The Beast
Aleister Crowley was one of the most controversial figures ever to walk the Highlands — an occultist, poet, mountaineer and provocateur whose life challenged convention at every turn. Born in 1875, Crowley rejected the rigid beliefs of his upbringing and set out to forge his own path, founding the philosophy of Thelema and becoming known as “the wickedest man in the world.” Yet beyond the mysticism, he was also a serious climber, credited with pioneering modern mountaineering techniques, including early development of the crampon — the spiked boot that transformed climbing on ice. His time at Boleskine House on the shores of Loch Ness only deepened his mystique, tying his story forever to the Highlands.
The MacGregor Story
Now this is a different kind of Highland tale. Crowley wasn’t a clan chief or cattleman — he was a man chasing extremes, whether on the mountains or in the mind. He climbed in the Himalayas when it was still raw, dangerous and largely unknown, pushing boundaries with equipment and ideas that would shape modern mountaineering. And then there’s Boleskine, just down the road — but here’s where it brushes closer to home. Through his association with Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers — one of the founders of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn — Crowley was drawn into a world where the MacGregor name already carried weight and symbolism. Add to that his own Highland connections: he married here, and when he purchased Boleskine House, he did so under the name MacGregor — stepping, in his own way, into that legacy. From there, those same restless instincts turned inward, into ritual, philosophy and something far more controversial.
Strip it back though, and it’s a story we recognise — defiance, individuality, and a refusal to follow the expected path. He shocked society, challenged religion, and left a legacy that still sparks debate. Love him or loathe him, Crowley left his mark on these Highlands — proof that this land doesn’t just forge warriors and rebels, but those bold enough to explore the very edge of everything.