Once upon a time, in the 1950s, there were four hikers from Aberdeen (Jim, Charlie, Doug and Ashie) who used to come hiking in the Cairngorms. They thought it would be a great idea to have a shelter for their weekends in the hills, and so they decided to build one. They transported the wood and parts from Aberdeen (on the bus) and then walked up Glen Slugain, about 8 km, carrying everything. It must have taken months to do this. They had to keep the location secret as the Invercauld Estate wouldn't have allowed it to remain there, and so the Secret Howff was born, and still remains.
The location is still kept 'secret' and it is difficult to find. The only information available is that it is up Glen Slugain, near the Fairy Glen - unless of course you know someone who knows and will tell you. Most people play the game though, and don't divulge the whereabouts of the shelter.
We found it yesterday with the kids - our third attempt at finding it. We had gained one extra bit of information about it which helped - there is a birch tree right beside it. So we scanned the horizons all around the Fairy Glen looking for a tree and anything that resembled a possible howff. It was well off the beaten track, naturally, and I'm so happy we found it and signed the log book. I cannot show you it from the outside, but a picture from inside is fine - it gives no clues away! Happy faces all round.
Well what a lovely story to read with my breakfast! How incredibly enterprising of those guys...I think they would have been a rare sight on the bus carrying supplies!
So happy to have found it as a family too...all the excitement together!
Good sleuthing! Happy faces! Dad will be interested to hear that news!
Oh what a wonderful story! So pleased you finally found it with your family! What fun! How exciting to be part of the secret- shh don’t tell anyone! 365 doesn’t count! Lol!
A wonderful capture - you must have been delighted to find it. We once stayed in a very old hotel and found a secret panel, behind which were message going back decades... we added ours too!
What a neat history that has! I was fascinated reading every word you wrote. I can just imagine how excited you all were when you found it! Such a fun happy shot.
That sounds like a fun adventure for the four of you. But it doesn't surprise me that you were eventually able to find it. Your whole family strikes me as very adept and intrepid hikers!
So happy to have found it as a family too...all the excitement together!
Good sleuthing! Happy faces! Dad will be interested to hear that news!
And what a special venue too!