New Year, new life for Canna café couple

The New Year has brought a radical life change one Scottish-based couple - for Amanda McFadden and Aart Lastdrager have this week started a new life on the tiny Island of Canna.

The couple has been selected to run the café which caters for residents and visitors to the Inner Hebridean island which is cared for by the National Trust for Scotland.

The chance to live and work on the island which has a population of 18 was advertised in September. The couple was chosen from a shortlist of four to take on the exciting opportunity.

Amanda (38) and Aart (40) are both experienced caterers who will bring a wealth of experience and some international inspiration to the Canna café menu. In recent times they have been working in the acclaimed restaurant at the Kingairloch Estate on Scotland’s West Coast.

Amanda, who was born in Glasgow, has cooked in restaurants across Scotland and Europe. Dutch-born Aart is an experienced gardener and chef with a particular flair for baking.

The couple plan to make Canna produce presented with imagination and simplicity the focus of their menu at the café. Aart’s amazing sticky toffee pudding is sure to establish itself as a favourite amongst the clientele.

Amanda said:

“We have always wanted to run our own business and were looking for a place to put down some roots. This opportunity looked perfect for us, as we crave space and there is certainly plenty of that on offer on Canna. We’re also looking forward to mucking in and playing an important part in a community.”

The Canna Community Council led the search for the new residents. Secretary Deb Baker, who moved to Canna from Wales in 2008 said:

“The community is very pleased with the appointment of Aart and Amanda to run the café on the island. They impressed us not only with their catering skills and experience but also with their positive and realistic attitude towards living in a small community such as this. We are sure that their ideas and enthusiasm will help make the business a success and that the café will prove to be a draw for visitors to the island."

The islands of Canna and Sanday were gifted to the National Trust for Scotland in 1981 by John Lorne Campbell. Canna is 4.5 miles long by 1 mile wide and is one of Scotland’s most important seabird colonies.

The National Trust for Scotland is one of Scotland’s leading conservation charities, which relies on the financial support of its members to fund its important work of caring for the natural and cultural heritage of Scotland for everyone to enjoy.

You can join the National Trust for Scotland for as little as £5 per month for a family. To become a member, visit http://www.nts.org.uk/Join/Benefits/.

All information contained herein provided by the National Trust for Scotland.