Galleon Acre

New Horizons: Trading the Island for Green Pastures

Change has been brewing quietly for some time, and I’m finally excited and a little relieved to share the big news: the family, Rusty, and I are relocating!

After much soul-searching and careful planning, we are getting ready to say farewell to the Isle of Skye. For those of you who have been following the Galleon Acre channel, this explains why things have been a bit quiet lately.

A Bittersweet Departure

I want to be honest with you all: leaving the island wasn’t our original plan. In an ideal world, we never would have left. However, life has a way of throwing unexpected challenges our way.

As much as we appreciate the landscape and community, we have reached a limit regarding the lack of long-term (and even short-term) support services in the area. When considering your family’s future, those services are not just “nice to have”—they are essential. Managing these challenges in such a remote location became unsustainable, and for the well-being of the entire family, we realised we needed to find a place that offers more stability and support.

Why the “Radio Silence”?

Since these plans have been in progress for quite some time, I found myself in a bit of a “holding pattern” with the channel.

It simply didn’t make sense to start pouring energy, hard labour, and resources into building structures or establishing permanent gardens on Skye when we knew we wouldn’t be there to see them flourish. I didn’t want to begin a project I couldn’t finish, and I certainly didn’t want to lead you all down a path that was about to end.

The New Chapter: 4 Acres & Stables

The good news is that the new property truly brings to life the vision of Galleon Acre. We’re not merely relocating to a new house; we’re moving towards a future with:

  • 4 Acres of Land: Plenty of room for the family to grow and for Rusty to tire himself out.
  • Existing Stables: Having proper outbuildings already in place is a massive head start for our homesteading goals.
  • The Support We Need: Most importantly, we’ll be in a location where the necessary services are within reach.

What’s Next?

The house is nearly fully sold, the logistics are being finalised, and we hope to move in within the next few months.

Expect a significant change in content once we arrive on site. From refurbishing the stables and workshop to planning the new land, the “real” work is about to commence. Thank you for staying with us during the quiet period and for understanding the tough decisions we have had to make.

The Isle of Skye will always hold a part of our hearts, but now it’s time to create something sustainable for the entire crew.

Embarking on an Adventure: My Journey to Off-Grid Living and the Launch of Galleon Acre!

Hey everyone,

I’m thrilled to finally share some exciting plans I’ve been working on and to officially announce the launch of my new YouTube channel, Galleon Acre! You can find it here: https://www.youtube.com/@GalleonAcre

Welcome to Galleon Acre! This channel is where I, Charles, and my faithful companion Rusty, will be documenting our life-changing adventure in the stunning heart of Scotland’s Highlands and Islands.

Our mission? To breathe new life into an overgrown acre of land and a tired old stone cottage. We’re slowly but surely shaping them into a place where we can live simply, sustainably, and eventually, completely off-grid.

The next two years are all about preparation. Before I can fully embrace the off-grid lifestyle for a whole year, there’s a lot to do. This initial phase is all about learning, building, planting, and getting everything to a point where the land can support me.

Alongside transforming the land, I’ve got some essential renovations to tackle on the cottage to make it a cozy and functional home. The bathroom, utility room, and porch are all on the list, as is building a greenhouse and, importantly, sealing the roof! It’s a big to-do list, but every step is a step closer to the dream.

Adding to the current hustle, I’m also on the home stretch of my Master’s degree, which I’m due to finish this July!

Now, before I can truly throw myself into the more physical aspects of this adventure, there’s a personal hurdle I need to address – a medical issue with my chest/heart. Getting this sorted is a top priority so I can regain my fitness and be ready for the demands of this lifestyle. The good news is, I can definitely work on my fitness levels while I’m prepping the land and the house – multitasking at its finest! And yes, somewhere in all this, I’m on a quest to find a dentist and get some new teeth!

The ultimate goal is to spend a full year living completely self-sufficiently. That means no connectivity. Just the rhythm of the land, the changing seasons, and the profound quiet of nature. I’ll still be using some technology to film, of course!

Now, you might be wondering how I’ll share this part of the journey if I’m offline. Well, while I’ll be stepping away from my digital life in terms of being connected during that year – even from uploading videos myself – the story won’t stop. I’ll be filming throughout, and a friend will be kindly sharing those moments here on Galleon Acre as they unfold.

And when that incredible year comes to an end? I’ll return to the channel to reflect on everything I’ve learned and what’s changed.

I envision the Galleon Acre channel as a personal and friendly space where I can share the highs, the lows, the learning curves, and the beauty of this entire process. Expect lots of updates, images, and videos of me, Rusty, the land, the renovation projects, and all the little moments in between, here on the blog.

I’m so incredibly excited to share this journey with you all. Please check out Galleon Acre, and I look forward to connecting with you there!