Jimmy Savile’s former cottage in the Scottish Highlands, located at Allt-na-Reigh along the A82 in Glen Coe, has been fully demolished. The Leeds-born TV presenter and BBC broadcaster owned the property from 1998 until his death at age 84 in 2011. Revelations in 2012 exposed him as one of Britain’s most notorious sex offenders.
Property’s Troubled History
After Savile’s death, the cottage suffered extensive damage from a fire and repeated vandalism. Demolition efforts began in March last year but paused due to the absence of a required building warrant from Highland Council. Work resumed once approvals were secured, reducing the structure to rubble.
New Development on the Site
A new home will rise on the cleared site, owned by Scottish entrepreneur Harris Aslam. A spokesperson for the Aslam family expressed gratitude to Highland Council: “We are grateful to Highland Council for their swift support in approving a demolition warrant for Allt-na-Reigh, and for their continued assistance as the project progresses.”
The statement added: “The site has been fully secured, and we respectfully ask members of the public to refrain from accessing the area while demolition and subsequent construction works are ongoing in the interest of safety.”
Highland Council verified that the necessary paperwork received approval last month. The family spokesperson noted the site’s importance, framed by the stunning Three Sisters mountains and linked to its prior owner, renowned Scottish climber and inventor Dr. Hamish MacInnes, who passed away in 2020.
Honoring a Local Hero
Councillors unanimously greenlit the demolition plans in June 2024, paving the way for a fresh chapter that pays tribute to Dr. MacInnes. He pioneered an innovative ice axe and a stretcher now standard in global mountain rescue operations.
Councillor Andrew Baxter, who advocated for the demolition over the past 12 years, described the cottage as “a complete blight on the entry way into the beautiful Glen Coe scenic area. It was falling down, it had been a target for vandalism, and virtually every square inch of it was covered in graffiti. It was really an absolute eyesore and an embarrassment for people who lived locally.”
