Login

Join the list

Be the first to explore our seasonal collections of exceptional Scottish food and drink.

Article: The Westray Bakehouse

PrevNext
The Westray Bakehouse

The Westray Bakehouse

Share

Meet The Makers:

The Westray Bakehouse

Situated on the Orkney island of Westray, a rugged landscape affectionately known as the 'Queen o' the Isles', The Westray Bakehouse represents a remarkable continuation of Scottish island heritage. The story began in 1885 when William Frederick Mackinson Brown arrived from South Ronaldsay to work as a baker at the shop on Gill Pier. By 1892, he had taken over the business, laying the foundations for an independent bakery that has stood the test of time.

Today, this proud family operation is expertly guided by the fourth generation, Duncan and Louise Drever, alongside their daughter Anna. Her recent inclusion ensures the craft will continue into a fifth generation.

A TRADITION OF ISLAND BAKING

For over a century, The Westray Bakehouse has relied on carefully preserved family recipes. In the early days, their biscuits were stored in wooden barrels and weighed out into paper or greaseproof bags for the local community. While they recently moved into a purpose-built facility to meet growing demand across the UK, their absolute dedication to their authentic craft remains unchanged.

Operating from Gill Pier overlooking the harbour near Pierowall, the team bakes through the night to ensure the island and the wider Orkney mainland are supplied with fresh bread and rolls each morning. It is a grounded, deliberate approach to food production that perfectly captures the resilient, welcoming spirit of the Orcadian community.

INSIDE OUR SCOTTISH HAMPERS

We are exceptionally proud to feature The Westray Bakehouse within our curated collections. We selected them for their outstanding island provenance and unyielding dedication to time-honoured baking methods.

TRADITIONAL SHORTBREAD ROUND

This deeply satisfying sweet provision brilliantly showcases the Drever family craft. Hand-baked to an historic recipe, it delivers a rich, crumbly finish and a highly tactile, buttery profile. Scored into traditional wedges, it provides a magnificent anchor to any afternoon tea service, pairing beautifully with a strong breakfast blend or a grounding pour of genuine Scottish-grown tea.

Westray Bakehouse Shortbread: Westray Bakehouse traditional buttery shortbread box, handmade on the Orkney islands.
Meet More Makers

Discover Westray Bakehouse in our curations

The Highland Tea hamper featuring a signature black presentation box displayed behind a selection of sweet treats, including two chocolate bars, a Dundee cake, lemon melt biscuits, coffee, a tall bottle of fruit syrup, a tin of tea, shortbread, Scottish tablet, jam, and a jar of honey, arranged on a dark grey textured surface.
The Highland Tea Sale price£125.65
The Confectioner's Board hamper featuring a signature black presentation box displayed behind an assortment of sweet treats, including two chocolate bars, a Dundee cake, lemon melt biscuits, a jar of honey stacked on a jar of jam, shortbread, and Scottish tablet, arranged on a dark grey textured surface.
The Confectioner's Board Sale price£88.25
An overhead flat-lay of an artisan spread on a dark grey surface, featuring a block of artisan cheese and oatcakes, a bottle of gorse syrup, and a wooden board displaying shortbread, chocolate, and fruit cake, alongside a small plate with bowls of preserve and honey, a tin of tea, and a bag of coffee.
The Restorative Commision Sale price£146.35
Sold outAn overhead flat-lay of an artisan spread on a dark grey surface, featuring a slate platter displaying slices of charcuterie, a block of artisan cheese, and oatcakes, alongside a bottle of whisky, a wooden board with a bowl of preserve, a separate bowl of mustard, a chocolate bar, and shortbread, all set on a fabric runner.
The Crofters Feast Sale price£168.55
View all Collections