Fairy Hill row stirs up Speyside town
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A much-loved Aberlour beauty spot is being blocked by the fence, some villagers claim.
?A FENCE at the centre of disquiet in a Speyside village was never intended to cause a row, the man behind its erection has said.
Richard Walker, of the famous shortbread dynasty, is now looking at providing access to the Fairy Hill, situated on the southern slopes above the village, which was obstructed following the appearance of the barrier.
Mr Walker was given permission by the landowner to build the fence around the grassy knoll to bring more privacy to his nearby house.
However, its appear-ance prompted local outcry and, in a letter to ‘The Northern Scot’ last week, resident Kevin Stronach, of Mary Avenue, said the “iconic landmark” was held in deep affection and that a “priceless, sacred piece of heritage” had been defiled.
Numerous theories lie behind its presence, whether it be an ancient burial ground, a glacial knoll, or, as folklore would have it, the one-time home of fairies. A statement from a member of the community this week said: “The history of the area and its associations with the Neolithic and Bronze Ages has, of course, been fascinating, but the real issue seems to be the tremendous affection that the local people have for the hill.
“Everyone seems to have a golden memory relating to it; whether it be rolling Easter eggs, family picnics, playing cowboys and Indians in the bushes, or making huts. The list is as endless as the stories – each one personal and different, stretching back generations into the mists of time.”
The statement said that although the present generation have fewer memories of the hill, new technology has sparked a renewed interest in local history, genealogy, and natural history. “Until something is taken from you it is impossible to express loss and I’m sure this has all come as a great shock and surprise to him (Mr Walker) and that an amiable resolution will follow,” it stated.
Far from being a “selfish act”, Mr Walker said he was genuinely unaware anyone ever visited the hillock.
“Yes, I did put up a fence but it wasn’t to obstruct anyone at all,” he said. “I asked the owner of the land if I could put up a fence just to give my property more privacy. I’ve been there for seven years now and I’ve never ever seen a soul put a step near the hill – which was covered in rusty barbed wire and left to neglect until I cleaned it up.
“To say that people roll their eggs there every year is absolute nonsense – it has been blown out of proportion.”
Mr Walker added that he was upset he wasn’t approached directly about the issue in the first place.
“I am now looking at what I am going to do about the fence, whether I put in an access gate or take down part of it so that it open for public access. But it was never the intention to stop people getting access to the site. It was never a selfish act, nor was it ever something that I wanted to upset anybody by doing,” he said.
