Ken Smith's Life Of Solitude | The Hermit of Treig | BBC Scotland

Ken Smith, otherwise known as the Hermit of Treig, has lived in solitude for 40 years. But can he continue to do so with ill health and a declining memory?
Click here to subscribe to your BBC Scotland channel: bit.ly/BBC-Scotland-Subscribe
See more from The Hermit Of Treig here: bbc.in/3n0Xv20
We’re also on other channels too!
Twitter: / bbcscotland
Facebook: / bbcscotland
Instagram: / bbcscotland

[@curlyvik]

What a wonderful man, living a remarkably happy life. Fair play to him! Respect and contentment, so important.

[@badr8b8t]

Appears there's a TV and a feature version. May Ken live beyond 102 in our hearts. The director did a service to humanity. 54 mile round trip on foot to post a letter. That touches my soul.

[@harrycurrie5295]

What a kind hearted man living his life the way he wants

[@lisasmith9752]

What a sweet and honest man.

[@pattimmins3777]

There is a good lesson in this story this chap has turned his back on the so called normal way of life he has very little in the way of status and material items yet is very happy and content if he can be so happy with very little and the people who strive for the material things and status are unhappy it proves that you can be happy living a simple life.

[@sariahlace5944]

Well said. 💯💯👍👍

[@tg__]

this does look like the best kind of life

[@PAMCMLXXXV]

@andrewtate

[@tg__]

@Gregor Levén that seems like an awesome life

[@bruceblunderfield5431]

I absolutely understand the hermit life! I rescued a mate now for over 6 months as he rescued me after my last divorce. But it's now to the point I had to ask him to leave as the walls were closing in on me. My elder son says with venom in his tone that I'll end up a very lonely old man! My reply is it can't come fast enough , you promise? But I'm happy alone! My close mates are the same! Often PTSD picks out same type of people. But mentally? Leave us alone, we are happy as!😊

[@BenDover-ln6ns]

I remember when the train use to pick/drop him off for essentials in Fort William, nice of the railwaymen to do such a thing, something that’s been happening years, i wonder if they still do it. Hope so, what a lovely man.

[@movies101pictures5]

This guy is just living life

[@paul5403]

God bless you brother , you live and have lived . So many people go through an entire lifetime without do either. You are an inspiration , I wish you all the best .

[@ootnboots145]

Brilliant , theres actually two hermits at Loch Treig . Davie is the other one who has been there 14years .Met him the other day at Corrour . Really interesting guy ..

[@fqrainy]

Nice thing,i would like to live that way someday

[@whisperwhite2759]

Is it legal to live like them tho I mean doesn't someone come and try move them I wouldn't I'd love to live like them

[@AdamSababa]

Hey, got a link for the documentary buddy?

[@oriwalter]

@@whisperwhite2759 Good question in Germany is not allowed to live / sleep in the wilderness.

[@whisperwhite2759]

@@oriwalter why do the Germans do that tho

[@shitcasecinema]

Just watched the hour long documentary, thoroughly enjoyed it. Such a beautifully filmed insight into this man's wonderful way of living. I hope he can continue to do so for many more years to come.

[@user-jp2vj4cc6p]

Where can I find the doc my friend?

[@micl4021]

Yes, looking to find it also...

[@user-jp2vj4cc6p]

@@MrVal024 couldn’t find it anywhere , I’ll link it here if I do! I hope your day is good too sir.

[@archiecraig581]

What a fantastic man god bless you and keep well and safe

[@adriano8729]

Legend! I wish him every success for a happy healthy long life!

[@danielp6984]

Will be using this as part of lesson plan for teaching, thanks very much BBC Scotland and Ken!

[@kaymorrice8141]

Loved his gentle Derbyshire accent!

[@MultiJoe84]

What a remarkable man.

[@australiantruckspotting8883]

I live in Australia and have been to many remote places here but even so, I have felt a very remote atmosphere at the outer parts of Scotland.

[@mitchsteele2927]

My hat goes off to you Ken, I wish you all the best, stay safe 👍

[@sarahmontgomery2725]

Really nice documentary, and what a lovely man

[@alanmcpherson3682]

Great documentary. Yhanks

[@rockclima]

Absolutely Remarkable Guy I watched this yesterday 🙌

[@adrianadacula4961]

You're,a genius man 👍👍👍👍❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@jamesdouglas9420]

Fantastic clip looking to get access to this here in Canada.

[@jonashimmelberger5105]

What a cool guy, check out his ride! Lots of love from Switzerland!

[@caminoalavirtud566]

😊😊😊 amazing man 💙💙🙏🙏🤗🤗

[@davyhenry8985]

He is living the life.

[@Bertie_Ahern]

My dream would be to never have any form of social contact with another human being ever again. They are all ghastly and toxic. I often dream of being the only person left on earth after a deadly virus wipes them out.

[@EEEbrahim3971]

Me too

[@helendunningham3785]

Continue to live your lift of contentment😊

[@SirPeter6464]

A great watch. Catch it on Iplayer.. 👍

[@Karl-dg7rm]

What a lovely guy..... ATB KEN👍👍

[@float223223]

Im so glad i watched the film when it came out, but i really wish i could watch it again. Sadly i cant find it anywhere now. Just reading his book. Its a real page turner. Hes lived an extraordinary life.

[@sheilat3839]

Amazing man

[@dongoldney]

Amazing fella

[@harryridley2714]

Truely brilliant

[@user-yw3pc1oe3h]

Удивлена и восхищена! Сильная личность. Интересный человек. Хотелось бы так хотя бы попробовать, да вот только даже в воображении не могу сложить такую картину жизни.

[@granthoebeeck1366]

Bless man

[@mccandless1]

Why is this no longer on iPlayer? I can't seem to find it anywhere. The one decent think the BBC have and they make it unavailable.

[@michaelfitzsimmons7307]

Brilliant 👌

[@davidferguson9612]

May your sea remain calm young man 🤗

[@denishrovat3464]

Very nice video

[@sonyaneal6539]

May God Bless this man, is he still living!? A true inspiration ❤he reminds me of my dad, my hero! Peace, Joy and most of all Love in the Most Holy Light of Christ Jesus

[@EarlEBird-fz6yr]

A wonderful book too!

[@leeharrison7153]

🙏🏾for us.

[@johnmccarron]

Hope he lives a long time ! Never met but pass his place regular .

[@spbtvmaster]

Дедушке здоровья! Молодой леди снявшей кино - творческих успехов и любви!

[@annstubbs2256]

Lovely guy ❤

[@user-me7yp9qz7z]

Que boa história.isso é que é vida!

[@thewise3551]

Fair play to him, the worlds gone mental. I don’t blame him for leaving it all behind.

[@yesterday1396]

If I had the wilderness skills, I'll do it in a heart beat.

[@fletch397]

Learn them

[@martaflorflop2876]

Eu entendo ele, chego um dia que viver nessa sociedade de pessoas má nos deixa desanimado de viver em meio a gente ruim

[@roseroses4474]

Is there anywhere for me to watch the full documentary?

[@AdamSababa]

Anybody got a link to the full documentary? 😅

[@PPF1983]

Where can we watch this ? - it’s now unavailable on iplayer 😢

[@brunoguisilva1914]

Quem veio pelo fatos desconhecido??? Rsrs

[@chisholmtrailbbqsmokers8076]

Spiritual Life

[@carlosmacmartin4205]

Best wishes, Ken 😊

[@sariahlace5944]

So freeing I need this life,but with a twist,of modern day amenities.

[@robertjsmith]

It’s always raining

[@davidegatti4689]

incredible how those hermits often choose cold and inhospital places instead of some quiet, warm tropical paradise. Could be waaay more easy😮

[@mancpaul01]

I worry that should he fall very ill, that social services would force him into care. If I was Ken, this would be my nightmare situation. I would like to go out, in the place I have built my life. No compromise. Simple as that.

[@FinMcD]

Please repeat!

[@frankpowell2178]

Yep thats what I did yrs ago, the system is broken i will survive

[@elixr7777]

Can we switch places🤣

[@geordiejoe3482]

Reminds me of the great (to me, anyway! ) Mike tomkies

[@raulnavarrete1322]

❤

[@helendunningham3785]

I totally agree money does not bring health and happiness

[@MrBerwicklaw]

A very good film and Ken Smith is an appealing guy. However it does rather gild the lily. Loch Treig is not by a very, very, long way "the most isolated place in Britain ". It is practically adjacent to a major road and railway. There is a railway station (halt) at Tulloch only c. 2 miles from the end of the loch with regular trains to Fort William . There is also a bus service to Fort William, on which Ken would travel free. Ken "having to walk 27 miles to post a letter is complete and utter hogwash. " unless of course he wants to walk 27 miles . Ken may be a loveable semi hermit but he is not meaningfully isolated .

[@jasonhiggins6431]

I was thinking that , he shops in Morrisons in town , sometimes in tescos too , hermit to be taken with a pinch of salt 😂

[@elixr7777]

I wish I was this guy

[@doktordanomite9105]

I wish i could do this but im afraid of hurting the people i leave behind

[@3266393]

the only hurt is the one you do to yourself if you restrain to do things for thinking in others

[@doktordanomite9105]

@@3266393 sounds convenient, not what we see in practice

[@johnhodgkinson9674]

Does anybody no how he is doing be great to hear if he is ok

[@johnhodgkinson9674]

Anybody ?

[@ungabunga9581]

@@johnhodgkinson9674 He's okay at the moment, he's publishing a book at the end of the month.

[@johnhodgkinson9674]

@@ungabunga9581 many thanks please keep me updated 🙏

[@kevinmaylam1680]

No pardon me

[@dicey8928]

What an amazing man but what was he draining from the tree 🌳😳

[@wattiehalliday7552]

sap to make wine

[@dicey8928]

@@wattiehalliday7552 💋

[@badr8b8t]

Birch sap.

[@philipnorton22]

I think if I was gonna go hermit. It would be in a hot country.

[@chipbuttytime3396]

Funny that, here is me thinking a hermit would not want any kind of interaction like this..... what a crock

[@bladeEf33]

He is lucky not bears 🐻 tigers 🐅 or Leon's 🦁there. But he so good story!

[@robertkerr8205]

Rather see the Bonnie Lassie interviewer!

[@enzomaidana5369]

I went to the woods with my dogs, a small burner, I had hot water, some sandwiches, my music and podcasts.. it was very nice. but after three hours it started to feel a little monotonous, you would say, boring... also my dogs they had a great day and all but they were tired, and started to look at me and the car, at me and the car, and with a look in ther faces like, hey pops, should we go home now? is not that easy to part with society. we are social. the dogstoo

[@skar5541]

Ur a mans man. All the best

[@TheManDownstairs13]

Depressing.

[@EEEbrahim3971]

What?

[@hunta.gatherer]

Hes a gun

[@cazzi1929]

Is it not illegal to live there like that unless you own the land?

[@dannycockburn5238]

He worked on the estate for years then retired and decided to build a shack out the way. Don’t think he had any permission to but the owner doesn’t mind him being there. Mind she has 60k acres

[@cazzi1929]

@@dannycockburn5238 thanks for that info. What a shame all that land is now owned by so few when it was once the veins of Scotland for most of its history.

[@lorrainerooke9087]

What’s in the glass jars?

[@SpottedCreeper]

Alcohol made from birch tree sap I think

[@badr8b8t]

Birch sap

[@dannycockburn5238]

He makes moonshine and homemade cider. Met him many times I used to work on the estate. Would pick him up hitch hiking on his way back home at 8.30am having left at 5am to go to the spar.

[@weeman8911]

Dermzo an mark we’re getting mwi in the hermits hoose the other day the hermit wis on the eccys am the broon

[@rollzolo]

Home of the Jesus and Mary chain