Realigning function and place in the crofting communities of the future

Although the place and value of crofting as a contributor to the sustainable development of the region has long been recognised, there are concerns about its continuing capacity to fulfil this role effectively. These revolve around a complex set of relationships between land occupancy and use, population retention and the cohesion of rural communities. These relationships present a significant challenge for policy-makers struggling to reconcile legal rights granted to crofters via an accumulated body of legislation dating to the late 19th century within a 21st century policy context in which collective, inclusive and increasingly devolved approaches to rural development are fast gaining currency. This article explores how these challenges might best be overcome.