Frequently Asked Questions

As the owner of a Scottish estate, you will have the full rights to style yourself as a Laird (Lord) or Lady. Laird simply means “Landowner” in Scots English. In English Laird can be translated as “Lord” and the female form is “Lady”. To quote Lord Lyon, King of Arms, head of the Heraldic Executive in Scotland  ‘laird’ has generally been applied to the owner of an estate, sometimes by the owner himself or, more commonly, by those living and working on the estate.

This courtesy title should not be confused with a Noble Title such as those which are conferred by the Queen on the advice of her ministers. “Laird” is not now nor has ever been a Noble title. It is simply a dignity given to a person through the courtesy of others who acknowlege their status as a Scottish Landowner.

Many of our customers decide to ask their bank to add their new title to their bank account and their credit cards. We include in each gift pack the Master Title Deed, accepted in most jurisdictions internationally which also recognise Deed Poll documents. The Master Title Deed may be used to confirm your new title to your bank and even government agencies. Where local law permits, this will enable you to change your title to Laird, Lord or Lady.

Please note that government documents which do not display any title, such as all passports and in some jurisdictions your drivers licence cannot be changed.

The Master Title Deed is similar to a Deed Poll in the way that it operates. The Deed Poll is based on a person’s right to adopt the name of their choice and asserts their intention to do so. The Master Title deed can also be used to do this, but in addition is gives effect to a persons right to adopt a title that they have authority to use and asserts their intention to do so. By owning a small Scottish estate you gain this right to adopt the title of Laird (Lord) or Lady. The Master Title Deed gives effect to your choice.

No. There are no land taxes in Scotland and absolutely no other costs associated with buying or owning this land. We maintain public liability insurance over the entire wood which will continue in force after your purchase. You will have no further expense to pay after the initial purchase price.

Please read our About Us page for more information

No. You cannot register your land, because this is a such a small plot; specifically it is defined as a “souvenir plot”. A souvenir plot is defined in the Land Registration (Scotland) Act 1979 as “a piece of land which, being of inconsiderable size or no practical utility, is unlikely to be wanted in isolation except for the sake of mere ownership or for sentimental reasons or commemorative purposes”. This inability to register the land does not prevent us transferring personal ownership of the plot to you which you can in turn sell on to another party, or gift to your heirs in due course.

Unlike in England, Scotland still permits the sale of souvenir plots of land land under contract law without the need to register the sale.  Although a right of ownership in land (in the sense of a right that is enforceable against third parties) can traditionally only be obtained by registration in the Land Register or by recording a deed in the Register of Sasines as appropriate, by using contract law these small plots of land can be sold without the expense of registration which would otherwise make this uneconomical.

As the Scottish Law Comission wrote in 2005, in the Discussion Paper on Land Registration: Registration, Rectification and Indemnity:

Please note that the fact that the Keeper is obliged to reject any registration of a souvenir plot does not necessarily mean that “ownership” can be obtained by some other means. It is therefore imperative that you purchase only through a reputable vendor such as Highland Titles. Indeed recent advice from the Law Society of Scotland gives this same advice.

You will receive a copy of the Certificate of Sale in your pack which confirms that ownership has been transferred to you..

For further information please read: Land Registration

As the new owner, you can come and visit; take a walk in Glencoe Wood, take a photograph of your Estate, and picnic by the river. You will be able to enjoy bird watching, fungi spotting, country pursuits and lots of tranquillity. You are welcome to plant a tree or scatter Ashes. If your estate is a large one (100 sqft or larger), you may wish to put your tent up and stay for a few days. As there may be a tree on your plot (it IS a wood), we permit large plot owners to camp anywhere on the estate.

The land is zoned as woodland so development (a house for example) would not be permitted by the local Planning Authority.

We sell four different plot sizes. 1, 10, 100 or 1000 square foot.

In order to legally transfer the plot to you under Contract Law, we need to be able to define its location precisely. We do this by providing you the exact GPS location, using the UK Ordnance Survey reference system. The location of each plot is unique. We provide you with an estimate of the latitude and longitude of your plot to help you locate it with GPS.

The physical location of each plot is not marked on the ground, though we do not object to you marking it once you have found it. We believe that a wood carpeted with thousands of marker poles would be unattractive, even if practical. Several plot owners have placed memorial stones, cairns or flags on their plots and this is every landowner’s right.

Absolutely. When you place your order you will be required to enter the name of the new landowner. This can be any name that you like.

If you would like a message enclosed to the new Laird/Lady/Lord and the pack shipped directly to them, then this is all part of the service, as is customising the deeds with a special date i.e. a birthday or anniversary.

You may use your title at any time except for any illegal purpose – such as to commit fraud, or obtain money by deception.

Your land and title can be left to anybody through your Will upon your death or even sold to someone else if you wish to sell the land, after all, it is yours.

There are two covenants on the land. One prevents shooting and the second prevents your Estate from being subdivided.

Yes. As long as the plots are the same size, then all the plots you order at the same time will be next to each other. Any plots ordered later may be part of a different block, though they will be close by.

If you purchase a plot of land from us we will happily add your personal message into the sealed pack at no additional charge. Your gift message will be printed on a slip of paper.

You will be prompted to provide a personal message for each person at tyhe bottom of the page where you enter your delivery address.

Personal messages are not available to add to accessories when purchased without a land plot.

When you buy a Joint Pack you receive everything that you would otherwise receive by buying two single packs – except:  The documents will arrive in a single folder and will have only one (joint) covering letter of welcome from Lady Laura.

You WILL receive two adjacent plots, each belonging to one person, and all the deeds of ownership.

For example, for a ‘joint’ title for 100 square feet. you would actually receive 200 square feet of land in total? Being 100 square feet under each persons name.

Each plot can be owned by one person only.  If you need to buy for a couple, purchase a joint pack or two single packs.

Yes, whatever date you ask to be used on the documentation, we will still mail your pack without delay, unless instructed otherwise.

No, this is shown to demonstrate that the Deed may be displayed in a frame.

The gift packaging comprises a scarlet red paper, hand wrapped around the pack, with a length of gold ribbon folded around the package and sealed with a gold seal, embossed with the Glencoe Estates Seal “Highland Titles – Glencoe”.

This is then covered with a plastic film to protect the gift wrap in transit and a label is attached to this outer covering to confirm the details of the recipient.

The risk that somebody may injure themselves on YOUR plot are slim. However Highland Titles wish to ensure that anyone who does suffer a mishap on the Keil Estate will be compensated.  We have therefore taken out  £10,000,000 of Property Owners Liability cover from FIM Services Limited (FIM) who provide specialist investment products and services in areas of sustainable forestry and renewable energy in the UK

FIM Services Ltd
Glebe Barn
Great Barrington
Burford
Oxon, OX18 4US

We advise that there is therefore no need for you to hold additional insurance to cover your estate.

Yes, it is yours after all!

We provide you with a map, map reference and full instructions on how to visit Keil Estate and your piece of Glencoe Wood.  Park your car and Glencoe wood is a short walk along a leafy lane anong the pretty Salachan Burn. Look closely in the spring and you may well see salmon running upstream to spawn!

No, Glencoe Wood lies between Glen Salachan and Glen Duror.  There is another wood in Glencoe also called Glencoe Wood and this fragment might once have been contiguous with that. Unfortunately a lot of commercial forestry now lies between our Glencoe Wood and Glencoe, comprising foreign species such as Sitka and Larch. Replacement of these commercial species with appropriate native species is one of our objectives. Glencoe Wood forms an important part of the Highland Titles Nature Reserve and is managed as such.

Only in your eyes.

The Title of Laird is a descriptive title that may be applied to the owner of a Scottish Estate. The title Laird of Glencoe may only be used with our permission.  Your Spouse or children will need to own their own piece of Scotland to have their own title. Our Joint Packs make this simple, giving each of you a plot of your own, side by side doubling your land size.

As a Laird, Lord or Lady of Glencoe, you will be able to display the Glencoe Crest and wear the Glencoe Tartan which has been specially designed for us by local tartan designers “Lochalsh Weavers”.  This has been registered with the official Scottish Register of Tartans exclusively for Lairds of Glencoe.  http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk

For details of the “crest” that you have our permission to display as a Laird of Glencoe please visit our Heraldry page.

The Lord Lyon is a retired Scottish historian and solicitor called David Sellar, who has an interest in matters ceremonial and heraldic. He has been a Member of the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland (abolished in 2003) and Vice-President of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. He has also served on the Council of the Scottish Genealogy Society and the Heraldry Society of Scotland.

This is what the Scottish Government web site says about his office “The Court of the Lord Lyon”:

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Court of the Lord Lyon

Court of the Lord Lyon
HM New Register House
Edinburgh EH1 3YT

The Lord Lyon King of Arms has jurisdiction, subject to appeal to the Court of Session and the House of Lords, on questions of heraldry and the right to bear Arms. The Court administers the Public Register of All Arms and Bearings in Scotland and the Public Register of All Genealogies and Birthbrieves in Scotland. The Lord Lyon, in his administrative capacity, grants Patents of Arms and, in his judicial role, authorises the Matriculation of existing Armorial Bearings. No Armorial Bearings may be used in Scotland unless they are on record in the Public Register of all Arms and Bearings in Scotland. The Lord Lyon may grant Arms to Scotsmen and women at home and abroad.

The Court does not undertake genealogical research, as the result of such research may be incorporated in a Petition to the Lord Lyon.

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The Lord Lyon has no official governance of the sale of land or the adoption of the style of Laird by the new owner, though this is a not uncommon misconception. In a recent letter to one of our customers, he clarifies that he is not involved in the matter of Lairdships.

Yes you can. Scottish land can be purchased by anyone of any nationality. We currently have customers in 105 different countries.  If you wish to move to Scotland, owning land here will not help you with obtaining a visa or residency rights, but otherwise you are free to visit and enjoy your land as the legal owner and laird, Lord or Lady of your small Estate.

If you change your name, for example you marry, the documents can be reissued in your new name.  This can be ordered from our Accessories page for a small sum to cover postage and the cost of printing the documents.

We are happy to provide a Certificate of Sale to anyone of any age!  Some of our customers are still unborn.  This is a very popular Christening gift, so you may order for anyone of any age with confidence.

If your order remains unpaid, you will receive an email advising you of this fact. You may log into your account with your email address and the password contained in the email and attempt to make payment again.  If you have posted a cheque or have sent payment by PayPal, please allow time for us to process the payment.

What species of tree will you plant on my plot?

When you purchase a large plot, we will plant a suitable tree on your behalf. Alternatively one or more trees can be purchased separately from the Accessories Shop. This year, 2012. trees may be purchased for babies born in the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Year and these will be planted in the Children’s Grove, in the Diamond Jubilee Wood.

The tree(s) will almost certainly not be planted on your plot, which is part of Glencoe Wood and already well covered with trees. We plant thousands of trees on the estate to create new woodland. This connects relict areas of ancient woodland and extends the area of the estate that can support woodland species of flora and fauna.

The type of tree we plant for you will depend on the type of land we plant it in. It will be a native Scottish broadleaf, probably an oak, rowan, hazel, birch, holly, willow or alder. We cannot place any plaque on the tree, but we are pleased to permit you to do so when you visit your plot.

For customers living in the United Kingdom we offer a free 0800 number (: 0800 619 81 25)

From USA please call Toll Free 1-877 753 3146

From Australia please call 0011 44 1481 823937 or 8

Please remember that the time in the UK might be different to your time.

Every country has a different way of dialling an international number. In USA it is 011 In UK it is 00 In Australia it is 0011. This is represented as a + Then every country is represented with a number. USA is 1, UK is 44 and Australia is 61. So when we put our phone number on our web site, for anyone in the world to call, it is difficult. The convention, which we follow, is to display it as + 44 (0) 1481 823937. From USA, you would call 00 to get out of the country (that’s the + Then 44 to get to UK. Then 1481 823937. But from the UK you could call either 011 (that’s the +) then 44 to stay in UK, then 1481 823937. Or you could simply call 0 That’s why it is in brackets – to remind people living in the UK to put it in) 1481823937. It may not be perfect. It assumes that our customers know about international dialling. But we can’t think of a better way of showing our phone numbers when most of our customers live all around the world