Am Fear Liath Mòr

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The summit of Ben Macdui



It has been described as an extremely tall figure covered with short hair, or as an unseen presence that causes uneasy feelings in people who climb the mountain.[2] Evidence of the existence of this creature is limited to various sightings and a few photographs of unusual footprints.[2]




Illusions, hallucinations or misinterpretation of natural stimulus brought on by exhaustion or isolation have been proposed by psychologists.[3]

An optical illusion known as the Brocken spectre is a plausible explanation for the Big Grey Man legend.[4] A Brocken spectre, "mountain spectre" can occur in certain atmospheric conditions when the sun is at a particular angle. The subject's shadow can be cast onto a cloud bank around them, creating the illusion of a large shadowy humanoid figure.[5]

British mountaineer Frank Smythe stated he had observed his shadow cast as a Brocken Spectre across the mist on Ben Macdhui.[6]


  1. ^ Townsend, Chris. (2010). Scotland. Cicerone Press. p. 283. ISBN 978-1-85284-442-4
  3. ^ Reed, Graham. (1988). The Psychology of Anomalous Experience. Prometheus Books. pp. 44-45. ISBN 0-87975-435-4
  4. ^ Brown, Dave; Mitchell, Ian. (1987). Mountain Days and Bothy Nights. Luath. p. 157. ISBN 0-946487-15-4
  5. ^ Ross, Helen. (1975). Mist, Murk and Visual Perception. New Scientist. p. 658. "The Brocken Spectre (where one's shadow cast by the sun onto a cloudbank appears distant and gigantic)... The shadowy image appearing much farther away than it is, and consequently enlarged to a sufficient extent to give rise to such tales as the Grey Man of Ben MacDhui."
  6. ^ Smythe, Frank. (1949). Behold the Mountains: Climbing with a Color Camera. Chanticleer Press. p. 55
  • Nick Redfern (2004). Three Men Seeking Monsters (Chapter 15: "The Monster of the Mountains"). Paraview Pocket Books. pp. 217–26

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