Britain's Bigfoot: Paranormal

A new article from me on why the so-called "British Bigfoot" is clearly not a flesh-and-blood animal. It's much weirder than that...

The "British Bigfoot" - 2 Parts

There's a new 2-part article from me, on how and why I got interested in the seriously weird phenomenon of Bigfoot in Britain.

Here's 1.

And here's 2.

Here's how it starts:

"On more than a few occasions I have been asked why it is I take an interest in such a certain, deeply weird, phenomenon; namely that of the so-called 'British Bigfoot.' After all, while it’s not inconceivable that unknown ape-like animals could dwell in the forests of the United States, or on the slopes of the Himalayas, to suggest that such things might actually exist in the UK often results in shaking heads and rolling eyes. But, hell, I don’t care. There are numerous reports of Sasquatch-style things in the UK, many of a strange yet intriguing nature. So, someone has to look into the matter, right? Right! And 'look into the matter' I certainly have, and on dozens of occasions. But, how did it all begin? Well, like this…"

The Problem of the British Bigfoot: Food

Been busy on deadlines for the past week, which is why there hasn't been much going on here. But, back to normal now. And so there are a few new things to post, including a Mysterious Universe article on Bigfoot in Britain - which is a very controversial issue and which is clearly not a flesh and blood animal. Which is the point of the article. It starts like this:

"For centuries reports have surfaced from numerous parts of the UK of what can only be described as 'wild men' and 'British Bigfoot.' The cases are problematic because the idea that such things could exist in the UK is utterly ridiculous. The size (or, rather, the lack of size) of the UK dictates that entire colonies of huge apes simply cannot live alongside around 60 million people and never get identified, uncovered, or killed. And we should note too that there is nothing – at all – in the fossil record to show that the UK has ever been the home of apes of gorilla-size and upwards.

"What makes the story even more problematic is that the vast majority of the people who claim to have encountered such things in the UK come across as very lucid, normal, and down to earth. They just want an answer to what it was they encountered. In other words, we have credible people talking about incredible things that simply cannot exist. At least, not in the UK they can’t. So, people are definitely seeing something; I do want to stress that. In previous articles and books, however, I have made my position clear that I think Bigfoot is a creature of paranormal proportions."

Here's the article.

Britain's Bigfoot: The Names

My new Mysterious Universe article is on the subject of Bigfoot in Britain - and specifically the many and varied names that have been applied to the beast...

The Monster of Ben Macdhui...

Over at his Shuker Nature blog, Dr. Karl Shuker has an excellent, new article on the "Big Grey Man of Ben Macdhui," a somewhat "British Bigfoot"-type phenomenon - albeit one saturated in a wealth of Fortean phenomena and lore.

I wrote extensively about the "BGM" in my Wildman book, and the story is a strange one indeed - one that takes the mystery far beyond mere flesh and blood realms...

A British Bigfoot...?

And while we're on the topic of Bigfoot in Britain, there is this story from the UK's Telegraph newspaper on a hairy man-thing running around the English county of Kent. Either that, or it's someone monkeying around...

Smugglers and Strange Creatures

And another new post from me at Mysterious Universe, which begins...

"Just recently, I had a fascinating conversation with a fellow researcher of so-called “British Bigfoot” reports - which is a particular and favorite area of investigation for me, and which was the subject of my 2012 book, Wildman. It turns out that he has been studying a number of stories relative to hairy 'wild men,' cannibalistic sub-humans, and other, similar, horrific humanoids reported in the English county of Devon way back in the 1600s and the 1700s. In doing so he has uncovered something very interesting and eye-opening.

"If I sound just a little bit mysterious here, it’s because my colleague in question is preparing a major paper on all of this, hence why – right now – I’m being more than fairly vague about his identity. His paper should, however, appear in a major periodical before the end of this year. And, no, I’m not blowing any whistles by telling you the basics of the story. He’s cool with it."

The Shape-Shifting Kelpie

"According to Scottish legend, the Kelpie – or the water-horse – is a wholly supernatural creature that haunts the rivers, bridges and lochs of ancient Scotland and that has the uncanny ability to shape-shift. The most common form that the Kelpie takes is that of a horse – hence the name. It stands by the water’s edge, tempting any passing and weary traveller that might consider continuing on his or her journey to mount it. That, however, is always the fatal downfall of the traveller, as invariably the beast is then said to rear violently and charge head-long into the depths of the river or loch, and thus drowning its terrified rider in the process."

Those are the opening words to my latest Mysterious Universe article on the weird connection between the British Bigfoot and water...

A Q&A of the Monster Kind

Over at the Australian office of the Center for Fortean Zoology there's a new interview with me about my cryptozoological research, as well as my views on such creatures as Megalania, the British Bigfoot, Orang-Pendek and much more, including some of favorite crypto-themed books and how and why I got interested in cryptozoology.

You can find it right here.

The Beast-Man That Wasn't

Matt Salusbury provides us with an entertaining story of a quest for the truth about a certain "British Bigfoot." It's a post that opens as follows...

"In November last year, there were widespread news reports  of a sighting of what became known as the Tunbridge Wells Bigfoot, a roaring, black hairy figure 'eight feet tall' with red eyes that startled an eyewitness walking on The Common at night. London Cryptozoology Club decided to investigate.

"It should be noted that we went to Tunbridge Wells with a very sceptical view of this so-called 'Tunbridge Wells Bigfoot' (TWB) phenomenon. We were particularly sceptical of an online posting by 'Greham S,' who claimed that a courting couple on a bench in The Common had witnessed the 'Ape-Man' back in World War Two."

And here's where you can find the full story, as well as a number of related photos...

Neil Arnold: Reviewing Wildman

Neil Arnold - the author of many excellent books on cryptozoological and paranormal subjects, including Monster! and The Mystery Animals of the British Isles: London - has written a great review of my book, Wildman, the subject of which is Bigfoot in Britain.

Here's Neil's review:

"For centuries there have been sporadic reports in the wilds of Britain of strange, bipedal hair-covered beings, akin to the humanoid known as Bigfoot, often sighted in the Pacific Northwest. Although Britain harbours dense woodlands and ancient forest it has never been inhabited by any species of ape - so, what exactly are people seeing? Flesh and blood creature undiscovered by science? Hoaxers dressed up in gorilla suits? Paranormal manimals? Or something far weirder?

"Nick Redfern has written one of the most important cryptozoological and Fortean books of all time in 'Wildman,' because whilst books regarding American Bigfoot are two a penny nowadays, this quest is something altogether more unique as Nick delves into the archives, interviews witnesses, and trudges through some of Britain's most inhospitable - and not so remote - wilds in search of a creature that simply cannot be. And yet the reports persist, a majority describing hulking ape-men with burning red eyes.

"These figures do not sound like your average monkey that has escaped from a zoo or circus , and yet Nick looks at these possibilities too with numerous cases pertaining to escapees from menageries and the like. Theories are put forward by several dedicated monster-hunters and zoologists as to what these manifestations could be, connecting such forms with age-old legends such as the Green Man, and the Woodwose of Medieval lore.

"It's as if folklore has come to life. Nick peels back the layers of these incredible mysteries, and covers all manner of surreal and frightening cases from places such as Cannock Chase in Staffordshire, Rendlesham Forest in Suffolk, and the Bolam Lake area of Northumberland where a group of witnesses claimed to have seen a hairy man-beast.

"No stone remains unturned in 'Wildman', so, if you don't know your Man-Monkey from you Shug-Monkey, then it's time to grab a torch and with stout heart venture into the deep, dark woods of British folklore, and let Nick Redfern be your guide. 'Wildman' is essential reading for any monster-hunter, ghost investigator, paranormal enthusiast, zoologist, cryptozoologist, historian and seeker of all things unnatural. Brace yourself for a hairy ride."

Linda Godfrey Reviews Wildman

Linda Godfrey - author of Real Wolfmen, The Michigan Dogman, Hunting the American Werewolf, and many other titles - reviews my book, Wildman!, the subject of which is the "British Bigfoot."

Here's Linda'a review:

"Bigfoot in the British Isles? The idea of huge, hairy man-apes hiding out in the manor-dotted, bucolic countryside of the British Isles seems as likely at first blush as the queen switching out her Earl Grey for chugs of Red Bull. But Nick Redfern's new book, Wild Man! The Monstrous and Mysterious Saga of the British Bigfoot, (CFZ Press, 2012) makes an exhaustive and surprisingly compelling case that people have indeed been seeing anomalous, Bigfoot-like creatures from Shugborough to Derbyshire, perhaps for centuries!

"Redfern has to be one of the most prolific current writers on strange and cryptozoological topics -- he releases books faster than I can find time to review them. But I wanted to make sure that I got this one posted because it covers so many topics of interest to the worldwide cadre of Bigfoot-seekers. It has the additional advantage of being authored by a native of the British soil who possesses many area connections and much firsthand knowledge.

"Redfern starts by grounding the wild man topic in medieval history, harking back to the wodewose, or hairy, naked men seen throughout the forests of England since at least the early 14th century. But he notes that the wodewose was described as very close to human underneath all that fur.

"The nearly 300, large pages are packed with anecdotes in a timeframe that ranges from ancient to contemporary, but the book is about more than mysterious case studies. Redfern doesn't shy away from possible explanations for the anomalous creatures, venturing into possibilities such as misidentifications with primates released from the private zoos of eccentric collectors. He also notes the difficulty of explaining how large predators could subsist in the English countryside without detection and lays out a theory that they may be 'semi-physical' or products of some other process that is not presently known to science.

"Whatever these wild things are, Redfern's examination of them belongs on the bookshelf of anyone interested in anomalous creatures, especially those of the hairy hominoid kind. There may be more beasties hiding in that famed British mist than anyone has previously guessed."

The Beast of Bolam: 10 Years On

Next month, January 2013, will mark the 10th anniversary of an on-site investigation of a very weird set of events that involved a series of Bigfoot-type encounters at Bolam Lake Country Park, in Northumberland, England.

And it ended with a spectacularly bizarre encounter on the part of the Center for Fortean Zoology's director, Jon Downes, who was there coordinating the quest for the beast.

But, as Jon noted at the time, and as he still confirms today, whatever the thing was, it clearly was not a flesh and blood animal - at least not in the way we understand the term.

So, why am I mentioning this now?

Well, not just because of the anniversary angle, but because my new book, Wildman! The Monstrous and Mysterious Saga of the "British Bigfoot" tells this story in full, and includes a number of seldom-addressed aspects of the story, as well as photos of the site of Jon's dramatic encounter.

For me, it's a case that definitively demonstrates why the British Bigfoot should be perceived as a creature of paranormal - rather than flesh and blood - origins, however we define what the paranormal might actually be!