Learning through Living Culture in Flodigarry: 04 August 2025

In partnership with Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, Ionad Thròndairnis Trust is offering this distinctive community-based course, “Learning through Living Culture in Flodigarry”, this summer. This five-day residential course is run by a mixture of contributors and includes outdoor learning, music tutorials and workshops. Over 100 participants have taken part in this exceptional course to date.

The course is designed for fluent speakers and advanced learners (e.g., Level 6 or above of Sabhal Mòr Ostaig’s Gaelic Short Courses) who wish to improve their oral and literary skills, as well as deepen their knowledge of Gaelic literature, history, culture and music in the heart of a thriving Gaelic community in North Skye.

This course is a unique immersion experience for learners who seek to reach fluency in their studies or profession, as well as for those who wish to reach fluency for personal development.

The week will include visits to sites of special historical and cultural interest in the Trotternish peninsula, where the students will have the opportunity to learn from local people who are specialists in subjects such as palaeontology, poetry and placenames of North Skye, to give just a few examples. The course will be conducted in Gaelic and gives the special chance to meet local people who are happy to share a deep knowledge of their area, spoken in the Gaelic of their community.

The course will be based in Columba 1400 in Staffin, where workshops will be held on Gaelic idiom and dialect, place-names and vocabulary of the local area.

As usual, the price of the course includes dinner from Monday to Thursday.

About your Tutor

A native speaker from the Isle of Skye itself, Alec ‘Valtos’ MacDonald has been greatly involved in the world of radio and television broadcasting as well as Gaelic language education for adults at every level. His teaching abilities are also in high demand amongst varying organisations and groups, and this has taken not only all over Scotland but also as far as Canada, the United States and Germany. You may have previously heard Alec on ‘Na Dùrachdan’ on BBC Radio nan Gàidheal, and he is heavily involved in the translation of scripts for children’s cartoons as well as delivering the voices for said cartoons.

Timetable and attendance details

The course will officially start with registration on Monday morning at 10.00, but we recommend that students arrive in Flodigarry on Sunday evening before the course begins. The formal course is due to finish around 13.00 on Friday. There are limited places available on the course and as such it is recommended that you book your place now!

Accommodation

The following places offer bed and breakfast locally and all are Gaelic-speaking households. Please mention that you are attending the Flodigarry course when booking:

• Anne MacLeod, Ben View, Clachan – 01470 562319 – available through Booking.com
• Joan Beaton, 4 Flodigarry – 01470 552308

Here is a list of self-catering properties in the local area:

• Donna MacDonald, Quiraing View, 5 Digg – 01470 562388 (s/c flat)
• Peggy Scott-Moncrieff, Seascape, Flodigarry – 01470 552233 (s/c chalet) (Book through http://www.cottages.com)
• Joanna MacLeod, 10 Clachan – 01470 562434 (s/c chalet)
• Shulista Croft Wigwams, 3 North Duntulm – 01470 552314 ()
• Keeper’s Cottage, Staffin – https://www.ihcottages.com/property/
• Beinn Edra House (B&B and S/C) – 01470 562461 https://www.valtosskye.co.uk
• Quiraing House – https://www.theoldinnstaffin.co.uk/quiraing-house.html
• The Old Inn- https://theoldinnstaffin.co.uk
• Taste of the Sea – https://www.skyeservicedaccommodation.co.uk/en/rentals/209634-taste-of-the-sea-on-skye
• Driftwood Cottage – https://www.driftwoodcottageskye.co.uk
• Brogaig Cottages – https://www.brogaig-cottages.co.uk
• The Bridge Self-catering, Kilmaluag – https://north-skye-bed-breakfast.uk
• Tigh Anndra – https://www.ihcottages.com
• Staffin Campsite, Grenicle, Staffin – 01470562213 http://www.staffincampsite.co.uk
• Staffin Bay View, Sartle, Staffin – https://www.skyestays.co.uk
• Mr and Mrs Munro, 8 Hungladder, Kilmuir – 01470 552331
• Flodigarry Pods – 01470 552308  https://flodigarry-pods.uk
• Chasing the Moon –  https://chasingthemoonskye.com/
• Elysium –   https://elysiumskye.com/
• Wavecrest – https://www.wavecrestchalet.co.uk/
• Half of One –  https://halfofone.co.uk/

Clothing

Attendees are strongly advised to bring warm and waterproof clothing and good, robust walking boots for the walks and outdoor talks in the local area.

Entry requirements

No previous knowledge or experience of community involvement is required, but a reasonable level of fluency in Gaelic is essential in order to follow the course content, equivalent to at least Level 6 or above of the Short Course syllabus. For further information, please contact the Short Courses Team on 01471 888 246, or email .