Fire Engulfs Jimmy Savile’s Former Cottage in Glencoe

A building caught fire at the Allt-na-Reigh cottage. Firefighters worked for nine hours to control it. A disgraced broadcaster once owned this cottage, having it from 1998 until he died in 2011.

The fire was in a derelict shed near the cottage that served as a triple garage. The fire and police got called around 5:40 pm Saturday, and the location was between Tyndrum and Ballachulish Bridge. People saw the fire and posted pictures online.

Authorities closed the A82 road, but it reopened around 9 pm. Firefighters stayed there until 2 am. Police said the A82 reopened after the fire report and emergency services put out the fire. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service did that. Police are investigating the fire’s circumstances now.

In June 2024, council members approved demolition plans to replace the cottage with a modern home. The owners must start construction within three years. The family wants to honor Dr. Hamish MacInnes, a previous occupant and a Scottish mountaineer and inventor.

Dr. MacInnes died in 2020. He invented a mountain rescue stretcher used by teams worldwide. He also invented ice axes.