Who here hasn’t fallen in love with the great and beautiful country of Scotland? Not only from traveling there but from watching classic movies like Braveheart, Rob Roy, Netflix’s Outlaw King, Pixar’s Brave, or most recently TV series Outlander? Even cult classics Highlander and Trainspotting make this place seem wild and interesting. It’s a great culture with a proud history of traditions and a rich heritage of clans, warriors, poets, and artists. In the highlands of Scotland, you can find breathtaking sites.
Nothing beats a Scottish accent, especially in Gaelic. So when I found out about this, I knew I had to do it and share it with other like-minded people. However, be warned that this may cause some controversy later down the line as not all are in agreement about how they operate.
A Brief History of Glencoe
Located in the west highlands, this land in the Isle of Skye is stated to have been formed from ancient volcanic eruptions. The land ownership was initially controlled by Clan Donald, a highland clan and one of the country’s most prominent clans of Scottish highlanders. What it’s most famously known for is a dark period in Scottish history known as the Massacre of Glencoe, which occurred during the 17th century when a branch of the more prominent Clan Donald, the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe, was killed by government forces when refusing to pledge loyalty to the English monarchy. Even with this nasty part of history, the scenic qualities of the deep valley and mountains make this an ideal tourist destination.
It’s regarded by many as the home of Scottish mountaineering. Hikers and mountain climbers mainly make their way here for the adrenaline challenge of this mountainous area. The National Trust for Scotland owns most of this area as the clan sold off the estate. The main village is its namesake, Glencoe Village, occupying a small part of the glen. You have nearby Fort William for outdoor activities or the Glencoe Mountain resort for skiing and snowboarding. Perfect to add to anyone’s Scotland itinerary.
Because of its prime location and climate, it has been used numerous times in the entertainment industry, including Hollywood favorites Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and the James Bond film Skyfall.
How to Become a Lord of Glencoe
I found out about Highland Titles and buying land in Scotland while traveling on my holiday in Scotland tour with my trip advisor. I think it’s a great program and fun gag gift if you want to surprise your family and friends. This is similar to if you were to become an ordained priest by applying online. Owning a souvenir piece of Scottish land gives you the title of Lord, Laird, or Lady, but that won’t make you part of the Scottish aristocracy. Specific requirements exist to become recognized nobility by the UK and Scottish governments.
These include marrying a person with the current title and inheriting the Lord or Lady hereditary through the family, receiving an appointment to the House of Lords, or purchasing the “Lord of Manor” nobility for the UK and “Baron” titles of nobility for Scotland—some of these start at £100,000 minimum.
Why buy a title to become a Lord?
This is not the same as going through official channels and needing to pay endless pounds or file triple duplicate paperwork with the home office. It’s less severe as buying a plot of land is supposed to be enjoyable. Its primary purpose is to help conserve and restore beautiful Scottish land and turn these pristine acres into nature reserves. You also benefit from feeling just a little closer to this country. They do this by selling tiny plots of land to individuals from all over the world.
Not only does this allow anyone to own a little piece of Scotland, but if anyone were considering purchasing the land for the construction of high-rise apartment buildings, sales venues, or any other uses, they would need to contact and buy back from every single individual.
You can purchase between 1 sq ft, 10 sq ft, and 100 sq ft of the conserved land. A more minor purchase will place you in Glencoe Wood, while the larger one will find you in the recently purchased Kilnaish. You’ll receive your noble parchment certificate with a sealed crest and a land deed that gives you the precise GPS coordinates of the land you bought. It doesn’t seem like much, but they can sell to more people by land of sale in these increments. If you travel to Scotland, you can stop by and take an afternoon on your land. You’re even allowed to place a marker stating this is your land.
Dress to Impress as a Lord
You can also find additional accessories on the website or at its location, giving yourself the full Scottish makeover.
Tartan scarves, sashes, stoles, and even a kilt are sold in the colors of the Glencoe preserve (Red, Black, Blue, & Yellow). Tartan is a patterned cloth of Scottish origin. It consists of horizontal and vertical band color stripes to designate a distinctive clan. It was specially designed by local designers to keep with tradition. Show off that Scottish pride! Keep in touch with your fellow lords and ladies worldwide through a sizeable online community. They even have an annual meet-up event for those who want to stop by on their way through Scotland.
Fun fact: If you want to take this even further, you can legally have your new title made official with your bank and credit cards by getting a master title deed. It’s a legal document that shows you want to change your name, like changing from Miss to Mrs. It shows your right to take a new title.
Keep it Green in Scotland
Now, there continues to be controversy about everything they do here not aiming to be eco-friendly and socially conservative to help preserve all Scotland has to offer. There have been disagreements over this company and government-authorized organizations and departments that focus on Scottish Heritage and landscape preservation. Scottish locals feel this company does not wholly support them or the country and that it is more for international tourists and Scotland lovers outside of the country. It’s up to each person to decide whether or not to support them by going along and purchasing a piece.
But regardless of this, when passing through the owned area, you will see its beautiful Scottish Highlands. You will love the greenery that is just about everywhere in this country. The Scottish mountains are breathtaking, and you have the woodlands and great coastline. It filled me with contentment, and it will probably do so for you, too. The quiet countryside and cool weather make this an ideal place.
You can not beat a scenic drive through Scotland, even as part of a day tour. They help keep the wildlife abundant in its natural habitats and work on “rewilding, ” which involves restoring an area to its more natural state. You’ll be looking forward to picking this as your next travel destination.