UK UK - Neil Skinner, 72, last seen midday, camping close Loch Dochard, Scottish Highlands, 8 May 2022

[Sillybilly]

Just checked and yes it was the 21st November, I sent my telephone number as requested because it stated that a telephone number was need to validate, I also sent name, address and documents but never received any reply, it stated that validation can take some considerable time

Thanks Seems there was a glitch in email communication somewhere along the way.

Please just re-send your email with [email protected] along with whatever documentation that was included.

So as not to derail this thread, any further correspondence should be with [email protected] and we'll keep tabs on it over there and try to get you verified asap.

 

[ZeroAlpha]

Neil must have been aware of his own limitations, so why would he agree or want to take part in such a strenuous walk over 6 days? His friends must have known that Neil would not be fit enough for the hike but took him anyway. And if we believe the story we are told, he struggled to get to Loch Dochard and then was left there. Did he brush them off so he could be on his own? Was there an argument because they felt Neil was holding them back? Was he even at Loch Dochard?

 

[Deleted member 350032]

Neil must have been aware of his own limitations, so why would he agree or want to take part in such a strenuous walk over 6 days? His friends must have known that Neil would not be fit enough for the hike but took him anyway. And if we believe the story we are told, he struggled to get to Loch Dochard and then was left there. Did he brush them off so he could be on his own? Was there an argument because they felt Neil was holding them back? Was he even at Loch Dochard?

All very good questions that people need to be asking because they make so much sense. What would a 72 year old do at a remote loch all alone for 6 days, don't forget he was frail, on medication and had 'got lost' on the Isle of Skye the tear previously, so was it safe to leave him alone for 6 days?

 

[Deleted member 350032]

Neil must have been aware of his own limitations, so why would he agree or want to take part in such a strenuous walk over 6 days? His friends must have known that Neil would not be fit enough for the hike but took him anyway. And if we believe the story we are told, he struggled to get to Loch Dochard and then was left there. Did he brush them off so he could be on his own? Was there an argument because they felt Neil was holding them back? Was he even at Loch Dochard?

There has also been certain 'facts' that are being passed around that are totally inaccurate, such as the last sighting was from a runner running along the track south of the loch saw Neil poke his head out of the tent as they passed the area. This is incorrect from whatever source you hear it from, the last sighting from a witness was of a person matching Neil's description seen walking along the southern track on the Sunday, this is stated in the Police Scotland reports. But don't forget the description of Neil and the photos are of Neil at 60 years old, he went missing at 72 years of age and looked totally different, therefore how can any witness clearly recognise Neil from photos some 12 years earlier?

 

[ZeroAlpha]

There has also been certain 'facts' that are being passed around that are totally inaccurate, such as the last sighting was from a runner running along the track south of the loch saw Neil poke his head out of the tent as they passed the area. This is incorrect from whatever source you hear it from, the last sighting from a witness was of a person matching Neil's description seen walking along the southern track on the Sunday, this is stated in the Police Scotland reports. But don't forget the description of Neil and the photos are of Neil at 60 years old, he went missing at 72 years of age and looked totally different, therefore how can any witness clearly recognise Neil from photos some 12 years earlier?

So the Police statement says he was "last seen walking in the area of Loch Dochard".

I would also question if the eyewitness that supposedly saw Neil at his tent while walking past on the track could have positively identified him, considering the distance from the track to the campsite and the weather conditions. It's not as if the tent was right next to the track.

 

[Deleted member 350032]

So the Police statement says he was "last seen walking in the area of Loch Dochard".

I would also question if the eyewitness that supposedly saw Neil at his tent while walking past on the track could have positively identified him, considering the distance from the track to the campsite and the weather conditions. It's not as if the tent was right next to the track.

More confusing is the description that Neil was seen wearing a green coat, if that's true where did he get the green coat from because reports state he gave his 'red' coat to the female friend, her coat would be far too small for him to wear. Therefore is this a misidentification of a hiker on the track that basically was an elderly gentleman?

 

[Charlie Bold]

There has also been certain 'facts' that are being passed around that are totally inaccurate, such as the last sighting was from a runner running along the track south of the loch saw Neil poke his head out of the tent as they passed the area. This is incorrect from whatever source you hear it from, the last sighting from a witness was of a person matching Neil's description seen walking along the southern track on the Sunday, this is stated in the Police Scotland reports. But don't forget the description of Neil and the photos are of Neil at 60 years old, he went missing at 72 years of age and looked totally different, therefore how can any witness clearly recognise Neil from photos some 12 years earlier?

Where does it say Neil was "last seen walking along the track"? It says he was last seen walking in the area, as that is what he was there doing with his friends.

The Police earlier stated there was a potential sighting of a runner along the path and a man possibly being Neil stuck his head out of the tent. That is a fact

<modsnip - personalizing>

 

[Charlie Bold]

The main path and its flanks were searched from day one onwards by ground teams, and helicopters searched further out from that. You can then quickly rule out the immediate area of the campsite and the main paths by day two of searching. Once you get into the rough terrain, off the beaten track, you need to start systematically searching grid by grid, marking off each grid that has been searched. Hand-held computer systems using GPS are great for this and will colour in the grid that has been searched and confirmed. How much beyond the "immediate area" was searched is not fully known.

Yes. And to systematically search grids of such an area would take teams. Not one man and his dogs. I fail to see how any of that area can be classed as clear

 

[Deleted member 350032]

Yes. And to systematically search grids of such an area would take teams. Not one man and his dogs. I fail to see how any of that area can be classed as clear

The area has had Police teams, mountain rescue teams, dogs searches, helicopter flyovers, then we have spent 20 months searching

I think you can safely say it's been searched by now

 

[Deleted member 350032]

Where does it say Neil was "last seen walking along the track"? It says he was last seen walking in the area, as that is what he was there doing with his friends.

The Police earlier stated there was a potential sighting of a runner along the path and a man possibly being Neil stuck his head out of the tent. That is fact

<modsnip - personalizing>

Potential and Possibility are not Facts, <modsnip>

 

[Deleted member 350032]

So the Police statement says he was "last seen walking in the area of Loch Dochard".

I would also question if the eyewitness that supposedly saw Neil at his tent while walking past on the track could have positively identified him, considering the distance from the track to the campsite and the weather conditions. It's not as if the tent was right next to the track.

Very true, something we checked out when on location, there was no way someone could clearly identify a person from a head sticking out of a tent at the distance from the track to the tent, even during clear daylight hours, let alone when light was fading.

I spoke to police officers who were involved in the search at the time and have since returned on numerous occasions, the officers confirmed that the last 'confirmed ' sighting of Neil was on the track just south of Loch Dochard.

 

[ZeroAlpha]

Very true, something we checked out when on location, there was no way someone could clearly identify a person from a head sticking out of a tent at the distance from the track to the tent, even during clear daylight hours, let alone when light was fading.

I spoke to police officers who were involved in the search at the time and have since returned on numerous occasions, the officers confirmed that the last 'confirmed ' sighting of Neil was on the track just south of Loch Dochard.

Yep, standing on the path and looking over to the tent site, it's difficult to see how they could have identified him. Although it was most likely him if the narrative is correct, as there was nobody else there.

What time was the sighting on the path? And what direction was Neil heading in? He could have walked for miles, as his daughter suggested and is some distance away in an area not searched. There is a chance that some of us have been within a few feet of Neil, but then again, he might be miles out of the search box.

The other thing I thought about when I was walking around there was the loch again. In a lot of cases where people go missing near a body of water, they have gone in the water. Could Neil be in the loch? It is unlikely, and I know it was searched and is very shallow around the edge, but it wouldn't be the first time that side scan-sonar failed to locate a body. And we have the Finn Creaney case in Sutherland where the evidence points to him drowning in Loch Naver, but no body has been found. Loch Naver is, of course, a much bigger and deeper loch.

It is a perplexing case, and I have taken a deep interest in it as I walk and climb in the area often.

 

[Deleted member 350032]

Yep, standing on the path and looking over to the tent site, it's difficult to see how they could have identified him. Although it was most likely him if the narrative is correct, as there was nobody else there.

What time was the sighting on the path? And what direction was Neil heading in? He could have walked for miles, as his daughter suggested and is some distance away in an area not searched. There is a chance that some of us have been within a few feet of Neil, but then again, he might be miles out of the search box.

The other thing I thought about when I was walking around there was the loch again. In a lot of cases where people go missing near a body of water, they have gone in the water. Could Neil be in the loch? It is unlikely, and I know it was searched and is very shallow around the edge, but it wouldn't be the first time that side scan-sonar failed to locate a body. And we have the Finn Creaney case in Sutherland where the evidence points to him drowning in Loch Naver, but no body has been found. Loch Naver is, of course, a much bigger and deeper loch.

It is a perplexing case, and I have taken a deep interest in it as I walk and climb in the area often.

The officer i spoke to could only confirm the so called sighting on the path, he had no knowledge of any other sighting, that officer has been upto the loch several times over the past two years

The Loch is something I cannot account for, I have no knowledge of waterways, currents or the such. All I know is there is an area of the loch we're anything dead for example a deer etc eventually ends up, that area is quite deep but it has been searched several times. To drown yourself in the loch you would have to wade out a good 100 metres, the loch is shallow for a good way, the drop is very gradual. All the water eventually flows to Loch Tulla, again somewhere I have not searched

For me the searching for Neil has come to an end, the hostility from certain members of Neil's family because I did infact carry out searches is shocking. To be treated in such a way for conducting searches in rain, sleet, snow over such difficult terrain over a period of 20 months is nothing short of disgraceful in my opinion.

 

[ZeroAlpha]

The officer i spoke to could only confirm the so called sighting on the path, he had no knowledge of any other sighting, that officer has been upto the loch several times over the past two years

The Loch is something I cannot account for, I have no knowledge of waterways, currents or the such. All I know is there is an area of the loch we're anything dead for example a deer etc eventually ends up, that area is quite deep but it has been searched several times. To drown yourself in the loch you would have to wade out a good 100 metres, the loch is shallow for a good way, the drop is very gradual. All the water eventually flows to Loch Tulla, again somewhere I have not searched

For me the searching for Neil has come to an end, the hostility from certain members of Neil's family because I did infact carry out searches is shocking. To be treated in such a way for conducting searches in rain, sleet, snow over such difficult terrain over a period of 20 months is nothing short of disgraceful in my opinion.

I have walked the southern part of Loch Tulla between Abhainn Shira and the River Orchy. The local that I spoke to wasn't sure if there had been any extensive searches in that area.

I am sorry to hear about the hostility. It seems so odd.

 

[Deleted member 350032]

I have walked the southern part of Loch Tulla between Abhainn Shira and the River Orchy. The local that I spoke to wasn't sure if there had been any extensive searches in that area.

I am sorry to hear about the hostility. It seems so odd.

I have helped in other searches and the families were so grateful, still keep intouch months later but Neil's family were so defensive which then became hostile within days of me starting yo search. I believe they never thought I would actually keep my word and start searching. What they are worried about I will leave others to believe !

 

[ZeroAlpha]

I have helped in other searches and the families were so grateful, still keep intouch months later but Neil's family were so defensive which then became hostile within days of me starting yo search. I believe they never thought I would actually keep my word and start searching. What they are worried about I will leave others to believe !

Very strange. I know some locals who don't believe the official narrative.

And we have the other strange issue that the "friends" that were with Neil never bothered to speak to his family regarding his disappearance and his last days with them. Neil's family had to get that from the police, who spoke to the "friends" and then passed that information on.

 

[seasideForest]

I have helped in other searches and the families were so grateful, still keep intouch months later but Neil's family were so defensive which then became hostile within days of me starting yo search.

There's nothing so funny as folks, as they say. Who knows why Neil's family got defensive, then hostile? It may not have had anything to do with you but just some unaccountable reaction of theirs due to past issues, like undealt with happenings, emotions, whatever, in their own family. Obviously not pleasant for you, though.

MOO

 

[Deleted member 350032]

There's nothing so funny as folks, as they say. Who knows why Neil's family got defensive, then hostile? It may not have had anything to do with you but just some unaccountable reaction of theirs due to past issues, like undealt with happenings, emotions, whatever, in their own family. Obviously not pleasant for you, though.

MOO

To be honest it's a total mess, the locals don't believe the story and trust me whatever estate you go on there is always someone that knows your around. I have been in the wild areas way past Oykell Bridge and everytime i am up there an estate manager drives over to us in his landrover. The Loch Dochard area has Lodges, a farm and of course Clashgour Hut, someone would have seen them.
<modsnip - not victim friendly>

 

[Charlie Bold]

The area has had Police teams, mountain rescue teams, dogs searches, helicopter flyovers, then we have spent 20 months searching

I think you can safely say it's been searched by now

100% it's been searched. That's very different to being cleared. There have been many previous examples of people being found at a later date in areas that have been searched. Police will never say any area is 100%.

<modsnip - personalizing>

 

[ZeroAlpha]

We are approaching three years missing and important to note that Neil was one of a cluster of men who went missing in the highlands in the first half of 2022 and still haven't been found. Neil Skinner at Loch Dochard, Glyn Smith at Oykel Bridge, Finn Creaney at Loch Naver, and Derek Hepburn at Loch Mullardoch.

It is a somewhat unusual cluster and the only other outstanding missing person in the highlands I believe is Goffredo Bondanelli, missing since May 2016.

Search teams could have been within feet of them at various times, it happens.