Community land ownership and the reorganisation of rural settlement systems in Lewis and Harris, Scotland

A brief history of land ownership in Scotland is given, in order to emphasise the fundamental shift of attitudes and rural development activities in the past two decades. Following radical land reform legislation in Scotland, a description of Community Land Trusts is provided, and their role is explained as democratically elected, local development organisations, owned and managed by their resident population. In recent years, the Community Land Trusts have progressed beyond simply managing land and agricultural issues in their areas, to include economic, social, health, and environmental benefits. Case studies are provided to illustrate some of these developmental activities, which are described in the context of building and supporting resilient communities that actively engage with the promotion of long-term sustainable rural development.