A true experience from a local family living in the upper reaches of Glencoe

In the late 1960’s an estate worker was making his way home over the Devil’s staircase, Glencoe leading his trusty Highland Garron Pony after an expedition on the hill.

As darkness fell, his family became concerned that he had not returned, they also noticed that he had left his torch at home, concerned that something had happened, they decided to make their way up the Devil’s staircase.

The night was silent, but it was not long until they could hear the sound of the pony’s shoes striking the stones on the path, they also noticed in the distance that a light was shining and moving – the light seemed to be moving on the same line that the path zig zagged down the hillside.

The family were relieved that the duo were at last heading for home and came to the conclusion that he had taken a torch after all so they headed back to wait.

When they heard the familiar footsteps returning back home, the family went out to greet the weary travellers, when asked about which torch he had taken, he replied “I had no light, I was letting the surefooted pony lead me home”

The family were taken aback because they definitely saw a light zig zagging along the line that the path would take in harmony with the noise of the pony’s shoes.

They did not encounter anybody else on the hill that night as it was very late – it always remained a mystery as to how the light was seen by the family but not seen by the estate worker, perhaps there was a presence of another kind.