OUTLANDER UNCOVERED
An expert’s guide to… EDINBURGH
From medieval burgh to modern city, the Scottish capital marries its heritage with a strong vision for the future
Words by LAURA SUTHERLAND
A NOBLE OPPORTUNITY
With Highland Titles, your own little piece of Scotland awaits
Imagine owning a tangible piece of Scotland’s breathtaking wilderness: a personal connection to the rolling hills and ancient woodlands of the Highlands. Well, this dream is now within your reach, thanks to Highland Titles.
From as little as £35, you can secure your own souvenir plot of land, becoming a self-styled Laird, Lord, or Lady of the Glen and a genuine custodian of Scotland’s natural heritage.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF COURTESY TITLES
The term ‘Laird’ has deep roots in the rich tapestry of Scottish history. It comes from the Scots language, derived from the Old English word ‘hlafweard’, meaning ‘warden of loaves’ or essentially, the person in charge of the food supply. Over the centuries, the term ‘Laird’ became the designation for a landowner, who were signi cant gures in their local community.
Today, we invite our customers to style themselves as Laird, Lord or Lady of the Glen as a way of celebrating their personal right of ownership to a souvenir plot of land. This is clearly not the same as a noble title, but your plot is uniquely identi ed, visible on Google Maps, and you get a lovely gift pack with a personalised certi cate. It’s a fun, memorable, and meaningful way to acknowledge your ownership and your commitment to conservation. It’s a title you’ve earned by helping to protect an incredible nature reserve.
YOUR LAND, YOUR SANCTUARY
The best part? This isn’t just a piece of paper – it’s real land you can visit any time. Your plot is located within the beautiful Highland Titles Nature Reserve. The support of our Lairds, Lords and Ladies has helped to transform an inaccessible non-native sitka plantation into one of the most popular nature reserves in Scotland.
As a Laird, Lord, or Lady, you’re always welcome. You can seek out your own plot on foot, take a guided tour (these are popular, so you’ll need to arrange a time and buy a ticket) and witness rst-hand the incredible conservation work your support has made possible. It’s a truly personal connection to the Scottish Highlands, a place you can return to again and again.
MEET ANDY MOORAY AND EWAN MOOGREGOR
Last year, we got the chance to rescue a couple of Highland calves and we jumped at the chance. Everyone loves these gentle giants, and they’re playing an important role in the way we manage the land.
These shaggy-haired, iconic beauties are a true symbol of Scotland, and our Lairds, Lords and Ladies love to visit them. As a special way to get even closer to the spirit of the Highlands, we offer the chance to adopt a Highland cow.
Your adoption not only helps cover the cost of their care but also allows you to follow their lives with regular updates and videos from the reserve.
HELP PLANT TREES
The most immediate and ambitious project we’re working on right now is the funding of a vital nine-acre native tree planting initiative. After waiting for what felt like an eternity, it nally became commercially viable to remove some of the crop this year. We felled nine acres of sitka and it will cost a small fortune to fence and restock it.
Why do we bother? Sitka spruce, a non-native commercial species, forms dense, dark monocultures that block sunlight from reaching the forest oor. This severely limits plant growth, and the lack of diversity supports few insects, birds and mammals.
Native Scottish trees, such as Scots pine, birch, and oak, create a complex, multi-layered habitat. They support a far greater variety of insects, fungi, and lichens which, in turn, sustain a richer tapestry of birds, mammals and other wildlife.
This project is a critical step in providing shelter and habitat for a host of native species, from red squirrels to pine martens. By funding this reforestation effort, you directly help to heal the land and ensure that the Scottish Highlands remain a wild and beautiful sanctuary for generations to come.
Words by KENNETH STEVEN
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