Isle of Harris Community Moves Closer to Landmark Estate Buyout.

A community in the Isle of Harris has taken a major step towards bringing almost 11,000 hectares of land into local ownership after securing more than £1 million from the Scottish Land Fund to support the purchase of the Bays of Harris Estate.

Bays of Harris Community Estate Ltd (BoHCEL) has been awarded £1,082,680, funding that will enable the community to progress the acquisition of the extensive crofting estate following more than a decade of work. The award covers the purchase of the estate, associated legal costs and support for an estate manager during the first year of community ownership.

The estate, which extends across much of southern Harris and includes the Isle of Berneray, has been the focus of community buyout efforts since 2012. Momentum gathered following a successful community ballot in 2022 and an agreement with the current owners to sell the estate.

Euan Galloway, Chair of Bays of Harris Community Estate Ltd, described the funding award as a significant milestone in a journey that began 14 years ago.

“This success has only been made possible through the dedication and support of a great many individuals, organisations and funders over the years,” he said. “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 community organisation says ownership of the estate will help address long-standing challenges including housing shortages, population decline and the need for sustainable economic development in what is described as a fragile and dispersed rural community.

Work is now underway to complete the remaining legal processes, including detailed mapping of estate boundaries, with the aim of finalising the purchase within the next six months. Following completion, the organisation plans to hold an Annual General Meeting, allowing members to elect a new Board of Directors to lead the estate into community ownership. Membership has grown to almost 250 people

One of the new board’s first tasks will be appointing an estate manager, creating a local job and providing professional support for the day-to-day management of the estate as community plans begin to take shape.

The Bays of Harris purchase is one of six projects supported in the latest round of Scottish Land Fund awards, which aim to help communities acquire and develop local assets for long-term social and economic benefit.

The award has also been welcomed by the Scottish Government Climate Action and Rural Affairs Secretary Gillian Martin, who highlighted the determination shown by the community throughout the process.

“Once again these projects demonstrate the scale and variety of ways the Scottish Land Fund can support communities, whether it is giving islanders greater autonomy, creating a much-needed heritage centre and workshop space or bolstering volunteering opportunities. It’s especially welcome to see the Bays of Harris purchase conclude after many years of hard work. It shows that perseverance does pay off, and I wish all the projects the best and look forward to hearing about their progress.”

For the Bays of Harris community, the funding represents a pivotal moment in a long-running campaign and brings the prospect of community ownership firmly within reach.

For more information visit:
https://www.baysofharris.org/2026/08/04/buyout-update-august-2026/