Excellent coverage of the situation here on the Facebook page of Sleat Community Council, our own CDSS Facebook page and Facebook page of Clan Donald - Save Armadale.
Lands Trust disaster!Please note change in order of presentation. 20/10/2025 - IMPORTANT Ian Macdonnell, High Council Historian for ‘SAVE ARMADALE’, CDSS & CDUSA has produced a pamphlet “ARMADALE TRUTH No 1” He is strongly recommending that the pamphlet be printed back-to-back A4 and distributed at all Clan Donald events – EVERYWHERE! He anticipates that this is the first of several. 29/9/2025 - CDSS issue plea for volunteers with legal experience. 20/9/2025 - Scotsman newspaper report on the sale of Armadale Castle. 18/9/2025 - Latest press cutting from West Highland Free Press re. possible name change for CDLT available as first item in Gallery below. 16/9/2025 - Communication from CDSS to the Highland Council. 14/9/2024 - Communication from CDSS. 12/9/2025 - Latest press cutting from the West Highland Free Press is the first item in the Gallery below. 11/9/2025 - CDSS are currently pursuing OSCR over the apparent lack of transparency of the financial accounts of the CDLT. We are requesting that OSCR confirm that the 2023 accounts will be made public and that the 2024 accounts will be filed on time and made public without delay. A Press Release has been issued drawing attention to our concerns. 9/9/2025 - The latest offering from the BBC news channel. 1/9/2025 - A further press cutting from the West Highland Free Press available in the Gallery below. 31/8/2025 - Two press cuttings available in the Gallery at the foot of the page. (Hopefully you will be able to zoom in.) 30/8/2025 - BBC news page article can be found here. 29/8/2025 - Letter to OSCR from Clan Donald Society of Scotland. 26/8/2025 - The devastating news is that after a 3 week investigation (often OSCR take months) OSCR has closed its investigation into the conduct and competence of the CDLT. 21/8/2025 - Statement from The Rt. Hon. Godfrey James Macdonald of Macdonald, Lord Macdonald, Chief of the name and arms of Macdonald. 14/8/2025 - Latest from West Highland Free Press. Can be found in Gallery below. 12/8/2025 - Latest public statement from CDLT. 11/8/2025 - Daily Record article. 11/8/2025 - The National article. 9/8/2025 - Latest article in the Scotsman. 7/8/2025 - It is now confirmed that the information that OSCR is investigating CDLT. This is not in itself confidential, so we are now able to inform people. This is what we published; STOP PRESS: OSCR to investigate possible charity law infringements. OSCR Spokesperson statement on Clan Donald Lands Trust (SC007862): OSCR has received a number of concerns from the public about the Clan Donald Lands Trust. We are now engaging with the charity trustees to establish the facts of this case, and we have sought extensive information and explanation from them. We are specifically looking to understand the current financial position of the Charity and the circumstances that led to the decision to put significant charitable assets up for sale. We will not reach a position to decide whether further regulatory action is necessary until we are satisfied that we have established the facts of the case. End Following the announcement that OSCR is investigating CDLT Ian R Macdonnell, High Council Officer, Clan Seanchaidh (Historian and Archivist), Australia has posted the following; A momentous outcome, following an unknown number of submissions to OSCR with disparate objectors and objections. And representations from various levels of Govt.. One for all to be overjoyed, with enormous relief, some well deserved satisfaction and renewed hope. An interim barrier to the sale proceeding and placing the CDLT under OSCR scrutiny is hugely significant, and is to be regarded as a won battle. But the war is not won unless a future, final OSCR decision permanently puts a stop on the sale and directs a full revision on the future of the charity and its trustees' and management.
25/3/2025 - Original communication from the Lands Trust. 29/3/2025 - "The National" newspaper article re. Lands Trust article can be found here. 29/3/2025 - Communication from Clan Donald USA can be found here. 30/3/2025 - Communication from a representative of Sleat Community Trust and Sleat Community Council can be found here. 30/3/2025 - Letter from Ian R Macdonnell, High Council Officer, Clan Seanchaidh (Historian and Archivist), Australia can be found here. 30/3/2025 - Scottish Land Commission article can be found here. 31/3/2025 - Statement (below) from the Clan Donald Society of Scotland.
1/4/2025 - Highland news on Radio Scotland reported that the Scottish Land Commission has said that there should have been consultation with the local community. 5/4/2025 - Statement by The Right Honourable Godfrey James Macdonald of Macdonald, 8th Lord Macdonald, Chief of the Name and Arms of Macdonald, High Chief of Clan Donald and 34th Hereditary Chief of Clan Donald. 6/4/2025 - Scotland on Sunday article. 7/4/2025 - Sleat Community Trust and the Sleat Community Council organised a public meeting in Sabhal Mòr Ostaig’s main hall to discuss the proposed sale of the CDLT. The Society was represented by Lois MacDonell of Glengarry. 8/4/2025 - Strutt and Parker, Selling Agents, now inform us that the Lands are back on the market. 10/4/2025 - Expression of concern to Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) Letter from Ian R Macdonnell, High Council Officer, Clan Seanchaidh (Historian and Archivist), Australia. With link to submission. 11/4/2025 - 18/4/2025 - Press cuttings from the West Highland Press. 12/4/2025 - Submission of concern to OSCR by group of Clan Donald members. 12/4/2025 - Supplementary submission to OSCR by group of Clan Donald members. Mid April - Submission (in preparation - will be available when ready) from Sleat Community Council to OSCR. April - Sale of Kingsburgh House, Snizort. Details can be found here. 20/4/2025 - Scotland on Sunday newspaper article on sale of Kingsburgh House can be found here. 23/4/2025 - Museum of the Isles. News relating to museum contents and return of Sir Ian Macdonald as a trustee. 24/4/2025 - Statement and letter to the Clan from CDLT. 13/6/2025 - Latest Statement from CLDT. 15/6/2025 - Scotsman article. 18/6/2025 & 23/6/2025 - the Society has been informed that letters have been sent to named individuals at OSCR. 4/7/2025 - the Resolution of Clan Donald USA opposing the sale of Armadale Castle is available here. 26/7/2025 - latest press release from West Highland Free Press. See below in Gallery. (Some computer software might be capable of zooming in.) 27/7/2025 - The latest document from CDLT. We make this available for balance in the discussion.
A possible reason for the proposed sale of the Lands Trust being so rushed is that the Land Reform Bill currently being considered by the Scottish Parliament includes a requirement for large land holdings to give prior notification of intention to sell. Had that bill become an act, the Trustees would be breaking the law by trying to sell without consultation. The Bill itself was introduced to the Scottish Parliament on Wednesday 13 March 2024. But, policy research, committee work, public consultation and bill preparation had been going on for a very long time before that. |
