A directory of belonging
Places where community is built into where you live — not another club to visit, but somewhere the people around you are part of daily life. Monasteries that welcome guests, cohousing, co-ops, ecovillages, seniors villages, and neighbourhoods that actually function. Start where you are.
Compiled with AI, checked by nobody yet. These are starting points, gathered for Scotland — real places as far as we know, but details change. Verify with a phone call before you set your heart or drive across the state.
A Camphill community offering a home, work, and cultural life for adults with learning disabilities. It emphasizes mutual support and the development of individual potential within a rural setting.
Visit website →A Camphill community providing residential care and meaningful work opportunities for adults with learning disabilities. It is set on a biodynamic farm, promoting a healthy and integrated lifestyle.
Visit website →A Camphill community providing a home and meaningful work for adults with learning disabilities and other support needs. Residents and co-workers live and work together in a supportive, integrated environment.
Visit website →A Camphill village community on the outskirts of Aberdeen with farms, bakery, store and craft workshops. Adults with learning disabilities and their co-workers share homes and meaningful work in a village open to the wider public.
The Sanctuary provides a supportive live-in community for individuals with learning disabilities, offering a holistic approach to care and personal development. Residents participate in daily life, crafts, and farm activities.
Visit website →The Green House offers shared living accommodation with a focus on sustainability and community engagement. Residents often participate in local environmental initiatives and enjoy a collaborative household environment.
One of the UK's largest student housing co-operatives, housing over a hundred members in two buildings near Bruntsfield. Students run the co-op themselves, keeping rents affordable and building a lively culture of shared responsibility.
A rural housing co-operative and member of the Radical Routes network, based at Birkhill House farm since 1993. Its members live co-operatively on the land and have long welcomed volunteers and visitors interested in low-impact rural living.
One of the world's oldest and best-known ecovillages, grown from the Findhorn Foundation community founded in 1962. Its ecological homes, community businesses and education programmes welcome residents, volunteers and thousands of course visitors each year.
Visit website →The Fintry Trust is a spiritual community focused on contemplative living and the study of esoteric traditions. Residents share a commitment to personal growth and a quiet, reflective lifestyle within a beautiful rural setting.
Visit website →An ecumenical Christian community founded in 1938, rooted in the rebuilt medieval abbey on the Isle of Iona. Members, staff and volunteers live and work together seasonally on the island, welcoming guests for weeks of shared life, worship and reflection.
Visit website →Newbold House is a residential centre for personal development and spiritual exploration, set in beautiful grounds. It offers a communal living experience focused on shared values and learning.
Visit website →The Abbey is a small, ecumenical Christian community offering hospitality and a rhythm of prayer and work. It provides a space for individuals seeking spiritual reflection and communal living by the sea.
Visit website →A Christian retreat and residential community focused on spiritual growth and shared living. It offers a peaceful environment for individuals seeking a contemplative lifestyle and community engagement.
Visit website →While primarily an educational institution, the Centre for Human Ecology fosters a strong sense of community among its students and staff, often involving shared living arrangements and collaborative projects. It promotes ecological and social justice through its academic programs and community engagement.
Visit website →The Centre for Stewardship at Falkland Estate promotes sustainable living and community engagement through various projects and residential opportunities. It fosters a collaborative environment for environmental and social initiatives.
Visit website →The Humbie Hub is developing as a rural intentional community focused on sustainable living, local food production, and shared skills. It aims to create a supportive environment for residents to live and work together.
Visit website →The Karuna Institute offers a residential setting for those engaged in mindfulness-based psychotherapy training and practice. It fosters a supportive community environment focused on personal and professional development.
Visit website →The Open Gate is a small, independent intentional community located within the broader Findhorn Foundation community. It offers a space for individuals to live and work together, focusing on personal and spiritual development.
Visit website →The Othona Community on Iona provides a space for shared living, reflection, and engagement with spiritual and social issues. It welcomes individuals and families to participate in a simple, communal rhythm of life.
Visit website →An intentional community adjacent to the Findhorn Ecovillage, offering a diverse range of housing and shared facilities. It fosters a spirit of co-creation and personal growth among its residents.
Visit website →The Salisbury Centre is a vibrant hub for holistic well-being and community events, offering some residential opportunities. It fosters a supportive environment for personal growth and shared living.
Visit website →While the Salisbury Centre itself is a hub, it also fosters a small residential community within its grounds, sharing a commitment to spiritual growth, arts, and social justice. Residents contribute to the centre's vibrant program and communal life.
Visit website →Distinct from the Iona Community, The Sanctuary offers a quieter, more independent form of communal living for those seeking a reflective experience on the sacred island. It provides simple accommodation and a space for personal retreat and shared meals.
This is a small intentional community focused on sustainable living and shared resources within a historic walled garden setting. Residents collaborate on gardening, maintenance, and community activities.
The first Tibetan Buddhist monastery established in the West, founded in 1967 in the hills of Dumfriesshire. Its resident community of monastics and lay volunteers welcomes visitors of all backgrounds for courses, retreats and quiet stays.
Visit website →A Benedictine monastery in a quiet Moray glen, the only medieval British monastery still inhabited by monks and used for its original purpose. Men and women are welcomed for retreats in its separate guest houses, sharing in the rhythm of monastic prayer.
Visit website →This is a small Anglican Benedictine community of monks living a life of prayer and service. They offer hospitality and a peaceful retreat for those seeking spiritual reflection.
The Iona Community is an ecumenical Christian community committed to justice, peace, and environmental sustainability. Guests and members share in daily worship, work, and community life on the island.
Visit website →This community trust manages local assets and promotes sustainable living on the Isle of Mull. Residents are actively involved in shaping the future of their village and supporting local initiatives.
Visit website →This unique community-owned island is managed by a trust that empowers residents in decision-making and sustainable living. The islanders work together to maintain their vibrant and self-sufficient community.
Visit website →The Isle of Rum Community Trust manages land and housing on the island, fostering a vibrant and self-sufficient small island community. Residents actively participate in the island's development and conservation efforts.
Visit website →The Humbie Hub is a community-owned and run facility that serves as a focal point for village life. It provides a shop, cafe, and meeting spaces, fostering strong local connections.
Visit website →The other path
If your state's list is thin, that's not a dead end; it's the reason this project exists. Three friends on one street is already a community. The guide walks you through the whole path.
Start a community — the guide Create or join a group Register your interestBrowse by state