Our History
Otter Mountain has been running since 2022 but the idea started in 2019. At its heart child-led, outdoor play in the Hebridean landscape.
In 2019 a local charity, Ùrachadh Uibhist hired Emily Durie, a primary school teacher and mum of two, as an Outdoor Nursery Project Manager. This focused on developing an outdoor nursery provision plan to understand the feasibility of running an outdoor nursery in Uist.
Throughout this project, which became known as Wild Things Uist, Emily worked alongside practitioners at all 5 nurseries along the island chain. (Saoghl Beag Nursery in North Uist, Sgoil Bhaile a' Mhanaich Nursery in Benbecula, Sgoil Àraich Iochdair, South Uist, Cothrom Og’ in South Uist and Sgoil-Àraich Dhalabroig in South Uist). Here she lead play sessions and supported staff as they enhanced their outdoor learning and play spaces.
Nursery groups were soon taken on adventures to local woodland and beach where child lead play and natural resources took the lead in the curriculum.
As families were aloud out and about play trails were developed- these were set up across the islands to encourage families outside whilst still following social distancing guidelines.
Simultaneously, there began the Wild Families sessions where families could come along and play alongside each other. Grown ups could experience and learn about the benefits of child lead play outside.
In 2020, and the Covid -19 pandemic, Wild Things became an online resource- sharing activity and play ideas online and delivering at home play sessions via Zoom.
In March 2022 our weekly playgroup Wee Wildlings started. Many playgroups and stay and play sessions that were running before covid did not restart again and so Emily felt that it was important to get families together again, but whilst there was still uncertainty regarding infection rates it was felt that it was safer to meet outdoors. With this in mind the iconic Bell Tent was purchased and the Wee Wildlings were found roaming North Uist every Monday morning.
In January 2023 Wild Things became Otter Mountain as the project at Ùrachadh Uibhist had come to an end but Emily felt the work was too important to stop and so the project became a business. Since then it has continued to grow with Wee Wildlings and Earthlings being offered as weekly sessions as well as community events, seasonal activities, nursery and school trips and more play trails.
In May 2024 Emily signed the lease for a small area of Woodland in North Uist which will be a base for future adventures. In the following months time was taken up finding funding and clearing the land and it is with great excitement that in April 2025 The Wee Woodland will open to the public. This will be a space for playgroups and family play but also for schools, nurseries and home schoolers. A place for older and younger generations to play together. A place of calm retreat and wild imagination. A place for all in Uist and beyond to embrace nature, to play, to discover and to grow with the natural cycle of the seasons.
It has been a long time coming but the process has felt organic and lead by the community. It is with great excitement that Otter Mountain welcomes you to The Wee Woodland, what will you play today?
