About Us
A friendly, family-run ethical enterprise
one bedroom accommodation
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Eco-friendly artist's studio
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Organic permaculture herb garden
Set in a small rural village on the north coast of the stunning Solway Firth.
Your host, Cate Ross, is a professional artist and skilled arts educator for all ages and abilities with over 20 years of teaching practice, she's also a
UNESCO Biosphere Experience Guide.
Cate holds an MFA in Printmaking, a BA(Hons) Degree in Applied Art (Illustration), Post Graduate Certificate in Community Education and NCFE Understanding Autism.
She trained at Edinburgh College of Art and Edinburgh University, Scotland and The Lamar Dodd School of Art - University of Georgia in Athens, USA where she also studied, taught and performed Dance Trapeze with the
Canopy Studio Repertory Company.
It is Cate's vocation to support others in creative practice development employing visual and performance arts with an holistic approach. She is a 'person-centred' educator who facilitates learning from early years, intergenerational (families, group work) right through to undergraduate and advanced specialist tuition.
The Corn Mill Studio brings all her skills together in a unique ethical enterprise.
Cate is part of an extensive local network of other skilled artists, craft makers, wordsmiths, musicians and specialist holistic health practitioners who want to help support creative development, positive growth, environmental education and wellbeing for all.
The Ross clan motto is 'success nourishes hope' and we strive for fulfilment of this- to daily reach our best potential, greater achievements raise our collective aspirations and lead to success for all.
We live by the permaculture ethics of
Earth Care, People Care, Fair Share.
Our Location and local amenities:
Situated in the heart of the ancient village of Auchencairn (Ock-en-kairn~ from Scottish Gaelic-"field of stone"), immersed in beautiful landscapes on the north side of the Solway Firth in South West Scotland. We are on the 'Costa del Solway', the Scottish riviera!
Step out of the Corn Mill Studio and you are in nature, spend all day enjoying the immediate environment or walk to the spectacular local beaches within half an hour, drive / cycle to our varied sea shores within a few minutes.
Equally accessible are many manageable hill walks and forest walks or, for something more challenging, a short drive will take you to remote and spectacular upland environments.
In Auchencairn we are facing the magnificent Cumbrian skyline, the village is half way between Dumfries (Dumfreece~ from Scottish Gaelic name Dùn Phris- "Fort of the Thicket") on the biggest salt marsh estuary in Europe and the archipelago of Kirkcudbright (Kir-koo-bree~ from the Scots word kirk 'church' and old English-Cudberct after 'St.Cuthbert').
The Solway coast with all its islands, inlets, high cliffs and miles of sandy beaches for you to explore by foot, bike, boat, canoe, unicycle or car, is a little bit of paradise.
We have a well stocked, licensed village shop / post office selling whole foods, lovingly reared organic
locally produced meat, dairy, eggs and vegetables, as well as many vegetarian and vegan products. Our organic milk comes from less than a mile away and is delivered daily to the fresh milk dispenser to refill your glass bottle, greatly reducing waste and the 'carbon footprint' for your supplies. The Auchencairn Shop has a lovely wee outdoor cafe serving delicious Italian coffees, breakfast and lunch (including takeaway) with fresh home baking daily. Live music jamming and interesting conversations are likely while you digest.
Several other small towns and villages nearby provide lots of other amenities, you name it - from supermarkets, a sustainable wood fuel cooperative, ice rink, golfing, mountain biking to swimming pools, gift shops, galleries, local breweries and two distilleries. You can see more about our locale here.
We are on a regular bus route in the village (For public transport information see here).
Close to the A75 (Euroroute to Ireland) you can easily reach us by car, train, plane, bicycle, hot air ballon, hitch hike or 'shank's pony'- on foot!
Let us help you arrange your journey if required.
