Crofting
A croft is a small unit of land traditionally situated in the former crofting counties in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, held subject to the provisions of the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993 (as amended).
A crofter is normally the tenant of a croft, and pays rent to the landlord of the croft. Rent is paid for the land only, as any house, agricultural building, fence etc is provided by, and owned by the crofter. A crofter may own their croft - which remains in crofting tenure.
Crofting tenure gives wide-ranging rights to crofting tenants, such as:
- security of tenure,
- fair rents,
- compensation for permanent improvements,
- to pass on their tenancies to members of their families or,
- to pass the tenancy to other third parties (with the approval of the Crofters Commission),
- to purchase either, their house site or, if they wish, their croft as a whole, at a fixed price.
Many mistake crofting for small-scale farming. This is clearly far too narrow a view and understates the immense influence crofting has on the everyday lives of people in communities in crofting areas. While agriculture has its place generally crofters either obtain the bulk of their income from other full-time or part-time employment or are retired.
Crofting Counties
The 1993 Act defines the Crofting Counties as: the former counties of Argyll, Caithness, Inverness, Orkney, Ross & Cromarty, Sutherland and Zetland. A map showing this, with comparison to the Highlands and Islands Entrprise area coverage is available at this link Crofting Counties map.
Information and statistics on crofting
Land use in the crofting counties is constrained by climate, soils and topography. Agriculturally, virtually all of the land in the Highlands and Islands is classified as Severely Disadvantaged in terms of Less Favoured Area Directive. The existence of crofting has helped retain viable rural communities by providing low cost land and housing as a basis for other economic activity.
Data on crofters and crofting is available through the attached link statistics.
Designating New Areas for Crofting
Section 3A of the Crofters (Scotland) Act 1993, inserted by section 6 of the Crofting Reform etc. Act 2007, gives Scottish Ministers the power to designate new areas by Order. The Scottish Government proposes to align areas where crofting tenure applies with the area covered by Highlands and Islands Enterprise. This would entail the designation of the isles of Arran, Bute, Greater and Little Cumbrae; the local government area of Highland not currently within the Crofting Counties; and the local government area of Moray as new croft areas. These will not form part of the Crofting Counties. Maps of the proposed new designated areas are available at Arran map and Nairn & Moray map
A public Consultation was completed in March 2008. This link alsocontains a list of the respondents and those responses that we have authorisation to publish.
The Scottish Government responded to the public consultation on 6 October 2008 (see Response and Analysis) confirming the Government expect to designate the new areas later in 2008. A Press Release was also issued.
Scottish Government Response to the Committee of Inquiry on Crofting
The Committee of Inquiry on Crofting completed its remit and formally presented their recommendations for the future of crofting in Scotland to Mike Russell MSP, Minister for Environment at an invitation only event held on 12th May 2008 at An Lanntair Arts Centre, Kenneth Street, Stornoway. Copies of the Final Report (in English and Gaelic) and an Assessment of the Economic Impact of the Committee's Proposals can be found on the Committee's website.
The Scottish Government Response and vision for Crofting was published on 1 October 2008 after careful consideration. The response is available on the publication section of this website in an English version and a Gaelic version.
Future of Stud Farm and Bull Hire Scheme
Late in 2007, at the behest of the Minister for Environment, the Crofters Commission commissioned an independent Investment Appraisal to determine the necessary investment required to bring the facilities at Inverness up to scratch for a modern service.
The Committee of Inquiry on Crofting (Shucksmith inquiry) recommended the closure of the Bull Hire Scheme/Stud Farm at Knocknagael and its replacement by "support for private bull hire to meet the needs only of those areas where this would not be possible without this support".
On 1 October 2008, the Minister for Environment informed Parliament that the Government agreed with that recommendation and would close the Bull Hire Scheme by the summer of 2009.