Ben Alder Cottage: Spending a night alone in Scotland's most remote and haunted Bothy

Thanks for uploading such wonderful drone footage. It’s good to see that the bothy has been improved. As much as everyone loves a tale of the supernatural, I’m afraid that tales surrounding Ben Alder cottage are all spurious. I used to live in the area and back in the 1980s stayed several times at the bothy. The main story then circulating, which was already distorted, concerned Joseph McCook, a gamekeeper who worked for the Alder Estate for many years. He lived in that cottage with his wife and their daughters until some point after the Great War. A myth came about that he hanged himself, which he did not, having died of old age in the Cottage Hospital, Newtonmore on 4th July 1933, aged 85. The sad thing is that this fake legend has obscured an act of heroism that did occur in this cottage. In the winter of 1910, McCook became seriously ill with pneumonia. His young daughter walked the return journey of 18 miles to Rannoch Station, where she sent a telegram to the medical practice at Laggan, which still covers one of the largest areas of the country and at that time was even more extensive. Dr Donald MacDonald set out for Ben Alder lodge at 7 a.m. From there, he walked the 12 miles on what became a nightmare journey to McCook’s Cottage. All the burns were in spate after a sudden thaw, necessitating a climb high up on the shoulder of Ben Alder. Large sheets of ice made footholds precarious Eleven hours after he had set out, he arrived at the cottage, attended to his patient and then collapsed. He was subsequently awarded the Carnegie Gold Medal for Heroism. Donald MacDonald was one of those formidable characters, a Highland Doctor who before the days of antibiotics and reliable transport maintained a medical service over the toughest terrain and in the roughest climate in this country. He was later to die in a banal manner, while undergoing a dental anaesthetic. His name was commemorated in Laggan’s Dr MacDonald Village Hall, and continued in it’s successor built in 1985.

Thanks , brought a few memories back , the last time that I stayed in the bothy was 1970 , slept on the floor and woke in the middle of the night to hear scratching noises and a head slowly spinning above me .. 💀 .. The scratching was the resident mice and the head was a food bag suspended from the rafters to stop the nice getting to the food bag ... 😂 .

I live alone with 2 cats on the side of a mountain in a rainforest on my organic banana farm on a small island in the Caribbean. I believe, only because I have to, that remote should never be spooky. Excellent footage, and a great video. 🤘

Great video! I've only stayed in that bothy once, and was so utterly soaked on the walk in from Dalwhinnie that all the ghosts in the world wouldn't have put me off staying there. As it was, I met two great guys who allowed me to partake in the huge amount of beer they had carried in, as well as home made fresh pancakes! Great times.

Dear Scotland….NEVER CHANGE ❤️

Can we just appreciate the logistics in getting the materials across to build the place.

I’m watching this from far away in rural north Texas. Beautiful place. Maybe before I leave this earth I can go there. 😊

Absolutely loved this. What a great adventure. The scenery is stunning, and a great wee bothy too. Well done, and thank you for taking us all with you.

Scotland is beautiful. The light is gorgeous.

That view! Thanks for showing how beautiful Scotland is! 👍

Great video, great visuals. Only just come across your channel, will definitely be watching more. Ben Alder is a bothy I’ll get to at some point. I go solo myself, so it’s difficult not to freak oneself out on dark nights, think Ben Alder with its reputation may just have me cowering in the corner. Spent some spooky nights in bothies over the last few years. Suileag has to be my creepiest experience, odd sounds, caught some on camera. I like to take my ukulele with me, caught some clapping (likely sarcastic as I’m not very good) in a video I took, certainly didn’t hear it at the time. Caught the clacking of rocks on a really still evening as I’m recording a straight pillar of smoke rising from the chimney. Also took a photo of what looks like a clansman the next morning, watching me on the track leading away, Suilven in the background. Still have it too. My email is in my community tab if you want me to send them on. Anyway keep up the good work, it’s videos like yours that remind me what I’m missing when I’m sitting at home.

An immensely enjoyable video Chris. Superb drone footage. Stunning scenery. Cheers.

There is no finer place than Scotland for seeing such amazing and beautiful scenery. Nice vid😊

The view is stunning. Thank you for taking us along for the adventure.

That was an AWESOME video!!! So grateful for your determination and what fun watching you on your trek there. Looking forward to seeing more of your adventures!

Fabulous video Chris. What a place! I am not up to doing such remote adventures these days being in my 70s, but I certainly get out a lot to complete lesser challenges. The outdoor life is great isn’t it? 😀

Lovely music choice. Very cinematic with the drone. Loved it. Thx

The drone views you have in your videos chris are awesome. What a place great video as always

Such a great video. The way you got in the sleeping bag without touching the zipper is just awesome

What a beautiful place! Thank you so much for taking us with you and for all of that pfaff with the drone -- the shots were particularly stunning and the cinematography over all was 'other level". Subbed 😻