Crofting

Crofting is a form of land tenure and small-scale food production particular to the Scottish Highlands, the islands of Scotland, and formerly on the Isle of Man. Within the 19th century townships, individual crofts are established on the better land, and a large area of poorer-quality hill ground is shared by all the crofters of the township for grazing of their livestock.

Practice

Crofting is a traditional social system in Scotland defined by small-scale food production. Crofting is characterised by its common working communities, or “townships”. Individual crofts are typically established on 2 – 5 ha of in-bye for better quality forage, arable and vegetable production. Each township manages poorer-quality hill ground as common grazing for cattle and sheep.

Land use in the crofting counties is constrained by climate, soils and topography. Agriculturally since the late 20th century, the government classifies virtually all of the land in the Highlands and Islands as Severely Disadvantaged, under the terms of Less Favoured Area Directive, yet these areas still receive the lowest LFA payments. Most crofters cannot survive by crofting agriculture alone, and they pursue a number of activities to earn their livelihood.