Dunans Castle gift box

**Michael Weatherhead** · 8th November 15, 12:42 AM

A couple of years ago, my daughter gave me a "Dunans Castle gift box," for father's day. She knew of my interest in all things Scottish, thought it would be a nice gift. Evidently, Dunans castle was damaged by a fire. The new owners are trying to raise money to restore it. So, the premise of the gift box, is that for the price of the kit/membership, you can become a Laird or Lady, and one square foot of the castle property would be owned by the gift box holder. (It is administered by the same people who do the "star registry," where people can name a star). In the paperwork there is a code, that you are supposed to enter, to activate the membership. When I recieved it, I entered the code, on their website, but it did not work.

Life went on,, and I forgot all about it. I recently found the materials, and thought I would give it another try. I found their site, and tried to enter the code. It stated that my code was now expired. I contacted the people, explained my situation. I further told them that my daughter had paid money, to get me this thoughtful gift, and that I wanted them to make it right. So, they sent me a new code, and I was able to enter it.

My question is: has anybody else had experience with these people? Also, I'm supposed to receive a monthly newsletter, but is that all? As a "Laird," I get nothing else? The actual Dunans Castle site, shows an online gift shop, where you can buy souvenirs.

**MacEanruig** · 8th November 15, 08:21 AM

I am not sure what you can hope to expect from a site such as this. I hope that this was intended only as a souvenir, because the titles of Laird that are sold in this fashion aren't worth the money paid nor are they legal.

You can also read more at Fake Scot Titles.

**RectaPete** · 8th November 15, 12:21 PM

As a Fletcher I feel deeply insulted by the Dunans scheme, Dunans, of course, being the seat of my clan. I would LOVE to give money to restore it, but not through this fraud. From what I understand the only part of the castle they've restored is their own living quarters

**Michael Weatherhead** · 9th November 15, 08:18 AM

Well, I didn't give them any money. I wish my daughter hadn't waster her money, at the time.

**Michael Weatherhead** · 9th November 15, 08:23 AM

I know there is nothing official about this scheme. It's sort of like here, where I live, the county, and state have an "adopt a highway" program, where you promise to take care of a one mile stretch of road. You didn't really adopt, that section, it will never be yours. All you do is go pick up trash, periodically.

I think the Dunans castle thing is sort of like this. I know I'll never be a Scottish "Laird," or own any part of the property.. that's a gimic. I just wondered what the donor gets, in return for signing up. That's all.

**TenorClef** · 28th November 15, 02:15 PM

Its basically a fund raiser for the Dixon-Spains, the money they accrue helps the Dixon-Spains live a relatively affluent life in Dunans, Argyll, Scotland. One assumes a small proportion of the monies they make from this Souvenir Land Scheme will actually make it to the Dunans Castle TRUST....however over the years that I've been watching this venture it still seems unclear if the historic building will or will not be rebuilt from their endeavours.

Of interest, the Dixon-Spains purchased the 'Castle' & 16 acres of land in 2002 for £230,000. They now state that they have over 100,000+ 'Lairds' involved in their 'Scheme' to rebuild Dunans Castle. I'm no great maths calculator but at around £30 a Souvenir sale that means they have accrued around £3 million pounds+ in Souvenir Land Sales.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not criticising them....actually fair play to them! They have successfully circumnavigated the Legal Laws of Scotland on the sale of Land and what Lord Lyon considers a territorial designation AND actually got away with it to the profit of over 3 million quid. Nobody has sued them and nobody actually appears to care what they can do or not do, so in this instance I have the greatest of respect for them, they are in fact contemporary interlopers!

Hey they may actually eventually rebuild the entire castle and make a very tidy profit.....fair play to the Dixon-Spains!

As a side I should add my wife purchased me one of these nonsense 'Souvenir Land Titles' a few years ago from Dunans.....I'm OK with it as I have 3 generations of ancestors who lived 25 miles away from Castle Dunans in Greenock. (My grandad, his dad and his dad)