A delapidated house and a boat. The photograph dates back to February 2008. The location is Valasay [Bhalasaigh] in the island of Great Bernera, 30 miles west of Stornoway. Bernera [Bearnaraigh] is linked to mainland Lewis via a bridge. I mention the date of the picture, because I have been informed that the house has since fallen down, in the face of our customary gales. It had long lain derelict.
The issue is that although the edifice may appear abandoned, it most likely is not. First of all, there is nearly always an owner to any property in Scotland; it requires a court ruling for an edifice to be declared abandoned. Secondly, people see pictures like this (I run a Facebook group about abandoned crofthouses) and want to buy it and do it up. Not as simple as that, and owners tend to get angry when confronted with unsollicited enquiries towards acquisition. I tend to refer folks to an estate agent, who often have seemingly abandoned properties on their books.
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