Skip to content

Bays of Harris estate buyout secures land fund award

News imageEilidh Carr An aerial view of West Beach at Bays of Harris in the Western Isles. There is a long strip of white sand and turquoise sea.Eilidh Carr
Bays of Harris Community Estate Ltd is one of six groups to be given funding awards

A community group has been given more than £1m to buy a 27,181-acre crofting estate in the Western Isles.

Bays of Harris Community Estate Ltd (BoHCEL) said the land would help with its plans to tackle housing shortages and depopulation in the area.

It is one of six projects awarded money from the Scottish Land Fund (SLF).

The others include Shetland's Voe Community Development Association, which has been awarded £106,780 to buy a former sail repair workshop, and Quarter Community Hub, which will use £93,406 to buy a historic church in Quarter, South Lanarkshire.

Euan Galloway, chair of BoHCEL, said it had taken 14 years to reach the stage of purchasing the privately-owned Bays of Harris estate.

He added: "We would like to thank the many people and organisations whose support, commitment and hard work have made this achievement possible.

"We now look forward to completing the purchase of the estate on behalf of the community in the coming months."

News imageJohn Maher A view across a landscape of lochs and rocky coast, dotted by a few houses in Bays of Harris in the Western Isles.John Maher
A community group has spent 14 years working towards the purchase of an estate in Bays of Harris

Loch Ewe Community Enterprise has received £345,663 to buy the Bac Dubh industrial site in Poolewe to establish a multi-use community business park.

North Sutherland Community Forest Trust's will use its £109,745 award to purchase a log cabin and area of surrounding land at Borgie Forest as part of a community hub project.

Morvern Community Woodlands has been given £459,650 to buy 232 acres of land at Lochaline which will be developed as woodland crofts.

SLF is funded by the Scottish government and delivered in partnership by The National Lottery Community Fund and Highlands and Islands Enterprise.

Climate Action and Rural Affairs Secretary, Gillian Martin, said the fund was supporting communities.

"It's especially welcome to see the Bays of Harris purchase conclude after many years of hard work," she said.

"It shows that perseverance does pay off, and I wish all the projects the best and look forward to hearing about their progress."