Crofters fight for a share in the land


10 November 1998


Crofters fight for a share in the land


COMMUNITY ownership of Scottish highland estates is on the increase, reports the Financial Times.

Last year the 68 inhabitants of Eigg bought the 3035ha (7500 acre) island for £1.5 million.

Now another purchase looks possible of the Knoydart estate – a peninsula opposite the Isle of Skye – which covers 6879ha (17,000 acres).

Land reform is high on the agenda in the run-up to the creation of the Scottish Parliament.

Government ministers have said they want local communities to have the right to buy estates at market value when they come up for sale. It intends to provide National Lottery money to help them.

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