West Manse
The West Manse is a comfortable Grade II listed Georgian/Victorian Manse sympathetically restored using local traditional materials and skills, combined with modern "state of the art" insulation and a ground source heat pump. It now offers excellent classically elegant self catering accommodation for individuals, couples and groups and is the venue for a variety of creative courses - especially cooking.
It is also unusual, as self catering B&B is offerred: How about bring your own breakfast or we will provide what you would like, use the cooking school kitchen to make your breakfast whenever you would like it, take it to the dining room or the sun room, or weather permitting outside and enjoy.
We are resident and self contained on the top floor.
The Manse hosts a wide variety of cooking courses, from traditional Orkney baking to Pakistani cuisine, and ancient cooking (hailing back to Viking days) to continental bread baking.
The Manse has a large well equipped kitchen and an adjoining glass roofed work area. Typical cooking course size would be 6 -8 but a children's of 11 was a great success.
Orkney has many talented artists and is an inspiring place to work.
We have courses planned for 2009 tutored by experienced local artists.
Westray is an ideal place to escape from the hustle and bustle of modern living and collect ones thoughts. There is inspiration to be had in the ancient history and dynamic landscapes, the ever changing weather and the emotive sea.
The West Manse offers you peace to write your book, then if you would like a change of scene, a delicious meal, a day or more exploring Papa Westray, to meet and talk with another writer Jim (the writer/bottle washer) and Morag (the chef) Hewitson at School Place, Papa Westray will make you very welcome. Highly Recommended.
Writing courses in the planning stage.
Westray is a breath of fresh air, breathe in the sky, the sea and the surroundings of an island that lives at a more relaxed pace.
And remember to relax, there's always the morn'
The West Manse is also available for Discerning Self Catering for the Cheerful and Careful cook.
We are finding from about mid June until the end of August the kitchen and sun room leading off it are too warm for cooking courses but they are ideal for discerning careful cooks who like a good working kitchen with a view.
There are two range cookers with ten burners and six ovens between them, plenty of pots and pans, equipment and such views over the sea to Rousay from the sinks and sun room.
In the sun the sea sparkles and moves, in the wind or rough weather there can be gigantic white horses as the Atlantic waves and tides break on the skerries of the shore.
