Islanders on Great Bernera, Lewis, have been awarded £100,000 from the Scottish Land Fund to help purchase the 2,260 hectares estate.
Residents were offered first refusal on the land after the family of former landlord,
Count Robin Mirrlees -
In March, the community voted overwhelmingly to buy the islands once owned by Count
Robin de la Lanne-
Count Robin's family offered islanders an exclusive opportunity to buy the land.
His son, Patrick de la Lanne, visited the island last month and learnt about the buyout progress.
The funding award will also pay for the part-
Tom Macdonald, chairperson of Great Bernera Community Development Trust, said: “That we are so close, with this grant, to achieving the ownership of “The Crofting Lands of Bernera” is a tribute to the work of local residents helped by various agencies."
Great Bernera purchase closer after funding award
13 June 2015