Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about becoming a Scottish Lord, Lady or Laird? We've got you covered! Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about ScotlandTitle and our unique offerings.
Contact us
Q: How can I get in contact with Scotland Title?
You can go directly to https://scotlandtitle.com/contact-us/ for questions or send an email directly to hello@scotlandtitle.com
Ordering
Q: I had to specify a date on the certificate. Will you send the certificate now or later?
We will print any date you choose on the Personalised Certificate. All orders are dispatched within 48 hours. The majority of orders are dispatched within 24 hours
Q: Can I buy a plot as a gift for someone else?
Yes. When you place your order you will need to fill in the details of the recipient. This can be any name that you like.We also offer a gift wrapping and personal message service at a small additional cost.
Q: Can I have my plots next to each other?
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.
Q: How do I redeem my voucher code/retail pack registration code?
Please visit http://www.highlandtitles.com/registration and enter the code exactly as it appears on your voucher/registration card.
The land
Q: Where will they plant the trees?
You will receive a personalised certificate detailing your souvenir plot of land and the rights which may be enjoyed by you and your heirs. You may leave your personalised certificate to anyone, and the rights will pass to them. Should you wish to do so, you should include it in your Will.The person to whom you leave your personalised certificate may request a Reissue of Documents. You can also sell your certificate, but there are two restrictive covenants in place. One prevents shooting and the second prevents your Estate from being subdivided.
Q: Do you have to be a certain age?
No. Anyone can place an order, and anyone can receive a gift pack.
Q: Can I visit the land?
Yes, and we encourage you to do so. If you choose to visit the reserve atGlencoe Wood, we even have a Visitor Centre and meet and greet service.Please see our Visit Glencoe Wood page for more details. You are also welcome to self-guide visit at the Mountain View reserve (for our Lairds, Lords and Ladies of Lochaber), you can view more details here.
Q: What can I do with the land?
As a new Laird, you can come and find your plot; take a walk in the woods, takea photograph of your Estate, picnic by the river and much more!The land is managed as a nature reserve and 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 customers who haveordered a large plot to camp anywhere on the part of the estate owned by us.
Q: How will I know which plot is mine?
We define the exact location of each plot using the UK Ordnance Survey system which is accurate to the nearest millimetre.The location of each plot is unique. Even using a professional surveyor it may be impossible to precisely locate the smallest plots – at the moment. GPS accuracy continues to improve. However we also provide you with an estimate of the latitude and longitude of your plot to help you locate it with GPS systems that do not use the OS system such as the iPhone and many inexpensive GPS devices whose primary purpose is car travel. Using such familiar items you will be able to reach the area of your plot.To view your plot on a map, we recommend using our free Scottish Estate Manager App.Alternatively, you may use another online service such as Google Maps (Latitude & Longitude Grid like GPS) or Grid Reference Finder (uses OS grid). Learn the difference between the two here.To demonstrate on Plot C12813, the OS co-ordinates are 197500000 753684000This particular OS reference translates to 97500000 53684000 in the NM square. Simply remove the first digit from each number and add the letters NM to the beginning, to give NM9750000053684000.Enter in the “Grid Reference” box on the web site and press “Go” to produce the map below.http://gridreferencefinder.comUse the plus and minus buttons on the left hand side to zoom in or out to get a clearer view of your plot.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 certificate owners have placed memorial stones, cairns or flags on their plots and this is every certificate owner’s right.
Q: Can I plant a flag or leave a memento on my plot?
Whilst many Lairds enjoy planting a flag or leaving a memento on their plot, we respectfully request that only biodegradable items are used. Of course, if you want to plant a flag for the purposes of taking a photograph you may do so. We have regular ‘clean ups’ of items that have been left behind, but prefer that anything you bring into the reserve that is not biodegradable is removed to keep our reserve natural and litter free
Q: What species of tree will you plant on my plot?
When you choose 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.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 every year to create new woodland. This connects derelict 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. It will not be an ash until the ash dieback disease is better understood. We cannot place any plaque on the tree, but we are pleased to permit you to do so when you visit your plot.
Q: Can more than one person buy the same plot of land?
No. Only one person can legally hold the right to a souvenir plot of land.If you order two plots of the same size, the plots will be next to each other and each plot can have a different owner.
The title
Q: What is a master title deed?
The Master Title Deed is a Deed Poll. The most common type of Deed Poll is a legal document that provides evidence of your wish to change your name. Deed Polls are most commonly used in cases of marriage or divorce when effecting a change from Miss to Mrs or vice versa. The Master Title Deed asserts your right to take a new title. It can also be used to change your name. Owners of a small Scottish estate have every right to adopt the title of Laird, Lord, or Lady. The Master Title Deed gives effect to your choice.Deed Polls need not be used in Scotland and some other jurisdictions. As this may vary country to country, we would advise you look into it in your country of residence.
Q: What if I get married or change my name?
Simply request a reissue of documents, which you can find in our Accessories Shop. There is a small cost (£5.99) associated with this request.
Q: Can I change the name on my bank account, credit cards etc?
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 many jurisdictions internationally which 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 the title on documents 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.
Q: My bank has refused to recognise my Master Title Deed. What should I do now?
Simply inform your bank that your Master Title Deed is a Deed Poll, and that you are notifying them that you have changed your name or title. No bank – or any other agency for that matter – has any say in your change of name or title.
Legal
Q: Are there any hidden charges, taxes, or future payments to make?
No. There are no land taxes in Scotland and absolutely no other costs associated with 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.
Q: Must I register my land?
No. You cannot register your land, because this is such a small plot; specifically it is defined as a “souvenir plot”.‘Souvenir’ plots of land have been sold in Scotland for over 30 years. The sale of these plots is governed by the Land Registration (Scotland) Act 1979, recently revised as the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012. Please note that this act does not permit souvenir plots of land to be added to the Land Register.Details of your personal rights in your plot will be recorded in a Register of Land maintained by Highland Titles and details of each plot can be viewed online using the free Highland Titles App and on the Highland Titles website.
Q: Do I need public liability insurance?
Highland Titles wish to ensure that anyone who does suffer a mishap on the Glencoe Wood Estate will be compensated. We have therefore taken out third party insurance cover.We advise that there is therefore no need for you to hold additional insurance.
Q: How can you sell me a title?
We cannot sell you a title. We are simply acknowledging your right to use the title of Laird, Lord or Lady of Glencoe, which is trademarked by Highland Titles. If you prefer not to assume a title, you will be given that option when you make your land purchase. Advice published by Scottish Solicitors is “in Scotland anyone can, subject to requirements of good faith, call themselves whatever they like, including “Laird”, “Lord” or “Lady“.” We do not know of any jurisdiction where this is not true.
Q: Who is Lord Lyon?
The Lord Lyon is a Scottish Episcopal Church Priest and former city councillor The Rev Canon Dr Joseph Morrow, Chancellor of the Diocese of Brechin, Honorary Canon of St Paul’s Cathedral, Dundee and Chaplain of Glamis Castle.He is in addition the president of the Mental Health Tribunal for Scotland, president of the Additional Support Needs Tribunals and a first-tier tribunal judge dealing with asylum and immigration issues.He is also the Dundee council convener of development with membership of both Scottish Enterprise Tayside and Angus and Dundee Tourist boards.In his spare time, he chairs the Dundee Waterfront Development Board and the Trustees of the Tayside Superannuation Fund, and is vice-chairman of the Court of the University of Abertay.Dr Morrow has an interest in ecclesiastical history and more than 30 years’ experience of the application of the ceremonial within a variety of settings including State, Civil, Military and Ecclesiastical areas. His part-time appointment as Lord Lyon was made on the advice of Alex Salmond, then the First Minister of the Scottish Parliament.This is what the Scottish Government web site says about his office “The Court of the Lord Lyon”:=====================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.Court of the Lord Lyon
HM New Register House
Edinburgh EH1 3YT======================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, Lyon clarifies that he is not involved in the matter of Lairdships.
Payments
Q: My payment did not go through. How can I pay?
If you have any problems with payment, or prefer to pay with any other means, please contact us.Please keep time zones in mind if you choose to call, and we will endeavour to respond to emails within 24 hours.
Q: Is payment made securely?
Yes. This website uses Braintree as a payment gateway. Braintree is a Paypal company and is used by many popular companies such as airbnb and GitHub.
Tartan and Buckler
Q: What about the Tartan and Buckler?
As a Laird, Lord or Lady of Glencoe, you will be able to display the official buckler 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.For more details regarding our official Tartan and Buckler, check out our Lairds, Lords and Ladies page.
The App
Q: Can I view my Lochaber plot through the app?
Yes, those who have plots in either Glencoe Wood and Mountain View (Lochaber) can manage their plot through the Scottish Estate Manager app. All you need to do is login separately using that particular plot’s details.
Q: How much does the app cost?
The Highland Titles Scottish Estate Manager app is completely free and full of great features to enhance the land management experience.
Q: What devices does the app work on?
The Highland Titles Scottish Estate Manager app works on all Apple and Android devices.At the moment the mobile app is not available on Windows phones but rest assured we will be looking into this in the future
Q: Is the app available in all countries?
Yes, the app is available in every country via the Apple and Google Play the App stores.
Q: Can I view my multiple plots using one login?
Unfortunately, this is not an option at this time due to security restrictions. It is, however, very simple to logout of one plot account and login to another, all you need are your plot numbers and grid references.We are going to be looking into this is due course so please bear with us.
Q: Can I use the app if I don’t have a plot with Highland Titles?
We have designed the app to enhance our lairds’ experiences and, as such, at the moment you need to have a plot in order to use the app.Don’t have a plot? Why not purchase one today and unlock a wide range of privileges!
Q: Where can I download the app?
To download the app go to your App Store, search for ‘Highland Titles’ and then download the Highland Titles Scottish Estate Manager app.Alternatively, you can download the app by clicking on one of the buttons below. This will redirect you to the App Store app download page. Please note, you will need to be on your mobile device to download the app from the App Store.
Q: What do I need to login to the app?
To login to the app you will need your plot number and the first 6 digits of your Ordnance Survey reference number. You can find both of these on your Certificate of Sale which can be found in your Welcome Pack.Don’t worry if you have misplaced one or both of those things. Just email support@highlandtitles.com and include your title, name and any other information you have on your estate. From there we should be able to identify your plot ID and OS reference number.
Q: How do I change between metric and imperial measurements?
You can toggle between metric and imperial measurements for the temperature at your estate and the distance to your plot. To do this simply login to the app and go to settings where you will be able to select the option that best suits you.
Q: Can I use the app in landscape mode?
The app has been built to work predominantly in portrait mode, with a few screens automatically switching to landscape mode. The app currently does not have the functionality to switch between portrait and landscape mode at your leisure.
Q: How do I log a visit to my plot?
To log an estate visit and receive a visit certificate you need to ensure the app is open whilst standing on your owned plot. The app should then generate a visit certificate when it finds that you have reached your plot.At the moment you are not able to manually enter previous estate visits. A number of members have mentioned that they would like to be able to do this so it is something we are looking into.
Q: How do I log out of the app?
You can log out of the app by clicking the menu on the top left hand side of the screen and choosing logout.
Q: What should I do if my question is not answered here?
If you require any more help or would like to provide feedback or contact us for any reason, please email support@highlandtitles.com. We will endeavour to respond within 24 hours but please be mindful of time zones.
