Make Your Land Work Harder for You
5 Simple ways to diversify your Farm or Croft with Minimal Upfront Cost!
Scotland's farms, crofts, woodland and moors are steeped in history and tradition — but they're also ripe with potential for sustainable, modern diversification. Whether you're looking to create a new revenue stream or simply make better use of your land, here are five low-investment ways to turn your croft into a thriving hub of opportunity.
Somewhere in the Highlands.
Host Off-Grid Accommodation
With the rise of staycations and eco-tourism, travellers are seeking authentic rural getaways. Installing a handcrafted shepherd's hut, cabin or off-grid retreat can transform unused space into a profitable venture. Think minimal services, natural beauty, and rustic charm — all elements that appeal to guests craving a digital detox.
Top Tip: Consider starting with one small hut that may fall under permitted development or require only a change of use for the land, rather than full planning permission. Companies like Tartan & Thistle offer fully insulated, off-grid-ready options ideal for crofters and farmers looking to test the market.
- While we're always happy to offer advice, it's ultimately your responsibility to check with your local authority regarding planning or licensing requirements.
2. Create a pop up Farm Shop
You don’t need a full-blown shopfront to sell what you produce. A simple wooden hut or mobile trailer can serve as a weekend farm shop for eggs, preserves, crafts, or local produce. It adds charm, builds community, and brings direct income without middlemen.
Bonus Idea: Collaborate with neighbouring farms, crofts and crafters to sell a wider variety of goods and attract more footfall.
Tucked by the gate, stocked by the hens!
3. Run Workshops or Experiences
Tourists — and even locals! — are keen to learn traditional skills, from spinning wool to foraging or baking bannocks. Offering half-day workshops, croft tours, seasonal or weekend events can bring in income while preserving Highland culture.
Low Cost Start: Use existing barns or outdoor spaces, and advertise via social media or tourism groups like VisitScotland.
4. Add a Small Sauna or Wild Wellness Space
Wellness tourism is booming! Small-scale saunas, cold tubs, or even outdoor yoga decks fit perfectly into the Highland landscape. If you already have a hut for accommodation, a sauna adds a desirable feature for guests — and can be booked separately, too. You may even find demand locally, as more people seek out accessible wellbeing experiences close to home.
Note: Tartan & Thistle build a range of sauna huts that can be placed without foundations — making this a quick win for wellness-focused diversification.
Step inside, breathe deep, and let the world wait.
5. Lease Space to Local Makers or Creatives
Have an old shed or byre going unused? Consider offering it as studio or workshop space for a local artist, weaver, or woodworker. You support rural livelihoods while generating income from a space that might otherwise sit empty.
Make it easy: Offer month-to-month rental terms or a barter system for goods and services if cash is tight.
The Bottom Line:
Diversifying your farm or croft doesn’t have to mean big upfront costs or a major lifestyle change. With a little creativity — and perhaps the help of a good local hut builder — you can create something beautiful, useful, and profitable right on your doorstep.
Ready to start? Tartan & Thistle Hut Co. are always happy to chat through your ideas and offer bespoke builds tailored to farmers, crofters and rural landowners across Scotland and the rest of UK.
Not only do these small-scale ventures have a low impact on local housing supply, but they also offer real solutions for strengthening rural communities. By enabling people to earn a living on the land, they help reverse depopulation and breathe new life into the Highlands.
The land holds stories — maybe it’s time to write your next chapter.
Just another local inspecting our latest hut spot. Our huts come Highland-approved, naturally!
