Anyone heard of this guy before?
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-59174870
Not heard of him. There was the bothy squatter by Sandwood Bay who died a few years back
Down in Kintyre we had two hermits on Lorgie Hill by Tayinloan. They had dug in two stone shelters not too far apart and kept separate all week until going down off the hill to get their weekly money at the PO for some groceries. They walked back and stayed apart again until their trip the next week !
Quote from: Bobfly on November 09, 2021, 03:20:10 PM
Not heard of him. There was the bothy squatter by Sandwood Bay who died a few years back
I read the book about him, quite interesting.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Highland-Hermit-James-Carron-ebook/dp/B004D4YB4K/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=Highland+Hermit&qid=1636469471&qsid=261-6659317-7819456&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&sres=B004D4YB4K%2CB01KFLN1EK%2CB07B53NJ6Z%2CB01HYA5FC6%2CB084QQGH87%2CB007W1BNY2%2CB00NHIR4O2%2CB005ES44TG%2CB00MGTEUSG
I hope he has a permit :roll:
Tight Lines
I too read the book on Rory Smith. It was a very fascinating good read.
I've never heard of the Loch Treig hermit but I'm looking forward to watching the documentary about him. Should be very interesting!
Quote from: Highlander on November 09, 2021, 05:23:32 PM
I hope he has a permit :roll:
Tight Lines
Hiz yon hermit goat a permit? :D
Yes, he lives in the woods on the railway side of the loch. Hope he doesn't show the fish he catches! :D
I'll give that a watch at some point when it's on iplayer
Was that not a 1960s pop group - Hermit's Permit's? :D
Yes that's a couple of big black old whumpers he's taken on a toby in the picture half way down the article. Very ferox-y looking brutes. Chap must know that loch like the back of his hand after all those years. Not sure I fancy his diet of trout and berries though!
Ian
After he had a stroke a while back he has more folk keeping an eye out with food delivery.
There is actually a documentary on BBC Scotland as we speak just now. 10PM-11PM about him
Ex-Forumite "Part Time" looks out for him since his stroke. A few others have met/ know him.
It's quite surprising that a landowner would allow a squatter to build a log cabin on their property and live in it for years. Where did he get the timber?
Where does he shit? :worms
In our litigious society the estate might also be liable for an harm that comes to him by implicitly approving and endorsing his actions and lifestyle.
I guess on most estates he would have been evicted in short order.
I met guys at the car park in Fersit who ride motocross bikes in that area and they look in on him when they are up too. I found his story quite sad when the reasons for his lifestyle were explained.
whereabouts is his bothy?
There is a small area of woodland about halfway down the loch on the railway side, it's in there.
Not exactly "remote" with a railway line running past. :lol: That said it can't be the easiest place to live. It must be minging. I didn't watch the program (don't watch 'as broadcast' TV or use iPlayer) but my guess would be his hermit life is now over and he will be getting a lot of curious visitors. The nutter who lived in the bothy at Sandwood did his best to "discourage" visitors including those from the MBA who kept the place from falling down. For the life of me I cannot understand why any landowner would encourage squatters - because that's these people are unless they have permission to live there.
His shack is visible on Google Earth.
I found it a pretty sad watch. Poor auld bugger. Can't be easy getting old and decrepit living that kind of life and in those conditions.
Did have to wonder though, at the tax-payer funded helicopter evacuations every time he takes a tumble.
Quote from: Tweed on November 10, 2021, 02:49:23 PM
Can't be easy getting old and decrepit living that kind of life and in those conditions.
The Sandwood hermit ended up in a caravan in Kinlochbervie, what a dreary place to end your life in. He came across as a pathetic character. That's the thing, off grid life is fine when you are young and fit. Even now knocking on for 69 and being in reasonable shape for my age, I'm glad of my cosy 2 bedroom modern bungalow with shops, GP etc close by even if it is and always will be fossil fuel heated no matter what waffle comes out of Crock26. :lol: Once you get on a bit living near civilisation has a lot going for it. To be honest I'm happy I'm out of my old place up the hill with all that snow and bloody freezing weather. I didn't see the programme but my guess is that old guy's life as a hermit is about to change.
I hope he keeps well, but he didn't look like he had another 30 years left in him, did he?
Quote from: burnie on November 10, 2021, 09:06:41 PM
I hope he keeps well, but he didn't look like he had another 30 years left in him, did he?
Up the hill where I used to live we got vast amounts of snow most winters. I remember thinking to myself how am I going to manage living here when I'm in my 70s. Shifting snow was hard work, even with a tractor. The answer of course was I would not manage. In the end I moved before I had to.
I have to admit I don't have masses of sympathy for those who complain about high shipping costs, lack of broadband, high fuel bills etc because they choose to live in Granny's Heilan' Hame. Living out in the styx has a lot going for it, but it also has downsides that will NEVER be resolved. Only you can make the choice.
But getting back to the hermit - his circumstance is just an extreme example of this, but it's one that will be more difficult to get out of. The decent thing to do would be offer him a council house somewhere, Spean Bridge, The Fort - wherever - and then he can make the choice of which way to turn.
When he had a stroke and was hospitalised the social asked about getting him somewhere but he was not interested. He is quite philosophical about his risks and accepts his vulnerability.
is this not the same guy that i watched, last year i think, on one of Ben Fogles shows, he went to the pub with Ben!!
Quote from: Tweed on November 10, 2021, 02:49:23 PM
I found it a pretty sad watch. Poor auld bugger. Can't be easy getting old and decrepit living that kind of life and in those conditions.
Did have to wonder though, at the tax-payer funded helicopter evacuations every time he takes a tumble.
Despite getting on in age , He looked happy enough in his environment . After the stroke he could of got all the help he needed but refused . That's says enough about predicament. As for state funded helicopter evacuation lol he's only used it once . Hardly ripping a hole in state funds , Christ the helicopters are out every weekend to find English lost in the hills about this time of the year 😉
Eventually got round to watching this documentary if you want to call it that. What a hard life to live by all alone for most of the time and the chances of being sick/ill high. Did notice he had a fair collection of demijohns full of I take it home made wine to keep him company during the long dark winter nights. Was glad to see the local estate stalker helping with a monthly food drop off, makes you wonder why the Estate Owners who ever they are some absent overseas property owner! Allowed him to stay there for that period.
Made me ask myself could I have done that mmmmmm no isolation far too much for my liking and would stick with my home comforts like a simple light switch you can turn on; I suppose a couple of weeks of it would be exciting enough for me but good luck to the guy
Quote from: superscot on December 29, 2021, 05:16:54 PM
makes you wonder why the Estate Owners who ever they are
Tetra Pak. There is obviously big money non environmentally sustainable packaging :lol:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-60632608
I recognise the estate pattern of that tweed jacket.....I think an ex-forumite has had a hand in things here.
Quote from: Inchlaggan on March 06, 2022, 11:54:26 AM
I recognise the estate pattern of that tweed jacket.....
Yup, definitely the Royal Tetra Pak ;)