A historic stag crafted from boulders has resurfaced on a hillside in Aberdeenshire, thanks to the five years of dedicated efforts by volunteers.
The Mormond Hill Stag, originally created in 1870, had gradually disappeared from view over the decades.
Local resident Doug Simpson became intrigued when he heard about it from a fellow hiker and then successfully pinpointed its location beneath the overgrown vegetation.
A substantial cleanup effort was undertaken, clearing gorse, heather, bracken, and trees to reveal the white boulders forming the stag.
This striking artwork, measuring 67 meters by 73 meters, was initially constructed over 150 years ago on Mormond Hill near Fraserbugh by estate tenants to commemorate their laird's wedding. They used locally quarried white quartz set into trenches cut into the turf, which required tens of thousands of stones, likely transported by horse and cart.
Over the years, the hillside, rising to 234 meters (769 feet), served various purposes, including hosting mobile phone masts. However, the Mormond Hill stag had been lost to time until keen walker Mr. Simpson embarked on an unconventional mission to restore it.
One day, during a group hike, a fellow walker in his 70s mentioned taking them to see the great white stag. Although he hadn't visited the stag since he was a child, they attempted to follow his memory of the route. Unfortunately, the path was entirely overgrown and impassable, leading to an abandoned outing. Nevertheless, Mr. Simpson's curiosity was piqued, and he began a more in-depth investigation to locate the stag.
After extensive research and assistance from an old map, they finally reached their goal. Mr. Simpson was struck by the sight of the stag, which had been completely concealed under years of overgrowth. He decided to initiate a campaign to clear the site and restore its visibility.
Social media posts garnered the support of volunteers from various age groups, including schoolchildren. What initially started as months of labor evolved into several years of determined efforts by the dedicated team, ultimately resulting in the stag's revival.
The ongoing task is now to maintain the stag's pristine appearance.
Mr. Simpson hopes the restored artwork will attract visitors from near and far.
"Especially if they could lend a hand with weeding when they visit," he quipped, "He's quite a magnificent creature." Photo by Hogweard, Wikimedia commons.