A HUGE Scottish estate with its own private island is set to be purchased by the local community after a £1 million grant was secured.
The 27,000-acre Bays of Harris Estate, in the Outer Hebrides, includes numerous beaches on the south of the isle of Harris, the Northton peninsula, the isle of Berneray, and various smaller islets.
It encompasses:
- 274 crofts in 28 townships.
- Seven telecommunications masts.
- Two fish farm sites.
- A quarry.
- Shooting rights and wayleaves.
The Scottish Land Fund has awarded a total of £1,082,680 towards a community purchase of the estate, following a 14-year campaign.
Euan Galloway, the chair of Bays of Harris Community Estate Ltd, said: "This success has only been made possible through the dedication and support of a great many individuals, organisations and funders over the years.
"We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has helped us reach this point.
“The Scottish Land Fund's support means we can now move forward with confidence towards completing the purchase by the end of the year."
The Scottish Land Fund award covers the purchase of the estate, associated legal costs, and funding for an estate manager during the first year of community ownership, it is understood.
Work is now underway with solicitors and other professional advisers to finalise the remaining legal processes, including detailed mapping of the estate boundaries, with the aim of completing the purchase within the next six months.
The award follows a community ballot in 2022, in which nearly two-thirds of voters backed the buy-out.
Bays of Harris Community Estate Ltd is now due to hold an Annual General Meeting at which all members – around 250 people – will be invited to vote on a new board of directors.
Galloway added: "Securing this funding is another hugely important milestone on our journey towards community ownership of the Estate.
“We look forward to celebrating the day the Bays of Harris Estate is officially transferred into the hands of the community. Thank you again to everyone who has helped make this possible."
Dr Sally Reynolds, Community Land Scotland's director of operations, welcomed the new funding, saying: "This is a huge step forward for the Bays of Harris Community Estate and fantastic news for the community.
“It has been a long process, dating back about 14 years. But this helps to secure the necessary funding to purchase the estate.
“The South Harris community has great plans to prioritise housing and tackling depopulation. Time and again we see communities that own the land make the best decisions for the people. It will be truly inspiring to see the Bays of Harris moving to full community control."
