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Scottish real-estate for $40?

August 22 | Mark Chapman

You can own a piece of Scotland and become a real-life Laird or Lady for around $40, according to a few very strange Highlands property salesfolk on the net.

"For less than the cost of a personal number plate, you can buy a plot of land in the Scottish Highlands and become entitled to call yourself The Laird Of Glencairn or the Laird of John O'Groats" it says on mac-sothis.com

"One square foot (12 inches by 12 inches) of an area of land situated in Lochaber, in the heart of the Highlands of Scotland" is on offer from Lochaber Highland Estates on their eBay listings.

Okay, so it's not much land and you'd be hard pressed to build anything on it, although I'm sure some developers would be willing to give it a go when they're done with Noosa, but hey... You get a certificate and a title!

According to the general sales pitch, by becoming a Scottish Laird you will be helping to conserve one of the most beautiful areas of wilderness in Europe if not the entire world and the Lochaber offering even throws in the right to fish for Salmon on over a mile of the River Spean.

That all sounds positively lovely!

But before you get too excited and start picking out your new kilt, there's always a thistle in your sporran... According to faketitles.com it's all a hoax.

In an article which totally debunked the validity of these Lairdships a few years back, it was stated that “Experts on titles say that salesmen who buy small plots of land to divide them up are operating little more than a scam."

The Court of the Lord Lyon, which deals with heraldic matters and coats of arms in Scotland, said that the titles on offer were meaningless.

That's all a bit unfortunate really. But with that being said, the title of Laird still makes a great joke gift to put on the wall next to Billy the Singing Bass in Dad's Bar.

Laird titles are still for sale all over the net so check it out for yourself! And if you order now, they may even throw in a free can of tartan paint.

Recent Comments

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Posted by jaybee from Maroochydore

on 22 August, 2007 at 11:34 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Och aye, I'd love a patch of the Scottish highlands, even if it's only one square foot. It's one of the most beautiful, unspoilt places in the world, in my opinion.

Sincerly, Laird MacWannabe

Posted by McPossum from Adelaide

on 10 March, 2008 at 11:25 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

I was bought a 10ft plot for Christmas in Keil, Lochaber and changed my bank account straight away to Lady Julie of Lochaber. I know its a bit of fun - but it IS fun. My son in Scotland who bought it for me has been up there with his tent already. It's nice to own a small estate and help keep a beautiful place looking like it should!

Posted by Jillian from Utah

on 13 July, 2008 at 7:35 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

The title Laird is entirely valid - it means landower which is exactly what you get here! I bought a 100 square foot plot in Lochaber for my husband and was very impressed - he got photos of the land, a DVD of the land, bumper sticker, legal docs and some other stuff. I checked wikipedia and it says Laird is totally valid...Yes its a bit of fun, of course it is, but its all above board i think. my husband uses the title Laird all the time now, just as a laugh but it HAS got us good seats at a resturant! Jillian Price, USA

Posted by peterbevis from Lochaber

on 26 July, 2008 at 5:33 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Laird of Lochaber - this is a total and utter scam. The other comments are clearly posted by the people who actually sell the land. I had the absolute embarrassment of my bank actually LAUGHING at me. Apparently, you CAN change your Title, but you need what is known as a 'Master Title Deed' which these people do NOT provide. In addition, it is a little known fact that, under Scottish LAW, it is actually ILLEGAL to register plots of 1sq foot with the Scottish Land Registry, which means that the sellers can sell the VERY SAME plot of land to THOUSANDS of people, and NEVER BE CAUGHT FOR FRAUD!!!!!! - It might also be worth noting that if you visit www.companieshouse.gov.uk and search on Lochbaer Highland Estates, the company is about to be STRUCK OFF!!!!!

Posted by LochaberEstates from Lochaber

on 20 August, 2008 at 12:43 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

We have been very pleased to make souvenir plots of land in Scotland available worldwide, and the income is used to plant trees on the estate. If you have any questions why not read our FAQs on our web site, www.lochaberhighlandestates.com
Thank you

Posted by mcbert from airdrie

on 22 August, 2008 at 6:24 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Lochaber Highland Estates as a company is registered to a P.O. Box in an industrial estate, and changed their name in 2006, so the above info by peterbevis is valid and 'checkable'. I also think he may well be right in saying the positive comments are by people behind the scam, more so given the comment straight after his by the people themselves. My wife has been conned and I will pursue getting my money back. WIsh I had read this first, thanks Google no thanks Ebay!

Posted by LochaberEstates from Lochaber

on 22 August, 2008 at 9:02 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Clarification, concerning the fake post 26 July, 2008
This post has been left by a competitor hoping to boost their sales of a non-existent Master Title Deed (just Google it - there is no such thing) which they sell on eBay. The plots are sold by Lochaber Highland Estates (CI) Limited which is unconnected with the UK company with a similar name that has applied to be wound up.

Posted by mcbert from airdrie

on 22 August, 2008 at 10:29 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

I'll not drag this on but given the website faketitles is VERY REAL and lochaberestates use so many different addresses and respond here, Make me wonder what they are worried about? Lochaber state that such small plots are prohibited from registering which is wrong it's ILLEGAL which is a far more serious term and given what their listing says my 2 neighbours could call themselves Laird or Lady but it's not LEGAL it's meaningless.

Posted by mcbert from airdrie

on 27 August, 2008 at 5:56 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Call me Shelock :P I'm not a competetor I am a 'victim' The statments by Lochaber is not correct they are indeed the company mention as being dissolved, P.o. Box matches theirs, It's ridiculous that they sell this idea anyway.

Posted by Lady_Joann from Cleveland

on 22 September, 2008 at 1:02 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Like everyone else I have been delighted with my little piece of Scottish land. I bought 100 square foot so that my three sons can go to Scotland and actually take up residence on their estate for a week, camping. I think that makes it very exciting and real for us all. There is a great blog on the companies web site and everyone who has gone to Scotland has great reports. I love being a Lady and I use the title whenever I can. I think its great fun especially for an American - we dont have our own titles so it is especially sweet to buy a Scottish one. My ancestors come from Scotland and I love owning my own estate. Thank you to Hubbie who bought it for me

Posted by Lairdscam from Alderney

on 30 September, 2008 at 10:20 p.m. ( Suggest removal )

Lochaber Highland Estates Ltd has never filed any accounts at Companies House. It's last set show it as a Dormant Company. There is a 'Proposal to Strike Off' filed against it. Another company has allegedly been set up in the Channel Islands, which is outside of UK jurisdiction. If this were a genuine company, why is not registered in the UK, where it would have to pay tax and be subject to British Law? Draw your own conclusions. It is a fact, even according to their own listings on eBay, that in Scotland it is a legal requirement NOT to register land with the Scottish Land Registry. The sellers of these plots of land are therefore at liberty to double and triple sell the same plots over and over again and no-one can ever know. There is a website where you can actually change your title, orderoftheblackermine.org.uk which is so good and so succesful, that one of the Directors of Lochaber Highland Estates has registered a number of similar bogus websites and set up a bogus account on eBay calling itself 'orderoftheblackermine' in November of last year. However, he neglects in his listings the fact that his 'Laird' titles are, as the Lord Lyon puts it 'meaningless'. I would steer well clear of anyone who has anything to do with Lochaber Highland Estates. They are as lacking in morals as they are in intelligence. However, they are raking in hundreds of thousands of pounds from all over the world by misleading people. They even claim that you can fish on the river spean for salmon. What they accidentally forget to tell you is that the Monessie falls, which are 40 foot high are impassable, so the only fish in the river are juvenile salmon, which (again they forget to mention) can not be fished BY LAW.

Make up your own mind.

Posted by JackyMac from Memphis

on 18 November, 2008 at 5:05 a.m. ( Suggest removal )

Decided to make my mom a "Lady" for her birthday, great idea as she loved it and is planning to go and see her land next year in Scotland. Got the desired effect, thanks everyone at Lochaber Highland Estates