It marks the end of an era for private landowners, but the beginning of a new age for the people of the Western Isles.

From today more than half of the land in the Western Isles is in community hands or public ownership as the traditional private landlord slowly retreats from the archipelago.

The people of Galson in the north of Lewis, who claim to be Scotland's most thriving Gaelic-speaking community, were always expected to use land reform legislation to mount a hostile buyout of the 56,000-acre Galson Estate. .

However, in the end it was a negotiated settlement that led to the successful £600,000 community buyout. With that process completed today, just one in four islanders has a private landlord. "This is a great day for the people who live in the villages on Galson Estate. It is also a historic day for the whole of the Western Isles and for Scotland," said Norman Thomson, the chairman of the Galson Estate Trustees.

Today's deal continues the momentum of the community land movement started by the Assynt Crofters in 1992.

Since that first step 15 years ago, crofting communities have been given the right to buy their land whether or not the landlord wishes to sell under legislation passed by the Scottish Parliament.

When the Galson community signalled its intention to buy the estate the Grahams and Macraes, the Lewis families who owned the land, initially refused even to discuss it.

They had entered into a leasing agreement with Amec, the power giant, over plans for almost half of the world's largest windfarm to be sited on Galson land. The estate also formed its own company, Galson Energy Ltd, to receive royalties from the development.

However, a legal opinion published by Highlands and Islands Enterprise cast doubt on whether such a lease would be valid without the Crofters' Commission's permission.

A deal was subsequently struck with the estate under which Galson Energy would fold, and the community pay the estate 17.5% of the landlord's share of any royalties.

Galson Estate, which is home to 22 villages, more than 600 crofts and 2000 people, will now be managed by 10 elected trustees.

A small community windfarm of up to three turbines is planned and there are anticipated cultural and social spin-offs from the communities.

Agnes Rennie, one of the trustees and a local crofter, said: "Galson Estate is a thriving Gaelic speaking community where 80% use the language every day. This makes it the strongest Gaelic speaking community in Scotland.

"Our secondary school is the only one in the Western Isles where the roll is going up. We now have the opportunity to build businesses based on this by linking our language, history and heritage to the latest computer technology."

Jim Hunter, professor of Highland history at the nascent University of the Highlands and Islands, said: "Today is highly significant with less than 50% of the Western Isles under private ownership."

Doug McAdam, chief executive of the Scottish Rural Property and Business Association, agreed the transition in recent years from private to community ownership in the Western Isles was significant.

But he added: "Only time will demonstrate whether such arrangements are truly sustainable without ongoing public sector support."