Youth hostel 'stag parties' revealed in archive photographs

56 minutes ago

News image — Stags would come into Loch Ossian Youth Hostel in the 1980s

Hostelling Scotland A stag being fed inside Loch Ossian Youth Hostel by a man in a woolly hat, checked shirt and jumper. He is watched by another man, while a woman in the foreground smiles. — Stags would come into Loch Ossian Youth Hostel in the 1980s

Newly-released archive photographs have shown how red deer stags used to wander inside a remote Highland youth hostel more than 40 years ago.

Residents would hand-feed the animals at the Loch Ossian site, which can only be reached by foot, bike or train on the Corrour Estate.

Hostelling Scotland has released the images as part of its 95th anniversary celebrations.

Manager Jan Robinson said: "People absolutely loved the deer. There's no doubt that being in close proximity to a huge wild stag is pretty impressive and quite surreal really."

Robinson added that deer no longer came into the hostel, and said wildlife should always be treated with respect.

Joan Martindale/Hostelling Scotland Joan Martindale is sitting at a table outside the youth hostel working at a sewing machine. She is laughing because a deer is standing at the table next to her. — Youth hostel supporter Joan Martindale enjoying an encounter with a deer at Loch Ossian Youth Hostel

The images date back to the 1980s.

Some of the regular, four-legged visitors were given names including Windswept, The Chief and Old Fettercairn.

One former guest told Hostelling Scotland that the deer would come into the common room, and that they were "calm, regal and impressive".

Manager Jan Robinson, who has worked at the hostel for more than a decade, said: "Somehow they learned to tilt their heads to get through the doors and people would just sit there completely amazed by them."

Hostelling Scotland A man feeds a stag inside the hostel. The stag, which has large antlers, is raising its head to reach the food. — The stags were described as calm and regal

She said the hostel's former warden, Tom Rigg, had an "extraordinary bond" with the stags.

"We don't have stags coming into the hostel anymore and obviously people should always treat wild deer with respect, but wildlife is still a huge part of the experience here," she added,

"We have black-throated divers, ravens and deer around the area, and people feel very connected to nature when they stay here."