Comment posted Reader request for information on ‘The Fairy Man’ by DunoonLad.
I also recall this man and the hut, which was a green covered tent like structure. It was sited beside the old road just prior to the farmhouse before you ascend to the rest. (between Dunoon road end, and the farmhouse) Our family trips from Dunoon to Glasgow were generally via this road, as this was the main route to Glasgow prior to the Western Ferries service starting.
Recent comments by DunoonLad
- Deputy First Minister in Dunoon meeting Gourock Ferries Action Group
Even with a positive yes, a vehicular service is viable, are the government going to build the ships for a company to use them, in competition with a well established profitable competition? Is there a company willing to start a town to town service? Does anyone know? - Today’s travel updates
And are the SNP going to pull a rabbit out the bag on Monday 29/4/13, at the announcement of the recommendations for future of the Dunoon to Gourock ferry service? - Russell Bruce: Never mind Scottish jobs growth outpaces UK, our growth rate is 4.6 times US growth
Still doesn’t appear to bring any more jobs to Cowal. - Deputy First Minister in Campbeltown this morning
Sounds interesting! Newsroom, you missed out her next stop later today, which will be to announce a similar new transport initiative in Dunoon…………. - Does the new ticketing arrangement for Gourock-Dunoon ferries make Argyll Ferries redundant?
Peter, I suppose it is really the time factor. Going directly by ferry from Dunoon to Gourock , should only take 20 minutes. Going via bus could add on another 20 minutes at least, in getting to and from Western, and waiting on a ferry. Could be longer depending on ferry times, and how busy they are. So, going directly should always be quicker.
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Sorry, I only know of a guy called the Roadrunner and he was from Dumbarton or the Vale.
Sounds like an interesting story might be behind it.
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I remember him and his hut – it was green? I’ll ask my parents. I was thinking maybe I’d been making this story up! I vaguely remember my dad saying he’d been a worker putting in the new road once.
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I remember him in the 60`s if its the same person he stayed in a very small shed towards the end of the straight at Cairndow, towards the oyster bar. the shed was across the road from the shore and adjacent to a very small stream.From what I was told by a retired police officer who worked in the area he perished when the hut went on fire.The shed was an old wooden one which was used by roadworkers before the metal and plastic ones, the story I was told at the time that he was a roadworker who stayed behind.
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I also recall this man and the hut, which was a green covered tent like structure. It was sited beside the old road just prior to the farmhouse before you ascend to the rest. (between Dunoon road end, and the farmhouse) Our family trips from Dunoon to Glasgow were generally via this road, as this was the main route to Glasgow prior to the Western Ferries service starting.
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I remember this man. He lived near the end of the straight between Cairndow and the head of the loch. A few words about him on this web page:-
http://www.secretscotland.org.uk/index.php/Secrets/GlenKinglassHermit
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I too remember this man from 1960 or so until the early seventies – certainly after 1972 – 3. I usually saw him in or near the (very small) hut quite close to the junction of the Dunoon turn-off at the western end of the long downhill straight from the Rest. I understood that he was a “hermit”, who although he would chat to passers by, chose to live a solitary life.
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I remember the “hermit” as almost a landmark in the late 50′s/early 60′s when I made the long, laborious journey by car with my parents from Campbeltown to Glasgow. To me – as a child of about 9 or ten, he was a mystical figure and we used to slow up to see if we could get a glimpse of him as we passed! I don’t think we ever did! I can’t remember his hut as being green coloured, more like a dark, black, ramshackle black, but I think the location other people remember is correct.
However, the definition of the “old” road” and the “new road” up the Rest And Be Thankful doesn’t take into account the geunine “old” road. The real old road is a wonder to behold – thank goodness we didn’t have to undertake that!
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I remember when I was a young boy in 1960 or 61 going on a family day trip to Inveraray. We stopped en route to visit the hermit and if I remember correctly his name was Sandy Drummond. I remember him offering us some of his cool, refreshing Adam’s Ale from the stream at the rear of his hut.. I’m sure I had a picture of him, but the only one I can find is of my mother standing outside his hut.
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Robert McKay has now found a photograph of his mother standing outside the hermit’s hut. taken around 1960.
We are now adding this to the article above.
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There’s a real find here.
Annette Walczynska has sent us the following information and a photographs of herself and her family with the Fairy Man or The Hermit. His hut is visible at the left side of the photograph – which we will now add to the article above as an update on today’s date (15 march 2012).
Annette says:
‘After reading all the posts regarding the Hermit who lived in a hut at the Rest and be Thankful, I remember having this photo taken with him …must be over 50 years ago.
I remember the day vividly and that we were out for a “run” from Lanarkshire with our next door neighbours.
Im at the front with my brother Douglas and Mum is behind him …dad must have been the photographer.’
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HOw amazing. I was clearing out my father’s slides and I came across one which I straightaway recognised as the old tramp’s hut on the REst and Be Thankful. I am happy to post this photo once it’s converted into something scannable. We used to look out for him whenever we drove along that road during the 1960s. I can see from the photo already posted that my hut photo is the same. It’s a great photo. We did occasionally see him but I was so disappointed that there wasn’#t a photo of him by the hut in my Dad’s photo. I’m delighted he’s in the one above. I recall wanting him to be there when we drove past but being a little afraid of him.
#Someone should collate these responses and send them to the School of Scottish Studies at Edinburgh University. THis is just the sort of thing they are very interested in.
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We can do this, Sheila – but shall we wait until you can add your photograph? This is very exciting.
When you can scan it, if you email it me at: lm.henderson@powdermills.com we will add it to the original story, with your own memories. If you want to add to these when you email the photograph, we will include this.
Lynda
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Pingback: Argyll News: More information on the Fairy Man of Rest and Be Thankful | For Argyll
I can remember many years ago a friend of my fathers telling me how there had been a tramp that had lived on the Cairndow side of the rest and be thankful in a wee hut by the road. He was there for years in the late 60′s, then one day he the tramp was gone. It always seemed a bit fancyful but it’s nice to see the photos to prove it.
In reply to another comment, I also recall the ‘roadrunner’ from the 1980′s in Dumbarton. He used to walk from the Vale and back every day I think. In fact last year I was chatting to my father about him and he had heard a whole raft of information about the guy’s history from bowling club buddies, unfortunately I can’t recall the details!
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Pingback: Argyll News: Castle House Museum completes the story of the Glen Kinglas Hermit | For Argyll
I remember him well when travelling to Glasgow as a child in the 1950′s. I often saw him outside his hut pottering about and he waved to the bus passengers; who all looked out for him. His chimney was often smoking, and he looked quite cheerful and content! Someone told me later that he had originally been working on the ‘new’ road, and remained in that area. He was an endearing character…good to see he has not been forgotten!
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as a young girl living in tighnabruaich i remember the hermit’s hut at the top of the old rest, i also remember the local newsagent collecting the sunday papers from a van at the rest and be thankful and putting old papers at the hut for the old man’s floor. think i heard he did perish when the hut went on fire.
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