Tayvallich Initiative
Iomairt Thaigh A’bhealaich
Community ownership for affordable housing, local jobs, sustaining land and community
Our vision for Tayvallich
Our vision is to protect and enhance what makes Tayvallich and the surrounding area unique: its rich natural heritage, the community’s resilience, and the strong connection between its people and the land and sea. Reversing depopulation and maintaining and developing employment and livelihoods in the area are key concerns, while also maintaining the area’s natural richness and responding and adapting to the climate and biodiversity emergencies.
What We Do
Housing
Ranger Project
Community Growing
Renewables
Land
Our journey
The Tayvallich peninsula in Mid Argyll is an exceptional place, where landscape and sympathetic farming enable nationally and internationally important wildlife to prosper.
Tayvallich itself is a small and isolated coastal community with a resident population of around 225–275. The village and surrounding area is losing population; 38 per cent of properties are not used as principal homes, and there are very few houses available for residential rental. House prices are high, far above the affordability of typical Argyll employee salaries. It is an ageing community because it is difficult for younger people to find a home to rent and remain in the community. The key local businesses, including the Tayvallich Shop and Café and the Tayvallich Inn, can find it difficult to recruit staff because of housing costs and lack of availability of housing.
In 2022 an opportunity arose. It became known that Tayvallich Estate, a 3,500 acre (1,368ha) estate to the south of Tayvallich, would be put on the market for sale. The community mobilised and completed an initial consultation which demonstrated strong support to look at the possible purchase of land for the community.
Tayvallich Initiative Ltd (TI) was established to respond to this opportunity and with the support of the Scottish Land Fund was able to purchase land and a house from Highlands Rewilding who bought the estate. TI was also gifted land and a house by the previous owners of Tayvallich Estate, and received land as a legacy from a late resident of Tayvallich.
Donations welcome
In order to deliver our vision, we are progressing plans for new housing, sustainably managing the land we are guardians of, and establishing new projects that enable people to connect with the land and landscape. It is a big challenge for a small community.
News + Events
Wildflower ID Walk
A lovely afternoon along the blue route with Innes Manders from Catkin Ecology (and 25 others) talking about wild flowers, grasses and ferns. A great conversation with everyone contributing lots of knowledge about common names, Latin names, uses of flowers … it’s...
Celtic Blessing Walk
Celtic Blessing Walk from Tayvallich to Keills. 24 May at 1pm. All welcome!
Members + Funding
Tayvallich Initiative are members of:
Tayvallich Initiative are grateful for funding from:
Tayvallich Initiative are also grateful for past funding from:
- Argyll & Bute Council’s Strategic Housing Fund (2025–26)
- Scottish Government’s Community & Renewable Energy Scheme (CARES) via Local Energy Scotland (2025–26)
- UK Shared Prosperity Fund (2024)
- Argyll & Bute Council Climate Action Network & Supporting Communities Fund (2024)
- Scottish Land Fund (2023–25)
- Crown Estate Scotland via Foundation Scotland (2023)
- Highlands & Islands Enterprise (2022)
We are also very grateful for all donations received from individuals.