The Wait is Over!

The day has finally come, the keys for Croft 5 are in hand and the final form lodged with the Crofting Commission and the Land Register of Scotland! It’s an exciting time and I am looking forward to getting on with improving the croft and putting my plans into action!

Those of you have followed the journey so far will now have an idea of how complex a process this is, and how different purchasing a croft is to purchasing a normal freehold property or land outside of the crofting system.

To purchase a croft you are required to apply for permission from the Crofting Commission, stating what your intended use is and to agree that you will follow the legislative duties. These duties are:

Reside: A crofter must be ordinarily resident on or within 20 miles of their croft.

Cultivate: The croft must be cultivated and maintained, or put to another purposeful use.

Maintain: The crofter must not misuse or neglect the croft.  

What is Crofting?

A croft is a small agricultural holding of between 0.5 and 50 hectares. There are larger crofts and people may have several crofts, but typically the size of a croft is around 5 hectares. Croft 5 is approximately 4 hectares (9.8 acres).

The crofting tenure is unique to Scotland, and there are statutory and legislative duties that tenants or owner-occupier must adhere to. Crofting has been governed by its own legislation since 1886, and is regulated by the Crofting Commission.

There are around 21,000 crofts, mostly run as part-time agricultural holdings that have traditionally been used for the grazing of sheep and cattle. Crofts were designed to provide subsistence and a small income for a family. Most would (and still do) make their primary income from other employment or production such as weaving, fishing, teaching, postal services, and other roles that are typically found in a community.  

The majority of crofters are over 40 years of age, but as with most things in crofting, times are changing and there has been an increase in the number of younger crofters over the last few years. The way in which crofts are utilised is also changing, with many serving as a base for other businesses and diversification such as tourism and accommodation, arts and crafts, horticulture and beekeeping.

Where to Begin

Given that winter is upon us, the first tasks have been opening up the ditches surrounding the house and access track. Clearing the ditches and getting the water running back where it should will help make life (and access) easier as the nights draw in. There’s 5 bags of material gone into the track, so I figure that’s 5 bags that have washed out and ended up around the back of the house and in the ditches!

There has also been the task of dog-proofing the area around the house by making good the existing fencing and covering any gullies or burrows under the bottom wire. You can make a fence stock proof, you can make a fence rabbit proof, but making it spaniel proof is mission impossible. Sometimes you just have to do your best! The quad bike has been delivered and already put to work moving the old double (now single) axle trailer that had set itself into the landscape in front of the outbuilding. It’s second job was to help in the search for said spaniel, who had found another way out. More fencing to do!

Whilst not essential I believe that the quad is going to prove valuable in shifting and carrying things around the croft, including the obligatory flask of tea.

Of course the first, and most important job of all, was lighting the fire. Behind the plywood and plug in heater I was so pleased to find a clean and serviceable fire place. A quick push up with the rod and brush proved the chimney was clean and clear, so it was a short drive to Timsgarry and the local community shop for a bag of coal. What better way to spend the first night on Croft 5. Seeing a light on and smoke from the chimney also pleased the new neighbours, and it wasn’t long before a house warming bottle of whisky from the Stornoway Island Spirtit Whisky Shop was opened and shared.

It has been a busy first week on here at Croft 5, including my first meeting of the Common Grazings Committee, a kitchen nightmare (soon to be dream), bees to move and some new customers for my electrical business. But that’s all for another post.

If you’ve enjoyed the journey of a new entrant crofter so far then subscribe below and continue to follow the journey!