The bungalow was left scorched after a fire broke out last week, with the owners now saying that it will be demolished within weeks following the blaze
The owners of Jimmy Savile’s former Highlands cottage, which was recently engulfed in flames, have assured that the derelict property will be demolished within weeks. The fire broke out at the Allt-na-Reigh property on Saturday, February 8, causing significant damage to the outbuilding and temporarily shutting down the A82 between Tyndrum and Ballachulish Bridge, a crucial route between the Central Belt and Fort William.
Savile, who was later revealed as one of Britain’s most notorious sex offenders, owned Allt-na-Reigh for about 13 years until his death in 2011. Since the exposure of his extensive sexual abuse, the property has been repeatedly vandalised, becoming an eyesore in one of Scotland’s most scenic and popular locations.
In 2021, Fife entrepreneur Harris Aslam, owner of Greens Retail Ltd, purchased the property. Highland councillors unanimously approved plans last year to demolish the cottage and replace it with a new three-bedroom family home.
Mr Aslam had intended to preserve and renovate the outbuilding, as former owner Hamish MacInnes, renowned for his contributions to mountaineering, developed the MacInnes Stretcher and the Terrordactyl Ice Axe there. Dr MacInnes resided at Allt-na-Reigh from 1961 to 1987, reports the Daily Record.
“Planning permission for the cottage’s demolition was approved in June 2024, alongside plans for a contemporary, architecturally refined residence designed to blend harmoniously with Glen Coe’s breath-taking landscape,” the family informed the Oban Times. “While we have been in the process of securing a building warrant, recent events have accelerated our engagement with Highland Council’s building standards team to ensure the site is made safe as a priority.”
“Given the sensitive nature of the surrounding environment and the complexity of the project’s design, specialist construction methods will be required, meaning development will take time. However, we remain fully committed to beginning demolition as soon as possible, with broader redevelopment targeted to start in Spring/Summer 2025.
“We recognise the public interest in this site, particularly given Hamish MacInnes’ legacy, but we kindly ask that people refrain from attempting to access the area.”
Although the cause of the fire at the former lair, where it is alleged Savile abused 20 victims, remains unknown, investigations continue. Images from within show a scene of devastation with collapsed ceilings, broken walls and mountains of rubble.
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Despite an earlier whitewashing attempt to ward off vandals, words like ‘beast’ and ‘paedo’ are still visible on its external walls.
“We understand that the outbuilding at Allt-na-Reigh caught fire over the weekend, causing significant disruption to the A82 and requiring an emergency response,” said the Aslam family. “We would like to sincerely thank Police Scotland and the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, who dispatched crews from Fort William and Kinlochleven and worked diligently to bring the fire under control.
“We are relieved that no one was harmed during the incident.”
After Savile’s passing, the small two-bedroom bungalow went up for auction and sold for £212,000 to a buyer with plans to make it their home.
However, the property was later snapped up by the family of Harris Aslam, chief of Kirkcaldy’s Eros Retail, reportedly for £335,000. Despite initial resistance from heritage bodies concerned about its impact on the picturesque setting, last year, the green light was given to demolish the existing structure in favour of constructing a new four-bedroom house.
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