Grindins is a 41 acre traditional croft situated in Wester Skeld on the west side of Shetland, often referred to as 'the sunny side of Shetland'.

The croft has been worked for over 200 years, the original croft house, byre and wash house (next to a burn) are still present. The house has been substantially extended in recent years and the wash house now forms winter accommodation for pigs.

Our croft is primarily worked to breed and produce Shetland Ponies, but we also keep a traditional range of animals.

Daisy is our pedigree Shetland house cow. She lives free range with calf. Daisy is a typical Shetland cow, medium size, easy to work with and handle. She produces plently of milk and her young fatten to a good size and quality.
By following a rotational grazing system which includes a cow, we find that the pastures have significantly improved, with increased fertility and reduced weeds.


In previous summers, we bottle fed and raised caddy lambs. They are always much enjoyed by all the family. Time allowing, this is something we are sure to repeat in the future.


'Mr Pig' is our prize winning pig. There were no suitable classes at the local agricultural show so he entered the pets section and won a 1st prize!

We grew Mr Pig from a small piglet into the rather massive boar he is today. He is very gentle, friendly and will always roll over for a scratch of his belly.

Mr Pig and our sow Mrs Pig live free range and have almost three litters of piglets a year. Mrs Pig and piglets are put into the main byre for the first few weeks, to give her a rest and the piglets a heat lamp. They then return, when she wants to be back in her field, and all live happily together. We are always around to clean off the piglets when they are born and are very luck to never have had any piglets die after birth or be squashed by the adult pigs.

We plant forage crops in the pig's winter field, whilst they are in their summer field, but have yet to have any real success due to chickens, visits South with the ponies etc.


The sheltered vegetable garden by the house has proved some what more sucessful and provides fresh greens for the kitchen.
We have a variety of chickens to provide eggs all year round. We get many to spare in the summer and enough during the winter. The chickens are very productive and easily earn their keep. Their antics and individual personalities are always sure to entertain.