…the blog and website of Andy Wightman
The 5,530 hectare Griffin Forestry Estate comprises the Griffin and Moness estates in Perthshire either side of the A826 south of Aberfeldy. I have a personal connection with the forest as I planted much of it in my first job
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Following my previous blogs here, here and here on the topic of the Register of Persons Holding a Controlled Interest in Land (RCIL), I am pleased to report that after much toing and froing I eventually secured an appointment with
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With Stage 2 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill proceedings now concluded, it is time to take stock of where we are, not just with the Bill, but with the wider land reform agenda. In this blog I want to
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Today I am publishing a report analysing large-scale (over 500 ha) sales of rural land in 2023. This follows a previous report covering 2020 – 2022. During 2023, 17 landholdings of over 500 ha changed hands together with 20 landholdings
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This blog provides an update on the two previous ones in relation to determining the beneficial ownership of two companies – North Glen Estates Ltd, registered in the Turks and Caicos Islands, which owns North Glenbuchat Estate in Aberdeenshire, and,
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In my blog yesterday, I reported a breach of rules introduced to improve transparency in landownership. I have reported the matter to Police and will be reporting back here on progress. Meanwhile, I am pleased to publish this guest blog
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The above image was taken in 2014 in connection with a police raid at that time. On 2 May 2025, Police Scotland issued the following statement. Two men have been arrested and charged in connection with wildlife offences following enquiries
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UPDATE 28 March 2025 – the Clan Donald Estate is now being advertised at offers over £6,750,000. A sales brochure can be downloaded here (2.9Mb pdf). The Stage One debate on the Land Reform (Scotland) Bill took place on Wednesday
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Today I have published what I plan to be an annual analysis of who owns Scotland. The Who Owns Scotland 2024 report is based on an analysis of data from the Who Owns Scotland website as at 31 January 2025.
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Scottish Land and Estates has argued in recent years that large-scale landholdings are best placed to deliver public policy objectives associated with woodland expansion, peatland restoration and other large scale projects. Scale can help of course but it is nonsense
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