The Wait

The decision to move to the Isle of Lewis and become a crofter had been made (read Part 1 here if you haven’t already) but the process of making it a reality was far from straightforward.

Selling my property in Durham turned out to be a longer process than anticipated but eventually contracts were exchanged and I was able to focus on the next steps towards the move to the Isle of Lewis. The Scottish side of the process made selling a house in England seem quick and simple!

The journey from seeing the croft advertised to actually getting on the land (still not there yet) has been one filled with unnecessary legal delays and complications. These were followed by the lengthy, but expected, drawn-out procedure that is imposed on this unique system of landholding in Scotland.

Becoming a tenant of a croft is an unfathomably lengthy process in itself, involving applications and approvals from the Crofting Commission who seem to work on a different calendar to everyone else.

The Move

With my property in Durham sold, and all of my belongings moved into a storage unit I was ready to move out on completion. Understandably, at this stage, I was keen to move to Lewis and start building the foundations for a future in the Outer Hebrides. And so it was, I filled the van with my tools, some clothes, and a Cocker Spaniel and set sail across the Minch towards the Isle of Lewis. Completion could be completed from the island.

The only way to make things happen is to start them, and so I put faith in the fact that both properties would complete (eventually), I’d find somewhere to rent, and I’d find enough work to support me once I got there.

I stayed with the wonderful folk at Croft Seventeen in Lemreway before finding somewhere to rent. Work soon found me, and despite the hurdles, the upheaval, and the challenge of relocating over 400 miles (including 2.5hrs by ferry) I was finally here.

I have since used this waiting period as a time to make friends and contacts within the community, and to expand my learning as much as I can. I’ve taken opportunities to help-out other crofters with their projects and daily tasks (including fencing, peat cutting, sheep gathering, and silage) and attend workshops and webinars covering topics from the history of the Callanish Stones to livestock registration, grasslands and grant schemes.

Sadly there’s as much paperwork with farming as there is with being an electrician!

It has also given me time to make regular visits to the croft to plan the utilisation of the land, meet the neighbours, and revisit and rethink the layout and the vision for Croft 5. Most importantly it has kept me focused on the long-term goal and served as a distraction from the endless waiting for nothing to progress. As does writing this blog, which shall also serve as a resource for future reflection. Or if nothing else, a reminder of the journey.

The Vision

As I look to the future (one with a whisky in hand and Loch Rog Beag in eye!) I am excited about the potential for Croft 5 to contribute to my wellbeing and to the food production and sustainability of the community in a meaningful way. I have a clear vision: to create a self-sufficient croft where I can produce food for myself, the local community, and potentially even a wider market. The croft offers an opportunity to explore and learn new practices and create a viable property for its future custodians.

In addition to growing vegetables, I plan to keep poultry and the Hebridean Black Face Sheep, expand my apiary of “Hebridean” Buckfast Bees, and improve the ecology of the croft by adding hedging and woodland. Working with the land towards food and community sufficiency is at the core of my vision, and I hope to embrace that to benefit both the croft and the wider area. Modern crofts also need to diversify and make the most from the available land and resources to ensure a stream of multiple incomes (including off-croft activities such as my electrical work) that shall support each other during fluctuations in seasons or from nature.

Plans are just that though, and they shall be allowed to change organically as the land, finances and opportunity dictates.

The Wait is Almost Over. Probably.

The journey to Croft 5 has been one of difficulties, patience, and the pursuit of a more meaningful and fulfilling lifestyle. The decision to leave behind a comfortable life in Durham and embrace the challenges and rewards of crofting on the Isle of Lewis was relatively easy. It was a decision driven by a desire for a different way of living and to contribute to a community, an improve my little patch ready for the next tenant. A decision that I made and set the foundations for during each visit to the island. Simply put, the first (and every) time I set foot on the island I feet different, I feel at home.

Will I be on the croft in 2025?

All of the boxes have now been ticked, the monies paid, and the assignation in “holding”.

In October 2024 the odds were high, but now, who knows. I am glad I didn’t take that bet!
I couldn’t have anyway; all my money is currently in a holding account earning interest for the vendor (another crofting oddity).

If you’d like to join me on this journey then don’t forget to subscribe to the newsletter, and if you’d like to visit Croft 5 then contact us