Andy Wightman

Who Owns Scotland? I've published 45th monthly update to Who Owns Scotland which records ownership of 5100 landholdings covering 5.95 million ha (14.7 million acres) or over 77.25% of rural Scotland. This project is solely funded by subscriptions. Please consider subscribing. (link in next post).

Andy Wightman reposted

surveymonkey.comMG ALBA Scots Trad Music Awards 2026 Nominations FormTake this survey powered by surveymonkey.com. Create your own surveys for free.

Happy autumn! 🍁 Nominations are open for Scots Trad Music Awards 2026. You can nominate my album ‘The Scottish Four Seasons’ for: - Album of the Year (Cat. 1) (say ‘I love it!’) - Original Work of the Year (Cat. 3) - Composer of the Year (Cat. 17) www.surveymonkey.com/r/STMANoms2026 🍂 Thank you!

legislation.gov.ukEuropean Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2026

The European Charter of Local Self-Government (Incorporation) (Scotland) Act 2026 is now in force with important implications for the future of local government. Will blog more on my return from the Pyrenees at end of October. www.legislation.gov.uk/asp/2026/11

Can anyone advise me how I take part in this 3 month consultation on ScotGov proposals for local government reform when all I can find is an article here gov.scot/publications/p… and no consultation here? consult.gov.scot/consultation_f��

gov.scotgov.scot

whoownsscotland.org.ukLand Ownership Map | Who Owns ScotlandWho Owns Scotland map for visual overview of land ownership. For Academics, Property Professionals, Natural Resources, Windfarms, Film Location Scouts, Journalists

Local government exists to provide governance to local communities. Seems like we have no voice in the current “debate” or are you going to “consult” us at the end maybe when you’ve decided what to do?

Explore the website here whoownsscotland.org.uk

Castle Tioram is an ancient ruined castle in Loch Moidart one of the seats of Macdonald of Clanranald. It hit the headlines over 20 years ago when the person who claimed to own it (Lex Brown) proposed to renovate the property and convert it to residential use 1/4

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Anta Estates never relinquished ownership. Mr Brown died 2022. According to Panama Papers, Anta was struck off in 2010. Castle Tioram thus falls to Crown - to the King’s & Lord Treasurer’s Remembrancer, in Crown Office in Edinburgh. To notify them however, costs £ hundreds which I don’t have. 3/4

andywightman.scotWho Owns Castle Tioram? - Land MattersCastle Tioram is located on the tidal island of Eilean Tioram located near the mouth of the River Shiel in Loch Moidart (see map below). The castle was granted to Clan Macdonald of Clanranald by Rober...

My latest blog discusses the future of this important site. The relevant legal documents are published and I would be interested in the views of others as to whether in fact Castle Tioram is ownerless 4/4 andywightman.scot/2026/09/who-...

A public inquiry followed and ultimately Historic Scotland refused Scheduled Monument consent. The plans fell through. But Lex Brown never owned the Castle. it was owned instead by a company called Anta Estates Limited registered in Saint Kitts and Nevis. 2/4

The Chair of the @johnmuirtrust.bsky.social was ousted at yesterday’s AGM. No longer a Trustee and no longer Chair.

In March 2000, John MacLeod announced that he was selling the Cuillin. 1/5

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John MacLeod never in fact sold the Cuillin but his son Hugh MacLeod (who inherited the estate in 2007) submitted an application for voluntary land registration in 2020. 4/5

andywightman.scotHugh MacLeod Owns the Cuillin - Land MattersIn March 2000, the late John MacLeod announced that he intended to sell An Cuiltheann (the Cuillin). Savills were appointed as the selling agent and advertised the land at offers over £10 million. The...

That application has now been processed and Hugh MacLeod now owns the Cuillin. Further background in my newly published blog. 5/5 andywightman.scot/2026/09/hugh...

In March 2000, John MacLeod announced that he was selling the Cuillin. 1/5

Some of us questioned whether in fact he actually owned the famous mountains. His claim was founded on a Crown Charter of 1611 that granted 4 unciates of land - around 240 acres and sufficient to graze around 240 head of cattle (the land being offered for sale extended to 22,300 acres). 2/5

The Scottish Office invited the Crown Estate Commissioners to examine the validity of MacLeod's title and James Drummond Young QC concluded that MacLeod had demonstrated sufficient possession to enable his claim of ownership to stand. 3/5

In the hills of Galloway there is a Flesh Market. The name feels out of place. Just as interesting, however is who owns (or doesn’t own) it. 1/4

The Flesh Market is isolated between land owned by Scottish Ministers to the west Ired) and Grobdale to the east (blue). 3/4

andywightman.scotWhat is the Flesh Market and who owns it? - Land MattersThe Left Behind Series (1) Investigating who owns Scotland over the years has revealed many fascinating aspects of geography, law, history and politics. This blog is the first in a series that investi...

So what is the Flesh Market and who owns it? My latest blog is the first in a series of The Land Left Behind and explores the meaning of the place and its curious ownership history. 4/4 andywightman.scot/2026/09/what...

In the hills of Galloway there is a Flesh Market. The name feels out of place. Just as interesting, however is who owns (or doesn’t own) it. 1/4

Grobdale of Girthon was put up for sale in 2004 and revealed the uncertain ownership of the Flesh Market. 2/4

6 Sept

Productive day making Glòthach Chaorainn or Rowan jelly. Excellent crops this year. 4 kg frozen for later.

In 2007, the SNP pledged to scrap the Council Tax. Almost two decades later, this pledge remains unfulfilled. But yesterday’s Programme for Government confirmed that primary legislation will be necessary to introduce the proposed “mansion tax”. 1/3

My blog (link in the next post) explains the background to this, why primary legislation is needed (when it has not with past band reforms) and why now, for the first time in the devolution era, the opportunity exists to scrap the Council Tax and replace it with something much fairer. 2/3

andywightman.scotParliament can now scrap the Council Tax - Land MattersThe Scottish Parliament will very soon have the opportunity to scrap the Council Tax. This is the first time in the history of devolution that this has been possible. This blog explains why and how th...

Will Parliament rise to the challenge? 2/3 andywightman.scot/2026/09/parl...

What does this first sentence mean? And what is "regional local government". There is regional and there is local but I have never heard of "regional local" (from the SNP programme for government)

31 Aug

Who Owns Scotland? The 44th monthly update is published. It contains ownership information on 5075 landholdings covering 5.94 million hectares (14.7 million acres) or over 77.16% of rural Scotland. This project is solely funded by subscriptions. Please consider subscribing. whoownsscotland.org.uk

Andy Wightman reposted

28 Aug

🔥 ‘Heatwave’ music video - out now 🔥 What a summer it’s been. Heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, house fires, evacuations, more fires. We CANNOT forget the summer of 2026. Watch the full video on YouTube. #vivaldi #heatwave #ukheatwave #thefourseasons #scottishmusic

Andy Wightman reposted

26 Aug

‘Heatwave (Summer 3)’ - 28.08.26 Subscribe to my YouTube channel to be the first to see it. #vivaldi #heatwave #ukheatwave #thefourseasons #scottishmusic

andywightman.scotVital Highland Broadband Service Closes - Land MattersThere are many examples across Scotland where landowners large and small are continuing to frustrate the ambitions of individuals, businesses and social enterprises through the exercise of the fundame...

25 Aug

BLOG - Vital Highland community broadband winds up after 12 years due to inability to secure a revised lease with new landowner on whose land sits vital infrastructure that accounts for more then half of the organisation's internet traffic. andywightman.scot/2026/08/vita...

andywightman.scotMINISTERS CONFIRM SCOTTISH LAND COMMISSION MEMBER REDUCTION - Land MattersThis is the first blog published since I installed new software to handle email notifications to subscribers. I hope it all works properly. If not, please let me know. I have also added a donate butto...

24 Aug

UPDATE - Scottish Ministers confirm that they intend to lay regulations to reduce the number of Scottish Land Commissioners from 5 to 4. For further details see my latest blog andywightman.scot/2026/08/mini...

andywightman.scotScottish Government in Breach of the Law on Public Appointments to the Scottish Land Commision - Land MattersOn 14 August 2026, Emily Johns was appointed as a member of the Cairngorms National Park Authority to serve a four year term. The appointment was made under the relevant legislation governing Minister...

21 Aug

BLOG. Scottish Ministers are in breach of the law. They have decided not to fill a vacancy on the Board of the @scottishlandcom.bsky.social and reduce the number from 5 to 4. Ministers do not have the legal power to do this as this blog explains. andywightman.scot/2026/08/scot...

andywightman.scotFerry Rights and the Skye Ferry - Land MattersThe image above appeared on the front cover of the Sunday National on 16 August 2026. The story highlighted the ongoing charges faced by the Isle of Skye Ferry CIC, the community company that operates...

19 Aug

BLOG on the controversy over the dues demanded by the owner of the Kylerhea Ferry rights. andywightman.scot/2026/08/ferr...

17 Aug

I'm required 2comply with Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024 due 2come into force jan27. I've read the Act & do not understand much of what is required. Are there any other small businesses & sole traders out there who I can network with to try and work out what needs to be done?

@raptorpersuk.bsky.social

7 Aug

In a more sensible Scotland, this post would be from Dingwall Town Council which was in existence for 750 of those 800 years. Despite this it, is worth noting that Dingwall at least remains a Royal Burgh bsky.app/profile/high...

The Highland Council@highland.gov.uk

Community spirit was on full display in Dingwall today as His Majesty The King joined the town's Royal Burgh 800 celebrations. From award-winning volunteers & local businesses to musicians, dancers & community organisations, the visit highlighted the people who make Dingwall and Ross-shire special.

Andy Wightman reposted

Raptor Persecution UK

7 Aug

GENERAL Licence restrictions imposed on two Scottish shooting estates after evidence of raptor persecution crimes: Milton of Drimmie Estate (Perthshire) & Invermark Estate (in the notorious Angus Glens). New blog ⬇️ #RaptorResearch #WildlifeCrime raptorpersecutionuk.org/2026/08/07/g...

raptorpersecutionuk.orgGeneral Licence restrictions imposed on two Scottish shooting estates after evidence of raptor persecution – Milton of Drimmie (Perthshire) & Invermark Estate (Angus Glens)NatureScot has today announced a three-year General Licence restriction on two shooting estates: Milton of Drimmie Estate, near Blairgowrie, Perthshire, and Invermark Estate in the Angus Glens. MIL…

7 Aug

Very sad to hear of the passing of William Orbit. He gave us so much. RIP

hr.moorepay.co.ukJohn Muir Trust

6 Aug

John Muir Trust looking for new staff. Apply if you dare. hr.moorepay.co.uk/hr/recruitme...

3 Aug

Since Sep 2022, I've been building a website where you can find out who owns rural Scotland. Today I am publishing the latest update (July 2026) which contains ownership information on 5050 landholdings covering 5.9 million hectares (14.7 million acres) or over 77% of rural Scotland 1/2

3 Aug

There is 23% still to do. At the current rate of progress, it will take another 6 years to reach 80%. Subscriptions and licensing are the sole means by which this work is financed so please do consider taking out a subscription. Gift subscriptions are also available. 2/2 whoownsscotland.org.uk

destinationhelensburgh.orgPublic Meeting about the Waterfront - Destination HelensburghPublic meeting about the sale of common good land on Helensburgh's waterfront with guest speaker Andy Wightman

22 July

I will be giving a talk in Helensburgh on 30 July 2026 about the history and relevance of burgh commons or common good land in light of proposals to build a supermarket on part of Helensburgh's common good lands. destinationhelensburgh.org/events/publi...

andywightman.scotIn Conversation with Jim Hunter - Land MattersThe first CLAN (Community Land Academic Network) conference took place at UHI in Perth on 16-17 June 2026. The lead organiser was Dr Bobby Macaulay from UHI Centre for Mountain Studies and co-ordinato...

17 July

As a postscript to yesterday's blog, I have added a link to a paper Jim Hunter wrote in 1984 together with reflections from 2026. Last para at andywightman.scot/2026/07/in-c...

16 July

I very much enjoyed attending the recent CLAN (Community Land Academic Network)conference in Perth. The highlight for me was an in-conversation event with Jim Hunter. I have published a short blog which contains a video of the whole conversation with Jim. Enjoy. andywightman.scot/2026/07/in-c...

Andy Wightman reposted

14 July

✨ COMPETITION ✨ Happy 8-month birthday to my album! 🥳 Here’s a competition to celebrate - how many plants on the album cover can you name? They’re all Scottish native plants. The first person to name at least 10 plants will get a free CD 💿 Thank you to Elly Lucas for this artwork!

taxpolicy.org.ukWhat would a land value tax actually do?How would a land value tax work in practice? Who would pay? A detailed report and a model showing the impact

14 July

Good to see this new analysis of LVT. It is modelled for England but much of analysis applies to Scotland too. This is good example of tackling structural inequality at source. The landed & propertied classes have always opposed it though and will do so again. 1/2 taxpolicy.org.uk/2026/07/12/w...

andywightman.scotLVR – Land Value Rating - Land MattersIn 2010, I undertook some research on Land Value Rating for the Scottish Green Party MSPs and in 2012 for Caroline Lucas MP. In 2014, Ronan Lyons and myself undertook research on LVR in Northern Irela...

14 July

I undertook less rigorous studies 2010-2014 which came to similar conclusions. Read them on LVR page. NI report is the best as it was properly resourced & (since NI does not have council tax) was based on regression analysis of good quality data on land values. 2/2 andywightman.scot/hot-topics/l...

Andy Wightman reposted

Chris McCall

@dennynews.bsky.social

11 July

"There's really been nothing to disturb the sleep of the Duke of Argyll in 25 years of devolution." I spoke to @andywightman.scot

dailyrecord.co.ukWho owns Scotland? Meet the campaigner uncovering who profits from landScotland has one of the most concentrated patterns of land ownership anywhere in the world. It's long been a subject of political debate. But who owns what? Andy Wightman has spent years finding out.

10 July

Who Owns Scotland? Since September 2022, I have been building an online platform that enables you to find out who owns rural land in Scotland. The June which ownership information on 5025 landholdings covering 5.9 million hectares (14.7 million acres) or over 77% of rural Scotland 1/3

10 July

You can of course use official registers (the Register of Sasines and Land Register). The Land Register costs £3.60 for a search. At Who Owns Scotland, I've done the work for you. Subscriptions start at £12 for a whole year of access. All data updated & new data added at end of every month. 2/3