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Ben Alder Cottage Bothy: Is It Really Haunted?
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 มี.ค. 2024
- Join me and my four legged friend Luna for a fine hike and the dog's first bothy night away to Ben Alder Cottage, an alledgedly haunted bothy in a remote region of the Central Highlands of Scotland. Do we get the place to ourselves or will we get some company?
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Robin I did this trek in complete darkness with no moonlight and with only a 20 foot torchlight beam back in Oct 22. I recall some advice from a previous video of yours, that to avoid the
boggy stretch, best to follow the shorleine. I did this in part as I was fearful of heading too far west by following those poles you mentioned in this upload. Well it became a nigtmare on the
shore-line, uprooted trees, cliff overhangs onto water, steep slippy rock, water-holes and swords for branches poking into me, every stride. It was a nightmare!
It took me four hours to walk 2000m, struggling with a ruck filled with logs, coal and gear. Anyway you mention the supernatural. well I can say categorically, without doubt, at my final
gasp, rested by a larch tree and struggling to locate bothy position. A candle was lit in the window of the bothy, for several seconds I watched the illumination and got my bearings and that
fuzzy awareness that something bigger than any of is at hand. At that moment I knew people were in the bothy and I was going to make it...
I was puzzled as to why noone had come out of the bothy, as they must have seen my intermittent torch beam across the water. Anyway Robin, I crossed the bridge and waded water to
reach the bothy.
Inside - Not a soul was there, but on the windowsill was the candle, positioned as one only could imagine. One of the most surreal events of my life. I saw what I saw. it will never leave me.
ATB
Thanks for sharing your story mate, sounded like a bit of an epic. Those fence posts do take you too far west by the way. Really spooky with the candle, almost like your guardian angel was looking out for you that night.
I'm Sams mum and its so cute to see him featured on this ..he loved Luna xx
Thanks for dropping in with a comment, great to hear he loved Luna, was worried she was a bit annoying for the boys. 😄
We refer to things that carry us/shelter us, ships, boats, planes, cars..... bothy's (!) predominantly as 'she' because they carry us internally, just like being in the womb. Cracking wee trip with Luna Robin....... Used to love extended walks with my dog, yer best pal bar-non. ATB
Ha, that makes sense and I’m taking that! She was fantastic mate, fair put a smile on my face seeing her so happy just toddling along. 🐶
Or is it a 'she' because they can be cold, awkward to reach and don't always give a good experience - just like my ex girlfriend!
Really enjoyed that Robin 😍👍..Looks a great Bothy…Enjoyed your stories about the mountain and the bothy..Cracking dog you’ve got as well mate…Think I would take the Ebike and dump it where you and Kev did..Looks a good camp spot there as well ..Top stuff mate .
Cheers
Robert
Cheers Robert, I’d leave the bikes there again too. Just too boggy for my liking. Enjoy Tenerife mate.
@@WalkWithWallace Thanks buddy 😁👍
Nice to see you and Luna out and about Robin, nice walk and bothy.
Cheers Phil, how you keeping fella? Any trips up to Scotland planned?
@WalkWithWallace I'm good mate, hopefully this year, I've not done any hills for a while. How you keeping.
@@2407ewanaye doing alright mate, looking forward to the longer days? What age is Laceymai now?
@@WalkWithWallace aye me too, she is 12 now gone so fast.
How is Fife.
Thank you for your time shooting, editing and posting this and your other videos, they are inspirational. A still of the video at 10.25 is an awesome image.
Thanks Mike, appreciate that a lot. Got a screenshot of the exact scene, the light was fantastic.
Lovely video, and we had a lovely time there that night. I was one of the lads in the 'snug'! Great chatting with you, and thank Luna for the kisses!
Hey mate, it was a fun evening and good chatting to you both. I take it you didn’t see a trekking pole left near the bridge? I left it when getting Luna over the bridge.
@@WalkWithWallace No sorry mate, we headed north west so didn't cross the bridge
Ah I remember now, your train was at 6pm that day.
@@WalkWithWallace Yeah exactly. Btw what time did you see the eagle? We thought we saw a golden eagle coming down from the pass heading toward the bothy, but could have been the white tailed eagle you saw! We saw it around 12ish near the top of the pass
@@tomdf42 I seen that eagle twice, once coming in around 1-2pm and in the morning where I filmed it. Absolutely beaut.
Nice video Robin! Thankfully this bothy is big enough, can only imagine how it would have been with all the people and dogs in a smaller one…can already be challenging with no dogs 😉. Glad that you still had a good time 👍
Yeah I’m glad I didn’t bail, was really close to it just after dark, charged my head torch up in anticipation of leaving. Even the missus expected me home during the night 🤣
Nice one Robin, shame the bothy was so busy! Looks like Luna had a good time 😊
Aye, the joys of bothying not knowing who’s turning up. 🤔
Great video. Been there many a time. Never seen any ghosts . We were on the top 1 week before that guy was found.
Yikes, you must’ve walked past his body?
@@WalkWithWallace it was the end of 31st of may 2002. In heavy snow fall . We went up Ben Alder.
Oooooh a haunted one 👻👻👻
Haha, apparently so. 😅
Very nice Robin and looks like your doggy enjoyed it too. 👍
Cheers Dave and given how tired she was on the Sunday I reckon she loved it. 😊
aw.. they wanted the place to themselves and you turned up!!
😂 that’s how it works!
Nice one Robin, good to see Luna out and about with you. I've still to visit this Bothy myself , i'll probably do it mid week someetime with my 4 dogs . Looked a good night with the young lads ...cheers Stevie
Cheers Stevie. From experience just there, it’s definitely a midweek bothy mate.
Incredible light in your photos!! Amazing!!
Cheers mate 😎
Thanks. Awesome video footage as always
Thank you 😎👍🏻
Thanks. Awesome video footage as always. It looks a a great bothy in a beautiful place 🥾🥾🙌
Thank you Corinna. 😎
Stunning location and views Robin. Glad you were ghoul free on this one!👍👍
Ha, cheers Tony. Definitely too busy for the ghouls to come out.
Excellent Robin. So good to see Luna running free and taking it all in. She just loves it. Nice to hear the wee stories as well. I’ve been there twice. Once with the school in 1978 while walking from Fort William to Braemar and again in 89 with Judith on a trip from Dalwhinnie to Corrour. I also did Ben Alder both times. Good to see you back out again. Luna will learn loads as she gets more trips under collar. 😊
Cheers Stew, I loved having Luna with me. Can’t beat the bond with your dog. Did you ever experience anything spooky in the bothy? Ken Smith (The Hermit) had his encounter back in 1978 I think it was.
@@WalkWithWallace No your video was the first I ever heard of it. I think most bothys will be full of myths and legends coming from people sleeping in a strange place.
I remember a bothy on the Gaick pass called Stronohadruic. There was a disused lodge beside it and we went in and one of the bedrooms was painted shocking pink. It was totally empty with a French Bentwood chair in the middle. I found it very disturbing.
I also remember Judith accidentally flicking a slug into Loch Ericht with her crossword book. She said she didn’t mean it. I don’t think they can swim.
I hope Luna can go on all your trips. It’s maybe you that needs to have a bit more faith in her as she learns. I’ve been in that position myself. You get over protective of them. I’m building the courage to sleep under my tarp with Annie but I fear she may chase wildlife in the night. Luna seems sure footed and biddable so there’s a good foundation there. I wonder how she will cope with the tent.
I’ve been in there, camped outside pre TH-cam days. I’ll need to see if I can dig out the photos.
My partner likes having Luna at home too, so I won’t take her all the time and I am a bit precious with my camping gear 😂
Yummy! Birthday cake...
A good walk that. Good to see the dog.
I was impressed he trekked in keeping the cake intact. 😎
Cracking video Robin.Real good clarity in the clips and that side of the Loch leading to the bothy looks Stunning.Good to see u out with pup.She done well crossing the bridge.😃👍
Cheers Andy, she loved it mate. Wasn’t so good with the cattle grids I had to carry her over them 😀
Wha a stunning place my friend! Outstanding work 👏👏
Thank you! Cheers! 😎
Brilliant wee film. I did cycle the same route after watching you and Kevin and once I was also cycling along loch Ericht from Dalwhinnie to Ben Alder cottage for lunch and then up to Culra for overnight. That was really hard one. Love that area.. Anyway, good of you that you took your wee dog Luna. It may inspire others. I do go on my own with my dogs almost for every trip I do. It's an extra hassle, more responsibility, planning and stuff to carry for them but I think it's important to take them with us rather then leaving them at house. Otherwise there is no point of getting them.. It can also strengthen the bond between you and her. Heard the story about the chap shooting himself up on Ben Alder. I wonder why he would do it like that? I think somebody just shot him up there. Really bad luck.. Brilliant footage of the eagle btw! Also Bad Luck with so many youngsters🤣, I know you will say they were all great and I am sure they were but still..🙂 But that is all bothy experience. ATB Jonas.
Cheers Jonas, I guess you inspired me to take Luna. Always enjoy seeing Black Sophie out having a great time. It is a bit extra hassle but definitely worth it. My partner likes having her home too when I’m away. So I won’t take her every time.
The bothy look great. Wish I was closer to a few more. Enjoyed the WT eagle too.....what a beast! 😎
You’ll need to get yourself up at some point mate. That eagle was definitely sizing up Luna for breakfast 😂 was chuffed to have spotted it, they’re not shy like a goldie.
Ah good to see you back, wondered where you'd been.
Aye just with the poor weather over January and February I haven’t been out much at all.
Cracking vid wallace and good stuff for taking luna shes cracking i always say my next dog will be a staffy never had one. Cracking bothy and good bit of history of the area and bothy nice one mate ATB. Sam
Cheers Sam, you can’t go wrong with a Staffy, underrated wee dogs. 😎
Nice video looked a fantastic location, nice to see its not haunted, luna looked happy 😃
Well, you know the hermit? In his book he experienced a poltergeist in there, scary listening to it on the audiobook 🥹
Yes also read that a pack of digestive biscuits moved on a table scarring the hell out of those bedded inside but I was in south Wales at the time honestly 😂
That’s the one 🍪 😂
Great video as always Robin. Brings back memories of my one and only trip to Ben Alder bothy in 1982. It has been extensively refurbished and extended since then. It was at the height of the Falklands war when I was there.
Jeez Paul, I was only a year old in 1982. I listened to Ken Smith’s audiobook, the hermit. He experienced some sort of poltergeist in 1984!!!
@@WalkWithWallace I was 30 in 1982 and my first son was born later that year🤣🤣🤣🤣
He’s not much younger than me, is he into hiking?
@@WalkWithWallace fraid not to busy working (allegedly ) I took both my boys up Witches Step in Arran when they were about 10 I think that put them off.🤣🤣
😂😂 your hobby is safe then.
Enjoyed your vid, nice one-have to admit always try and watch anything connected to BAC as I’m one of the MBA MOs for it-and you never know when stuff might need attention. I’ll be up soon to replace the fire blankets that got used recently (!), and also put up some new drying lines and hooks. In the summer we will paint the room with the new fire place in (that was last autumn’s project). The stove we will
Probably look to replace next year or so.. and yes I’ll sort that new front door out as I hear it is sticking now! Clever dug crossing Tim Winter’s bridge (he’s my next door neighbour and at 83 ish still pops up there occasionally to maintain it..we know there is a loose guy line that needs sorting..). Cheers. John.
Cheers John, it’s a fab bothy in good nick. I did want to give it a good clean alas was too busy on this occasion. Love that bridge, quite unique. I left my Black Diamond trekking pole between the first stream crossing and the bridge. If you see if it, could you grab it please?
Will do-think I’ll be up there this Saturday morning if all well.
Nice one, cheers.
@@WalkWithWallace sorry. No sign of your stick at bridge or in cottage or anywhere en route! :-(
Bummer, someone must have picked it up. Thanks for letting me know.
Awwww wee Luna 😍 She looked as tho she loved her night away. Finally got this watched whilst copper was asleep. 😏 Then she woke up and I had tae cover her face 🙄 Looked a guid night. Albeit busy. Dinnae mind that, quarry. We were to busy 🚴🚴
Haha. That wee vid you sent of Copper was funny. 🤣 Glad I didn’t bail out in the end because it was a guid night. I don’t remember much about the cycle in 😂
@@WalkWithWallace I remember some of the uphill pushes blawing oot ma erse 😁
Great video. Such beautiful scenery and interesting stories. My imagination knows no bounds, I definitely couldn’t stay there on my own! Nice to see Luna in the video.
Cheers Jenny, I’m kinda glad I wasn’t solo in the end as my imagination runs wild at times plus if Luna barked during the night 😀
Nice outing Robin. Luna looks like a wee character! Really enjoyed that bothy when we went. Feels quite out the way.
Cheers
Cheers Leon, it’s definitely got a nice remote isolated feel to it.
Great video as always Robin - I do like a little history to give the wilderness a bit more colour if you will! ATB Tom
Cheers Tom, aye it’s certainly an area with a bit of history and they reckon Bonnie Prince Charlie’s cave is on the other side of the loch.
Ey up Robin. Looked a cracking little adventure, Luna looked like she certainly enjoyed herself.
Cheers Dave, she certainly did. 🐶
Nice one Robin.
Glad you and wee Luna can have adventures together.
Taking the dog to protect you in case the bothy was empty 😂😂
Haha, she was good company. Guilty, having a dog definitely takes the edge off being alone. 😆
It's a popular bothy - never been there without company!
Last visit, Kevin and I got the place to ourselves on the Friday night but more had company on the Saturday. Definitely more popular than I thought and the ghost story is fuelling the popularity.
Nice Video, heading there on Tuesday.
Hope you enjoy it mate 🔥 🥃
The one man and his dog suits you out there Robin - that was a really nice trip. Meeting the birthday guys was great - no creepy ghosts there eh? Sad tale about the French guy on the way in though. It certainly never dampened spirits or the mood of Luna. The scene of the smoke coming out of the Bothy chimney - classic. Good going. Mark
Cheers Mark. The whole story of the French guy is really interesting. He was allegedly seen getting off the train with an Algerian man who was never seen again and the family believe he murdered him.
@@WalkWithWallace Yeah, some odd things happen in this world and on mountains. A pleasure.
Same thing with our Golden retriever.
Great recall unless there's wildlife in view!
Cheers for another great video Robin.
Thank you ☺️
Do you take your dog into the hills?
@@WalkWithWallace She's had a few day walks but no over-nighters yet...
I need to get Luna out more often, will try a wild camp at some point.
Getting a dug in a couple of weeks myself so videos on getting Luna used to the hills would be greatly appreciated 🙏
What breed you getting Iain? It’s crossed my mind about a dog related vid but I can’t proclaim to be an expert.
@WalkWithWallace Field golden retriever. They were bread in Glen Affric so that partly explains the choice. That's my Corbett compleation for this year out the window seeing as it's all just island ones and Sgurr a' Coire Beithe left! Think it'll be a couple of years minimum before it'll be hills with the dog too.
Ach, I've no experience with dogs so I'm sure I'll be able to steal stuff from your vids!
Solid choice mate, a retriever will go all day long. Start bedding him/her into the hills around 12 months onwards, then after 18 months introduce him/her to the big days, that’ll prolong the dog’s joints. I need to get my Corbett campaign back on the go.
I find bothies generally spooky. Glad you weren't alone, might of been some antler rattling!
That’s why took Luna, in case I was on my own 🤪 bothies are more social imho.
this bothy is haunted?!! welp, thats sodded up my TGO challenge this year!, lol, planning on staying there in may, diff route in from you, leaving rannoch st, heading up Carn Dearg, following ridge to Beinn a chumhain then follow the alder burn to the bothy....might camp outside if i get the willies!
will try and find those caves next day.
nice to see u and dog out and about, a right little wigglebum there...ATB WJ
Ha, a solo night in BACB could be interesting. Pitching on the other side of the bothy is lush though.
Oh well -all those Munros you've climbed, Robin - all those Bothy trips and summit camps and, not to mention the Cape Wrath Way - you'll have to do them all again, cos Luna's no done them yet - and if the look of her on that one's anything to go by, she'll certainly want to...! My heart almost bleeds... LOL!!
Haha, she’ll definitely get to do more adventures with me. Tent next I reckon. 😎
Bet this dug love you man ♥:D
Think the missus has accepted she loves me more than her too 😂
Mate me and my mums are like that little woman on the film poltergeist 😂
Any dodgy places and we’re getting heebee geebees 😂
I couldn’t sleep in there
Carol Anne! 📺 👻
😂
@@WalkWithWallace 😂
That old guy with the hat on. The preacher. Jesus lol 😂
My parents let me watch that as a kid, I was terrified 🤣
@@WalkWithWallace same 😂
It’s a great film though
An ‘interesting’ account of an overnight stay in the Bothy during the 80s by the, now celebrity, Ken Smith in his book with William Millard, The Way of the Hermit.
2023.
Brilliant spotting the WTSE btw.
Spotify has the audiobook, can you remember what chapter? I reckon the eagle fancied Luna for breakfast. 😄
@@WalkWithWallace
Yip, Part Three page 67.
In 2006 whilst walking from Corrour to Dalwhinnie, my mate told me of a very similar story, an omnipotent presence and the scraping chair!
Almost exactly as in the book but more than 20 years apart.
I suppose it doesn’t prove anything…or disprove anything.
Again, fabulous to see that White Tailed Sea Eagle in that location, well done guys 👍👏
Cheers Jim, I’m going to have a listen now.
@@jimross5806 jeezo, he could have died twice. 😳
Luna seemed to be having a whale of a time! She'll be sneaking into your backpack next time you go out.
Definitely, and we got peace and quiet for the whole day and night I got back 😄
@@WalkWithWallace You exhausted the wee thing! 😄
🤣
You did well hanging out with those kids , but I am sure your intention was to have a piece of the cake 🎂 😂 . Be careful with your dog when there's an eagle overhead 😮 I see that you still do gastronomic food when you hike 😊 thanks for the video
Haha, they were good company and it was their first ever bothy night. That eagle could easily take one of these so called toy dogs, it was definitely sizing up Luna. 😂 can’t beat the noodleage 🍜 😎
Nice one. Where did you start from?
Just before Rannoch Lodge (NN 506 576)
If you like bothy stories then i can highly recommend the book Bothy Tales by John D Burns - true stories from a seasoned adventurer/hillwalker who frequented the Scottish landscape and these little shelters that all have their own tales to tell.
I’ve been meaning to read John’s books for a while now. Once I’ve finished the Hermit’s book, they’re on my list.
You won't be disappointed !
👍🏻 😎
I stayed there on a walk from Dalwinnie to Fort William before the bothy was renovated back in 1996, just after the body was discovered on Ben Alder no one knew who he was at the time just that he was wearing a poncho appeared to have been shot by a musket ball which was a bit strange as no one in Scotland would wear a poncho in the Highlands as the wind would blow it over your head but even then the bothy was notorious for being haunted. It was a long walk the length of Loch Ericht from Dalwhinnie train station and I was happy to see the bothy in the distance just as it was getting dark when I saw a figure at the front door so I was relieved that I wasn't going to be alone but when I got there there was no one there I looked around but could see no one, so I spent the night alone and was woken up in the wee small hours by someone talking so I turn on my headlight but there was nobody there. I left without breakfast as soon as it got light and while I was further up on the path to climb Ben Alder and to have my breakfast I looked back down at the bothy and I saw the figure outside the front door again this was around 6am. I spent the rest of the day climbing Ben Alder and walking towards Corrour Station Bunk house (It was a bunk house then) and never saw a single person until I was half way down Loch Ossian where I met a walker who had come of the train at Corrour and was going to Ben Alder Cottage and I never saw that guy again. Spooky or what?
Mate, that is proper spooky. Despite the McCook story being debunked I do believe there’s a haunting in that bothy. Listening to Ken Smith’s book, when he explains his experience. I wouldn’t want to stay there alone.
Wooferboss
Love it haha 😂