AN 11-acre croft in a “stunning location” is being advertised for lease by a Scottish island’s community company.
Colonsay Community Development Company (CCDC), with Scottish Land Fund support, has brought an 11-acre croft on the beautiful island into community ownership.
Colonsay can be reached in 2.5 hours by ferry from Oban, and has a small resident population.
In what the community firm is describing as a “rare opportunity”, the property is being advertised for lease and is intended to host a family in order to support Colonsay’s primary school – boosting the number of children as well as the working age population.
Darragh Keenaghan, CCDC Director, said: “We're grateful to the Scottish Land Fund for recognising our determination to create new opportunities for families and young people to live on Colonsay.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for a resilient and enthusiastic family looking to become crofters and make a future in Colonsay.”
Meanwhile, Kilchattan Primary headteacher Kim Bentley added: “At the heart of our school is the belief that relationships are fundamental to learning. Our approach is child-led and play-based, with plenty of time spent outdoors.
“Being a small school we’re able to follow children’s interests while delivering key skills across the curriculum. We take pride in our welcoming and friendly ethos, and are looking forward to growing our school community.”
CCDC would also like to see the croft actively worked, ideally with a small business.
Dannie Onn, also a director of CCDC, said: “Our existing community-owned crofts have been opportunities that have brought people of working age, and Colonsay’s primary school supports a number of jobs within the island community.
"Being able to offer an affordable way for a family to become crofters here fits with our vision of sustainable community development, growing our working age population and creating opportunity for enterprise.”
For more information and the application form, contact Colonsay Community Development Company at Ben.Sgoiltaire@gmail.com before the application deadline of March 23, 2025.
