Alistair’s final collection • In 4 active carts right now • Only 287 left
Alistair's Hand-Carved Wooden Reindeer
Alistair's Hand-Carved Wooden Reindeer
Dispatched within 1–2 working days
30-day money-back guarantee
Insured & free delivery with tracking
Couldn't load pickup availability
Alistair's Hand-Carved Wooden Reindeer
Alistair’s final collection · Boat of Garten, Scottish Highlands
A little sitting reindeer, carved one at a time in an old stone shed in the Scottish Highlands.
Only 287 left · workshop closes 15 December
“Put him out on the first of December. That’s all he’s been waiting for.”
“People asked me a hundred times about a website. I always said: if you want one, come to Boat of Garten. This is the only time I’ve said yes.”
– Alistair Fraser, 74
What arrives at your door
- One Waiting Reindeer from Alistair’s final collection, carved from pale wood with darker antlers and hooves
- About 21.5 cm tall, 13 cm wide and 10 cm deep (8½ × 5 × 4 in)
- Ready to set out the moment you unwrap him – no batteries, no plug, nothing to assemble
- Dispatched within 1–2 working days
What makes Alistair’s reindeer different
NO. 01
Real carving marks
The body is covered in small, uneven cuts. They catch the light from every side, so your reindeer looks a little different in the morning than by candlelight.
NO. 02
The face comes last
Long nose, two small dark eyes, that calm and curious look. Alistair always cuts the face at the very end, when the rest is finished.
NO. 03
Sits like a real reindeer
Back straight, front legs stretched out, hooves on the ground – the way a young reindeer rests in the snow. He sits flat and steady on any shelf.
NO. 04
Darker antlers and hooves
The pale wood stays warm and natural. Only the antlers and hooves are darker, as if he just walked in from the forest.
NO. 05
Made to come back every year
No batteries to change, no bulbs to burn out, nothing to break down. Unpack him in December, put him away in January, repeat for decades.
NO. 06
The same design since 1979
The reindeer you get is the one Alistair carved for his daughter’s first Christmas. He never saw a reason to change it.
Where he looks best
On the mantelpiece, next to a few pine branches and candles. In the firelight, every carving mark shows.
On a windowsill facing the street, where neighbours and children walking past can see him.
Under the tree or on the dining table, between the presents or the candles on Christmas Eve. Keep him away from open flames and direct heat.
A shop-bought figurine vs. Alistair’s reindeer
| Typical shop figurine | Alistair’s Waiting Reindeer | |
|---|---|---|
| Surface | Smooth, cast, every one identical | Carving marks you can see and feel |
| Face | Printed or painted on in seconds | Cut by hand, always the last step |
| Feel | Light, hollow, a little cheap | Solid in the hand, sits steady |
| After 10 years | Chipped, faded, thrown out | Still the first thing you unpack |
| Who made it | A production line | Alistair, at his workbench in Boat of Garten |
Carved by hand in Boat of Garten
The workshop is an old stone shed behind Alistair’s cottage in Boat of Garten, a small village on the River Spey at the edge of the Cairngorms. Alistair worked in his father’s joinery there for decades. In 1979 he carved the first reindeer from an offcut for his daughter Fiona’s first Christmas, and from then on he sold them in just one place: his stall at the Christmas fair in the village hall.
Now his eyes are failing. The fine work on the faces is the first thing they won’t do any more, so this Christmas is the last. His grandson Callum has put the final 287 reindeer online – for the first and only time.
From my workbench to your mantelpiece, Alistair
Perfect for
Alistair’s standard
- Every body roughed out and carved by hand
- Every face cut last, with a small knife and a magnifying lamp
- Antlers and hooves stained by hand, then oiled
- Checked by Alistair, one reindeer at a time, before it leaves the workshop
Questions people ask Alistair
Why are they called Waiting Reindeer?
Because his grandson Callum, at four years old, looked at a row of them on the workbench and said: “They’re all waiting for Christmas.” The name never left.
Is every reindeer exactly the same?
The design is the same, but no two are identical. The carving marks fall a little differently on every piece. That is what makes each one yours.
Can I order more than one?
Yes. Many customers order one for themselves and one for their parents or children. Choose how many you would like above – but remember there are only 287 left.
Can he stay out after Christmas?
Of course. Plenty of customers leave him on a bookshelf or windowsill all winter, or all year round. He is a reindeer, not a Santa – he looks just as much at home in February, next to a stack of books or a pot of tea.
Will there be more after this collection?
No. The workshop closes on 15 December. Anything left after that date is still dispatched while stocks last, but Alistair won’t carve another one.
30-day money-back guarantee. Set him out, light the candles and live with him for a while. If he doesn’t win you over, send him back within 30 days and you get your money back. No questions, no fuss.
Care
Dust gently with a soft, dry brush or cloth. Don’t use water, sprays or polish. Keep him a little away from open flames, radiators and very damp rooms, because wood doesn’t like sudden heat or moisture. After the holidays, wrap him in tissue paper and store him somewhere dry until next December.
Product details
| Material | Wood, natural finish; antlers and hooves in a darker tone |
| Size | About 21.5 cm tall × 13 cm wide × 10 cm deep (8½ × 5 × 4 in) |
| Made by | Alistair Fraser, Boat of Garten, Scottish Highlands |
| Availability | Final collection, 287 reindeer |
| Delivery | Dispatched within 1–2 working days |
| Guarantee | 30-day money-back guarantee |
The Final Collection
The Final Collection
A message from Alistair:
After 47 Christmases at the same workbench, my eyes can’t follow the knife around a face any more. These 287 reindeer from my final collection are the last I will ever carve. Every one was roughed out, carved, sanded, stained and oiled by hand in my old stone shed behind the cottage in Boat of Garten. Nothing rushed. Nothing outsourced.
My grandson Callum wraps and posts them for me. The workshop closes on 15 December, and whatever is left after that is dispatched while stocks last.
When they’re gone, they’re gone.
Free Delivery
Free Delivery
Free delivery across the UK
- Dispatched within 1–2 working days
- Insured: every parcel is fully insured, with tracking
- Wrapped in tissue by hand and posted in a sturdy box so the antlers arrive safely
- Care: dust with a soft dry brush, keep away from open flames and damp
Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question? Here’s how to reach us.
Got a question? Here’s how to reach us.
Callum personally replies to every single email – as fast as he possibly can. Whether you have a question about your order or just want to say hello to Alistair, we’re here.
You can reach us:
- Mon – Fri: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM (GMT)
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM (GMT)
Email: info@countycraftco.com
Can I return it if it’s not for me?
Can I return it if it’s not for me?
Of course. We stand behind everything in our shop 100%. If the reindeer doesn’t win you over, just send us an email within 30 days and we’ll put it right – no hassle, no fuss.