We are excited to announce the first Intermediate Carpentry Course to be held in the Highland of Scotland! This advanced, hands-on course is designed for women who have already taken one of Sara Tommerup’s carpentry or natural-building courses, or for those who already have a solid foundation in construction carpentry and want to take their skills to the next level.

Over five days, participants will deepen their understanding of site carpentry by working on a real-world project on the shores of Loch Broom: building a small cabin from subfloor to roof structure. You’ll develop your technical accuracy, problem-solving, and confidence through intermediate carpentry techniques including:

Intermediate

Applied Construction Carpentry

• Reading and interpreting technical drawings and specifications

• Constructing stud walls and partitions

• Installing door and window frames

• Cutting and fitting flooring boards or sheet materials

• Basic roof carpentry (rafters, purlins, ridge boards, ceiling joists)

• Fixing internal finishes (skirting, architrave, trims)

• Cladding and weatherproofing techniques

• Installing insulation and vapour barriers

• Using intermediate power tools safely (planer, router, mitre saw)

• Calculating and marking angles (roof pitch, bevels, mitres)

• Understanding load paths and structural integrity in timber frames

• On-site problem solving and adapting designs to real conditions

• Teamwork, workflow planning, and site safety coordination

• Setting out and levelling foundations for a timber subfloor

• Precision cutting and fixing of structural components for stud-wall framing

• Constructing and installing window and door openings with correct tolerances and detailing

• Building and fitting roof rafters, ridge boards and trusses

• External cladding, weatherproofing, and finishing details for long-term durability

• Site planning, safe workflow, and tool management in a live construction environment

The course blends practical teamwork with one-to-one instruction, allowing each participant to refine their skills, learn new methods for accuracy and joinery, and experience the satisfaction of contributing to a completed, functional building on an active conservation croft.

Course Instructors
Sara Tommerup — Natural builder and carpenter with City & Guilds certification, MSc Architecture (AEES) and MSc Environmental Management. Sara teaches and builds with ecological methods and is developing a One Planet Development in Wales focused on round-wood timber framing.

Course Host: Jenny Grant, conservation biologist and crofter at Croft 6, a site dedicated to wildlife, food growing, and outdoor learning. Follow her work on Instagram @croft6ontheloch.

Arrival & Departure

• Start: 9 am on Day 1 (arrival the previous evening possible — self-catered)

• End: 5 pm on Day 5 (lifts available to Ullapool or Inverness)

Accommodation & Facilities
Camping and limited camper-van spaces available on-site. The croft is off-grid with one compost toilet, cold-water tap, and a poly-crub dining space. Meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) are provided; please bring extra snacks and a refillable bottle. Solar-shower and local facilities available.

What to Bring

• Warm, layered outdoor clothing and sturdy footwear

• Charged power tools (limited electricity on site)

• Work gloves, ear protection, and personal hand tools if you have them

• Hot-water bottle and wool hat for cold nights

Spring is a beautiful time to visit — clear light, crisp air, and minimal midges — but prepare for cool evenings and variable weather.