Letterewe facts for kids
Letterewe is a huge area of land in Scotland, located on the northeastern shore of Loch Maree. It's southeast of a place called Poolewe, in an area known as Wester Ross. This estate is one of the wildest, most remote, and least populated places in the entire United Kingdom. Imagine a vast, quiet wilderness!
Contents
A Look at Letterewe's Past Owners
The Letterewe estate has a long and interesting history, with several different families owning it over the centuries.
Early Days with Clan Mackenzie
Long ago, the land belonged to the Clan Mackenzie, a powerful Scottish family. They lived and worked on this land for many years.
The Bankes Family and Changes
In 1835, a very rich businessman named Meyrick Bankes (1811-1881) bought the estate. He owned many coal mines in Lancashire, England. When he took over, he asked many families who lived and farmed small plots of land (called crofts) to leave. This was a difficult time for those families.
The van Vlissingen Family's Vision
Much later, in 1978, a wealthy Dutch businessman named Paul Fentener van Vlissingen purchased Letterewe. His family still owns the estate today. Paul van Vlissingen was known for his forward-thinking ideas about land use.
The Letterewe Accord: Opening Up the Land
In the 1990s, Paul van Vlissingen did something very special. He talked with different groups of people who cared about the land, like hikers and conservationists. Together, they created an agreement called the "Letterewe Accord." This was a groundbreaking agreement because it allowed people to visit and explore the estate freely. It was a big step for public access to land in Scotland, even before a new law called the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 made similar access rules for the whole country. The Accord showed how landowners and the public could work together.
Letterewe in Stories
The wild beauty of Letterewe has even inspired writers!
A Tale by James Hogg
One of the stories by a famous Scottish writer named James Hogg, often called "the Ettrick Shepherd," is set in Letterewe. The story is called Ewan M'Gabhar. It shows how the landscape of Letterewe has been part of Scottish culture and literature.