High in the mist-shrouded Cairngorms, where the winter wind bites like a vice, lies the domain of a long-spoken, unsettling presence. For over a hundred years, the climbers of Ben Macdui have told stories of a towering figure pacing just beyond sight and of booming footsteps lost in the fog. Known as the Big Grey Man, few have seen it, several have heard it and even more sensed it, but just about none have ever agreed on what “it” actually is.

SOURCES

Gray, Affleck (1970) The Big Grey Man of Ben MacDhui. Impulse Books, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Baker, Ernest A. (1973) The British Highlands: With Rope & Rucksack. EP Publishing Ltd, UK.

Wood, Wendy (1930) Secret of Spey. Rob Grant & Son, Edinburgh, Scotland.

Alexander, Henry (1926) The Ben MacDhui Giant Spectre. The Cairngorm Club Journal, Vol XI, No.64, July 1926. The Cairngorm Club, Scotland.

Aberdeen Press & Journal (1925) Cairngorm Club. Aberdeen Press & Journal, Mon 30 Nov 1925, p5. Aberdeen, Scotland.

Aberdeen Press & Journal (1925) Letters To Editor. Aberdeen Press & Journal, Tues 1 Dec 1925, p5. Aberdeen, Scotland.

Aberdeen Press & Journal (1925) Mountain Climbers & The Ghost of Ben MacDhui. Aberdeen Press & Journal, Thurs 3 Dec 1925, p6. Aberdeen, Scotland.

Aberdeen Press & Journal (1925) Dr Kellas & His Spectre. Aberdeen Press & Journal, Sat 5 Dec 1925, p4. Aberdeen, Scotland.

The Scotsman (1941) The Grey Man Of Ben MacDhui. The Scotsman, Tues 14 Oct 1941, p7. Scotland.

The Scotsman (1941) Mountain Spectres. The Scotsman, Mon 20 Oct 1941, p4. Scotland.

The Scotsman (1941) Mountain Spectres. The Scotsman, Thurs 23 Oct 1941, p4. Scotland.

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The Dark Histories Butterfly was drawn by Courtney, who you can find on Instagram @bewildereye

Music was recorded by me © Ben Cutmore 2017

Other Outro music was Paul Whiteman & his orchestra with Mildred Bailey - All of me (1931). It's out of copyright now, but if you're interested, that was that.

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