Community to investigate deal to buy estate near globally-famous loch

After a public consultation event at Glenurquhart Public Hall in Drumnadrochit in September, and with help from charity Trees for Life, Glen Urquhart Rural Community Association (GURCA) is now investigating purchase options for Bunlot estate near Loch Ness so an area-led rewilding project on the land could go ahead.

Current owners, Highlands Rewilding Ltd, recently announced that the land will be going onto the market this October and have until January  to pay off a £11m loan taken out to secure land for nature restoration.

Bunloit includes a mosaic of habitats from native woodland to peatland.

Chairperson of GURCA Susan Griffin said: “We have decided to explore this rare opportunity for a community buyout, given that Highlands Rewilding founder and CEO Jeremy Leggett has said the local community will have first refusal on any purchase.”

GURCA and Trees for Life say that any community purchase of all or some of Bunloit would be to protect and restore habitats to tackle the nature and climate emergencies, while generating local benefits including nature-based jobs, better health, and re-peopling.

“We will be fully supporting the community as it investigates the purchase of land at Bunloit for what could be an exciting model of locally led rewilding to restore biodiversity and enrich lives,” said Steve Micklewright who is Chief Executive of Trees for Life.

Details of the land-sale at Bunloit and at Highland Rewilding’s other estates at Tayvallich in Argyll and Beldorney in Banffshire were  made public on October 1.

In a statement on its website, Highlands Rewilding said: “We will give preference to local communities wanting to buy the plots of land we are offering so long as we are able to fulfil our obligations to our 809 shareholders. We have three priority categories of land-sale, and our local communities come first in all of them.”

The statement also makes clear that Highlands Rewilding can choose who it sells the land to, and this does not necessarily need to be to the highest bidder.

The company say on its website: “We are trying to sell land, making no profit, so that it can be locked up for community-centred nature recovery, essentially forever.”

GURCA is Glen Urquhart’s development trust, working to make sure the area has a vibrant future, improving quality of life, work and leisure for people through community-led initiatives.