Glen legal row is a breach of Trust
THE National Trust for Scotland do some good work preserving our country’s heritage. But that is not the same thing as owning the country.
But, in their arrogance, that is exactly what they seem to think. This week, they have been bullying a Scottish business who make outdoor clothing.
They are a manufacturing company based in Aberdeenshire – exactly the type of enterprise we all want to encourage.
The National Trust this week wrote to Hilltrek Outdoor Clothing of Aboyne, demanding they stop selling their Glencoe jacket. Hilltrek have made the jacket for 30 years. But lawyers for NTS say the trust own Glencoe and held the trademark for the name.
As a member of the National Trust, I am questioning why I pay my subscription. It is certainly not to endorse this sort of behaviour.
All over Scotland, everything from hotel rooms to woolly jumpers to pots of marmalade are named after famous landmarks. These are not trademarks. While NTS are officially a charity, they are behaving like the worst kind of big business.
Glencoe belongs to everyone in Scotland. It is part of the country’s psyche. The glen is one of our most beautiful and atmospheric. It was the scene of the infamous massacre when Government troops slaughtered villagers.
Glencoe is also the home of Scottish mountaineering. Hamish MacInnes had his home and workshop in the glen. It is accessible from central Scotland, so many of us have had the opportunity to visit and form a bond with this incredibly special place.
The National Trust need to learn a bit more about Scottish heritage. The concept of land ownership is alien to Highland culture. In that tradition, we are all custodians of the land.