7664]

There is a type of black paint-like product that can be painted on to the house that bonds with the stone and makes a waterproof membrane. The perforated tube you were talking about is covered with a sleeve that is porous and not unlike hosiery, so the water will go through into the pipe. Just dig out a bit more so that there is proper drainage in the direction[s] you want. You might want to consider a liner in that ditch. That way there is plenty of opportunity for the water to drain out through the french drain system with the least amount of absorption into the ground.

[@Larks01]

You still need the slope to drain the water away, the only reason to have drainage pipe, gravel membrane and cover soil is if you want the ground level to be higher. You should really be able to just clean up the “slope” so that the water can drain away and coat the lower area of the wall with a membrane, such as a bitumised coating or even a water base PVA sealant to keep the moisture out - though the wall will need to be dry when you apply it. Bye the way, the membrane you refer to (if you do go that path) would be a permeable membrane and its purpose is to keep soil out of the drainage pipe and so to stop the soil from clogging up the drainage pipe perforations.

[@TheScottishIsle]

Thank you very much for taking the time to write this. We're thinking along the same lines about clearing out the trench having a proper effect.

[@deniereynolds6119]

I’m thinking French drain. Gravel on top. Then soil built up high and sloping away from stone. Gutter extension that take away at least 6 feet from the house

[@NepheshChay]

Good job it's bedrock! It should dry out if you keep it clear.

[@martinsampson1824]

If possible dig a french drain further us the slope from the house diverting any runoff from the hill away from your property. Clear the ditch at the rear of the property , no need to buy expensive drainage pipe, just get normal drainage pipe and drill with holes. Put pipe in trench and cover with chippings. Also try a breaker , you might be able to break up the rock to further divert water .

[@TheScottishIsle]

Thanks for the advice, Martin. We appreciate it very much!

[@rodduncan1183]

If you weren't living on a island I would myself be heading to a agricultural supply store & get some of their concrete drains & back fill the gaps with concrete. Kiwi Rod

[@deva5488]

I am enjoying your videos emencly. Love from California. ❤❤❤

[@GodsSoldier33]

Hi stumbled upon your channel. I love it! What a HUGE yet fulfilling project you both have ahead of you! I fell in love with Scotland deeply about 5years ago. Haven't visited but seen many many many videos and even though the entire Scotland is GORGEOUS and unique in its own special way..The further up north seems t0 intrigue me more. And I am SO thrilled to have find you guys! I was wondering if anyone..anyone lives over there and will I ever see their home life rather than just hiking or visiting I wish you both best wishes I have subscribed! Oh! one quick ? Is Brie or one of the sheep pregnant? Forgive me if you have already perhaps said she is. Essa is a gorgeous cat by the way.! Cant' wait to follow along with your journey and chapter building your new home and homestead! Cheers! Chicago , USA

[@TheScottishIsle]

Thank you for following us! More about the sheep in an upcoming episode! This area of Scotland is unbeatable in our opinion. Amazing to have you along for the journey.

[@patricianiebergall1360]

Lovely, Ty.

[@NomadMakes]

To add to the well meant advice: Concrete sucks water. So if the concrete exposed in the drain is under your floor, this will lead moisture from from the drain into your house. Perhaps try with some kind of concrete sealer on the outside. I have seen silo sealer used in farms for instance.

[@davidgray3321]

I don’t know if you know anything about building perhaps you do, but I suggest you do a bit of research before charging in if you don’t have experience. It avoids mistakes. By the way 50% of all the heat in a solid masonry wall goes straight through it. Stone looks great in summer on the inside but in winter your view may change. Also think of windows and loft.

[@Retrositcom]

Hi there, started following you a couple of days ago and really looking forward to following your journey. I live in East Ayrshire and love seeing people fall in love with Scotland and starting a new life here. Sometimes, your sound is low, and it's difficult to hear you. Hopefully, that'll sort itself out as you go on. Keep us all updated, and good luck. 😊

[@TheScottishIsle]

Thanks for following us! We'll have to get a proper setup at some point for recording. Meantime, we manually added captions for the quiet or mumbling bits! 😀 Good to have you along.

[@henrywilliam8506]

@@TheScottishIsle KZbin will add auto generated subtitles for you.

[@TheScottishIsle]

They do, but those don't always pick up either the audio or the accent! 🤣

[@dawnu132]

Get your guttering downpipe in place and take the roof water away from the house. That will halve the drainage problem.

[@maryjo34779]

Google a single wheel deer cart….easy to make and two people can maneuver one down a single track trail easily. That would allow you to move heavy loads down that trail.

[@janel4582]

Old houses are living breathing things 🙂You are right, the first priority is to take off all the stuff that's preventing the house from breathing. Anything preventing this from happening such as concrete, cement, built-up debris, must first be taken out. Give it a good clean and an airing out and then start to regulate the interior atmosphere with healthy building materials such as lime and hemp, sheep's wool cellulose, etc. For transport, have you thought of adopting a wee donkey? It would be idyllic for it to live with you, you could attach a small cart for it to transport what you need. Donkeys are hardy animals. For sure, life in the Hebrides isn't for the faint hearted but man oh man, the views are stunning, the air and water clean...

[@TheScottishIsle]

We completely agree, we'd like to keep it as traditional as we can - it's how the house was built to function. Get the fires going, too - they haven't been lit for many years! We did consider a donkey, although they do say taking on a pair is better. However, when we looked into it we discovered they're very territorial and likely to attack our sheep and cats! So, seeing as I'd prefer to have any livestock close-by, I reckon a Welsh or Highland pony would be a good choice. Thank you for joining us!

[@janel4582]

@@TheScottishIsle Pony works too 🙂

[@hArtyTruffle]

Thanks for sharing your journey. Subbed 👍🏼

[@TheScottishIsle]

Awesome, thank you!

[@samuelcrane8686]

do a french drain, the membrane on top o the perforated pipe is to stop sediment getting into the pipe, the gravel does similarly too.

[@cillamoke]

I can’t wait!❤

[@theresevh]

I'm sure Google has many answers re the weeping tile for the foundation.... I just wanted to say thank you for sharing this with us!

[@MarkKoekenbakker]

Moisture problem: the house has been there for a long time and has probably functioned well there for a while. I would clean the gutters well, make sure they have a sufficient slope again and then see if the house will dry. All that carpentry on the inside doesn't help to wick away moisture either, does it? Most likely, the house was built with the idea that quite a bit of moisture can get in, but that this will also disappear by heating. And then you shouldn't close up interior walls. That actually helps to prevent an indoor climate that is too dry during the heating season.

[@TheScottishIsle]

Right, the house hasn't been heated properly for some time, so when we have the fireplaces all reinstated it'll really help. Thanks for watching.

[@dottiebaker6623]

I'm no drainage expert, but I did have a French drain put in several houses ago. It's my understanding that the membrane is quite permeable and is only there to prevent sand/etc. from blocking the small holes in the pipe. Water can get through just fine. The system you're describing worked really well in my case, and the water was directed downhill to a small stream at the back of the yard. It really helped solve the damp problem. I would suggest that you bring in several different drainage experts to come and look at the job, as well as do some research online - maybe you already have? That will make you much more comfortable with whatever decision you come to. Also, wow, you're right - that track looks treacherous in wet weather. Helmets might be a good idea.... Maybe, over time you could build in steps? Best wishes to you!!

[@mistydawncreates]

The cathedral is gorgeous. Thank you for inserting a bit of history on it. I love watching the sheep. What are their names? I think you called out to one but i didn't catch it. The route from the car is a long one and not easy. I can imagine how tough it must be moving. I think I'd be building most furniture instead of trying to move full pieces.

[@drewnoll-doronoll8520]

Based on your description, you may want to dig it out and leave it open, so it can drain freely. The only reason you need a French drain system is if you need to have backfill. I would suggest digging it out as far as you can (to bedrock or below the interior floor level), securing the hillside with a combination of mechanical and organic fasteners to keep it from eroding, then sealing the building where water may try to enter or sit during wet weather. It needs to have at least a 2% grade to clear the water run-off from the building. I’m very much looking forward to your progress with the property! Thanks for sharing with us.

[@drewnoll-doronoll8520]

I just saw you came to the same conclusion in the video; I have had flooding from improper downspouts, also. The roof run-off is your biggest problem, and an easy fix as well.

[@TheScottishIsle]

Yes, you're right! We chatted to a local stonemason who suggested a good clear out in the trench, and putting a limecrete 'skirt' on the back of the house as well.

[@davidcohencrumpton9884]

I'd try a concrete ditch. Get te cement and mix it, and then apply a sealent.

[@sylviaslavinarps1021]

You could do with a dirt bike to get to and fro with shopping and smaller things. I’m fascinated by your life as I would love to live like that but I’m too old to contemplate it now.

[@deedaw9246]

Money & equipment can make the "road" better to the house. But also using all terrain vehicles like a Quad, or a small side by side. They are designed for what we call off roading. You can buy or make little trailers for pulling behind them. I don't know what these vehicles would be called in Europe.

[@sbrock6385]

Thank you

[@webds]

Create a dry creek bed using rocks along the foundation so that the water can drain away. You'll have to dig trenches & fill with stones to direct the water to where you want it to go away from your home.😊 😊😊😊

[@clockendfarm]

You need a couple of goats and a little goat cart for easy hauling. Might have to widen your deer gate a bit though.

[@TheScottishIsle]

Livestock is exactly the answer, we agree!

[@mattmacpherson1033]

It’s raining in Scotland oh my what a surprise.

[@TheScottishIsle]

Epic plot twist.

[@davemayers9342]

Power wash the wall upto 2 ft. Paint with bitumastic type foundation paint. Place two plastic drain tile/pipes side by side in the trench. Cover with the drain cloth and then back fill the trench with a good foot or more of 1" gravel.

[@sandynewman5533]

Dig out, lay sand, your piping, sediment cloth, and gravel on top. You may be able to get the sand from there on the island if there is any. Modern concrete is porous, unless you seal it. There are concrete sealers available that you can brush/roll on.

[@lyndakarle1060]

getting access to your home, perhaps a drone may help to see if there is another way , that could be a bit easy. and maybe shorter. that path you have now was probably done before you could observe from a hight. just a thought from an old women😄 regards Australia.

[@TheScottishIsle]

We talk about the old pathway to the house in a later episode, when we find it whilst searching the north of the island.

[@spiritflower6640]

Seems like you're thinking well about all of this. And I know you will figure out good solutions to all. Seems to me, the first things to do about the dampness in the walls/floors is what you're doing...digging that trench out and as you pointed out, directing that center drain in the gotter away from dumping in that trench. The best to you! Thanks for sharingsome of your journey/adventures. What a wonderful thing you have taken on to do! So much work and incredibke life learning. What an amazing and beautiful land/lace! Cheers! :)

[@augustuscaesar4976]

You need either a donkey or Exmoor/Highland pony to help you carry provisions along the track to your cottage. ( even if you do get a boat)

[@bayman49]

Here in the U.S. gravel is composed of small stones and sand, which might clog the holes in your drain pipe. I might think of using coarse crushed stone or 3/4 stone which is no larger than 3/4 inch.

[@veronicabalfourpaul2288]

I would put a curtain drain above the house as well, to take the hill water, and perferated drain with gravel by the house, and gutters.

[@TheScottishIsle]

That's a good idea, we were wondering what to do about the hill water.

[@Baddad36]

re the drain at the back... for some reason the drain you were describing is now called a "french drain". When? Why? I've no idea. Anyway, your problem is a high ground level etc etc. Rather than digging it out, putting a pipe in etc. for which you don't have the depth and slope, do what I think you're planning, ie clean it out and leave open, fix the down pipe and repoint the wall where necessary. The concrete in the inside either has no dpc or it's being breached. If the latter it will dry out, if not, where you live, the reasonable compromise would be to paint a modern liquid dpc over the concrete. Looking forward to your project.

[@TheScottishIsle]

Thank you, very much appreciated advice!

[@Baddad36]

PS adjust the fall of the gutter to allow you to move the downpipe. Whoever slapped the current one up, I suspect, ended putting the downpipe where it is because that's the bits they had. Builders merchants aren't close by! @@TheScottishIsle

[@darrentroy2073]

Oh and extend at least a meter away from the perimeter of the house.