Ben Macdui - THE BIG GREY MAN OF BEN MACDUI

Reported / claimed activity

• WHAT HAVE PEOPLE EXPERIENCED? The Big Grey Man is unusual because many encounters don't involve actually seeing a creature. Instead, people report experiencing something following them through the mountain mist. ◆ Heavy footsteps crunching across gravel or snow ◆ Footsteps that seem to take enormous strides ◆ The sensation of being followed ◆ An overwhelming feeling that someone — or something — is nearby ◆ A sudden and unexplained feeling of terror or dread ◆ Dark or grey figures appearing through the mist ◆ Huge humanoid shapes seen briefly before disappearing ◆ Strange voices or sounds reported on the mountain ◆ The feeling that the mountain itself has suddenly become threatening The recurring combination of footsteps + mist + an overwhelming presence is what makes the Ben Macdui stories particularly eerie.

• THE FAMOUS NORMAN COLLIE ENCOUNTER One of the most famous encounters happened in 1891, although the story wasn't publicly revealed until decades later. Professor John Norman Collie, a respected scientist and mountaineer, was alone on Ben Macdui when he descended from the summit through thick mist. ◆ Collie began hearing a strange crunching sound behind him. ◆ The footsteps didn't match his own. ◆ He described hearing a crunch after every few steps, as though something behind him was taking enormous strides. ◆ He could see nothing in the mist. ◆ The footsteps continued to follow him. ◆ Collie became so terrified that he ran for several miles down the mountain. For more than thirty years, he kept the experience largely to himself. Then, in 1925, he finally described what had happened at a meeting of the Cairngorm Club in Aberdeen. His account caused a sensation — and something particularly interesting happened afterwards. Other experienced mountaineers began coming forward with stories of their own.

• WHAT DOES THE BIG GREY MAN LOOK LIKE? There isn't one single description. However, reported appearances have included: ◆ A figure 10 feet or more in height ◆ Extremely long arms and legs ◆ Broad shoulders ◆ A large head ◆ Grey, brown or dark colouring ◆ A body covered in short hair ◆ A tall, shadow-like figure appearing through mountain mist Some reports compare the creature to Bigfoot or the Yeti, although the Big Grey Man has a distinctly Scottish character and is often described more like an apparition or supernatural presence than a conventional animal

• THE 1943 ENCOUNTER One of the more dramatic reported encounters came from mountaineer Alexander Tewnion. In October 1943, Tewnion was on Ben Macdui when he reportedly encountered a strange figure advancing through the mist. ◆ He described an eerie shape appearing through the fog. ◆ The figure appeared to be approaching him. ◆ Tewnion reportedly fired three shots from his revolver towards the mysterious figure. ◆ He then fled down the mountain towards Glen Derry. His account was later published in The Scots Magazine in 1958.

• OTHER REPORTED ENCOUNTERS The Collie story encouraged other climbers to reveal experiences they had previously kept quiet. ◆ 1904 — Hugh D. Welsh reportedly experienced unexplained footsteps and an eerie feeling of apprehension on the summit. ◆ Around 1914 — George Duncan, an advocate and mountaineer, reportedly saw a tall figure in dark clothing on the mountain. ◆ 1940s — Peter Densham, involved with RAF mountain rescue, reportedly experienced the characteristic crunching footsteps and sensation of another presence while on Ben Macdui. ◆ Other climbers have reported hearing footsteps behind them despite being apparently alone.

Background and folklore, separate from member eyewitness experiences.