There’s many ways for you and your dear ones to become permanent or long-term residents at Rubha Phoil. If you’re considering to join us: let’s get in touch.
On this page we illustrate two possibilities to join us, but we can find other possibilities, too! We are more than happy to listen to your needs, skills and wishes and find the best solution for all of us.
General Information
It is our dream to find people that want to put roots down into our Rock. We dream of a community with permanent new members.
It is good to know that this process of acceptance may take a while. This is because we want to make sure we are a good match.
People are able to build their own homes on the Rock, or move into existing stuctures. Long term or permanent members are able to invest and create a business. Ownership and the value of that business remains in the hands of the creators. This business may be able to be sold. We hope that you agree to some additional protection agreements for the mutual benefit of both yourselves and the community into perpetuity.
One of our core values is transparency and we endeavour to implement from the start of our relationship.
We aim to come to an agreement for a fair exchange while you live on Rubha Phoil. This can be a mix between £’s and work.
House for Rent at Rubha Phoil
(We have some candidates trying the house, so it may not be available any more.) The house is one big gorgeous open space. With a living space, bathroom and kitchen on the main floor and a comfortable mezzanine bedroom. It is suitable for a couple with up to a few small kids, but there is no privacy for older kids. If they are independent enough, there is the option of them living in their own caravan or tiny home elsewhere on our Rock or an extension could be built.
Rent can be negotiated through a combination of £s and work done for the community of Rubha Phoil. This means that the cost is very flexible and is determined on a case-by-case basis. Let’s chat to see how your needs meet ours!
About the house
- Intensive renovations have been done: including new floors, a shower, cooker and sunroof, new deck, and new windows. All the electrics have been rewired,tested and certified. Plus, several layers of outdoor paint!
- Wood-fire heated, with wood supply from the forest possible. There is enough wood in store to get you started.
- 7 minute walk from the local shop and post office.
- 3 miles from the local Gaelic-speaking primary school. There is a secondary school in Portree.
- The local health centre is 3 miles, a brand new A&E has been built in Broadford, 17 miles away.
- Right next to the Armadale ferry, which connects to the train line straight to Fort William, Glasgow, and Edinburgh.
- The Energy Performance Certificate is pretty low. An E. The wood fired heating reduces the cost. We estimate it would cost £140 a month to heat the house in the winter time.
- The tenancy is for the house with a winter car parking space at the Rubha Phoil car park near the ferry.
- The house is located in a gorgeous forest with access to incredible natural beauty, gardens and wildlife.
Who we’re looking for:
- We have a plot for sale for people who want to build their own home. This house for rent could be an ideal start. Though this is not essential.
- We want our community to be a safe space for everyone who lives here. Including for children and for all of us, whatever vulnerability we might have. This means that we are looking for people who recognise that this is a learning journey, as individuals and as a community. We hope to find a couple willing to work in our community. Hopefully you’ll have a combination of skills such as project management, DIY, or food growing skills, …we are happy to be open and surprised by your potential contributions.
- We would like to give priority to key workers and people who already have links to the local community and people with young kids. There are plenty of jobs on the island for tradespeople, essential workers and those in the tourist trade. Though our dream is to welcome people who ultimately want to work mostly for our Community Interest Company. Ideas for making a living here are limited only by the imagination. Rubha Phoil is the perfect location to have your own viable, sustainable nature-friendly business. Maybe you want to open and run a shop? Tell us your dreams and we can discuss them!
- No pets, please, our land is a wildlife haven. More info here.
- Whilst mainstream schools are available on Skye, there is an opportunity and huge desire for us to create our own forest or un-school on Rubha Phoil.
How to Apply
We want to make sure that everyone feels safe and welcome in our community. That’s why we have an application process. After filling in the application form we’ll reach out to you and schedule a call to talk about your future plans and answer all the questions you might have.
If you are ready to apply, please fill in the form, remember to press submit. You should receive an email to confirm we have received your application.
(If the form doesn’t work for you, you can click here: https://forms.gle/mfAtmxYzrVkRMUAu7)
If you have any questions, please contact us here.
If you know someone who might be interested, do pass it on!
EPC is here. (it is so new that it is not uploaded to the registry yet)
The electricity certificate is here.
Gas safety certificate is here.
Landlord reg nr: 482119/270/07561
Building Plot For Sale, With Planning Permission in Principle
The building plot is located in the far end of Rubha Phoil, about a 3 minute walk from our community kitchen. You can look out over the sea, and at all times you’re surrounded by our beautiful nature.
The building plot for sale is 1.5 – 2 acres, possibly more, at Rubha Phoil, Armadale Pier, Ardvasar, Isle of Skye, IV45 8RS.
About the Building Plot
The plot for sale has been granted planning permission in principle for a 3-4 bedroom eco-friendly family home. Planning permission in principle means that there is permission for a house, but that the technical details: the layout, design or finish of any building, still need to be applied for. You can find out more about this legislation here. Whilst there are some restrictions on what it is allowed to look like, the permission gives you the freedom to design your own home.
There is no time limit for it to be finished, but you do have to submit your design, paperwork and conditions and get the works started within 3 years. We are also offering the possibility to live in our house that is for rent or in a caravan or self-build while taking your time to build your actual house.
Viewing by appointment only!
Are You the Ones?
We are hoping to find a family who want to grow vegetables for the Rubha Phoil community, and in time, provide for the cafe we plan to open and to sell in our community shop.
We already have a functioning polytunnel, a second one ready to be put up, an aquaponics system, trained ducks to do slug hunting for you, a well-established productive composting system, a small orchard, a medicinal herb selection and the start of a forest garden. There is expertise available to support you and train you if you want it.
- build your own eco-friendly home in a truly unique and special location
- rent a home to live in whilst building your home and business
- join our nature-based permaculture community
- work with us to reach an optimal level of self-sufficiency, growing our own food, generating our own power, and ultimately creating a new regenerative culture….
- access opportunities to make a living and fulfil your dreams of a richer, more sustainable lifestyle
- organise nature activities, grow and sell food, manage a shop, teach workshops, create a forest home school, … the opportunities are only limited by the imagination.
We are hoping to find buyers who want to become active members of our nature-based permaculture community. If you are hoping to buy a second home or holiday home, let’s not waste each other’s time.
If you don’t have any funds, but want to explore other options to join the community, you could consider moving into the house for rent or joining as a volunteer.
The Cost: Creative Offers Invited!
Plot is estimated to be worth £140,000. Yet unusual offers over £50,000 are invited!
If you do not have enough money, but have other assets such as useful skills to offer to the community, other options are also available. Simply, let us know your dreams and make us an offer we can’t refuse. We are especially keen to hear from food growers who dream of a CSA or running a shop.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have. Viewing by appointment only.
FAQ’s
Where is the building Plot?
The plot is located on Rubha Phoil, a peninsula in the South of the Isle of Skye.
Can I see the full plan?
Plans and responses from the planning application can be seen here:
Can I buy more land outside the building plot?
Maybe – the peninsula is 15 acres in total. Most of it will be managed by the community that you can join. So, if you want to use more land for other reasons, that could be possible with the consent of the community. Please be advised that due to ecosystem management issues, there is no space on this peninsula for larger animals like horses, sheep, goats, cows, or free-range cats and dogs.
You have a no dog policy on Rubha Phoil. Can we have pets?
This would be your home and your land. We do not wish to have power over what you do on your land and in your home.
We are looking for people with a heart for wildlife, so we would hope that you would integrate your pets well with your surroundings.
I’m interested! What do I do next?
If you want to make an offer or ask any remaining questions, please reach out to us! The next step will be scheduling a meeting to get to know each other and double check that our expectations align. We can also find a time for you to visit the building plot or our community.
We’re happy to welcome you to our community for a few days/weeks to get to know you better. If that’s something you’d like to do, you can fill out our form. Remember to press submit! You should recieve a confirmation after sending the form.
(If the form doesn’t work for you, you can click here: https://forms.gle/ihBC7ofKZC9XqogCA)
More About the Location
Located on a beautiful peninsula of 15 acres, the site has an unusually rich ecosystem with an amazing biodiversity of birds, otters, seals and other wildlife. With stunning views to the ancient Ardvasar harbour and our own Eilean Sgorach, the site offers a truly unique and special location. To the South, across the sea, lies the beautiful remote islands of Canna, Eigg and Ardnamurchan.
The local community is friendly and welcoming. Local amenities include a well-stocked shop, post office, garage. Throughout the year, there are also regular local cultural events ranging from art talks and craft events to wildlife walks and stargazing. Several nearby communities, namely Broadford and Portree, offer additional amenities, including medical centres and a hospital with an A&E department.
The village is served by a high-quality primary school which teaches in Gaelic and a Gaelic Nursery. The famous Gaelic College, Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, is also nearby offering a range of Further and Higher education programmes. Access to Rubha Phoil is very convenient with a 30-minute ferry service to Mallaig, on the mainland. Mallaig train station then connects directly to Fort William and Glasgow. The ferry also permits vehicles. Alternatively, vehicular access is via the ridge to Kyle of Lochalsh. Local and intercity bus services to the mainland are also available.
In case you have any questions or want to find out more about Rubha Phoil: Please contact us. We’re happy to work on overcoming any obstacles you might face.