Popular influencer trashes Scots beauty spot leaving mess of scorched trees & piles of bottles surrounding tent

Scottish Sun

a day ago

Locals claim August Vallat and friends hacked down a silver birch tree for firewood and left behind beer bottles, rubbish, and charred earth
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A POPULAR influencer and his pals have sparked outrage after trashing a protected Scottish beauty spot with rubbish and hacking down a silver birch tree for firewood.
August Vallat, a 19-year-old Danish social media personality with over a million followers on his Instagram page, outdoorgingerchannel, promotes the ethos of 'leaving no trace' during his global adventures.
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August Vallat was filming content for his 1million followers on the Isle of Skye
Credit: Instagram
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They left out pieces of raw chicken and tried to burn a silver birch tree
Credit: Adrian Trendall
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They posted clips of them carrying the birch tree to the tent
Credit: Instagram
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The influencer was confronted by the angry walker for the mess they left
Credit: Adrian Trendall
Vallat said he "quit the boring school system to test himself out there in the wilderness," and wants to "study to become a mountain rescuer," with his number one goal to "climb Everest, according to a GoFundMe.
However, locals on the Isle of Skye were left furious when Vallat and his companions turned the picturesque Cuillin mountain path into their own party venue.
The trio are said to have chopped down a silver birch tree and left behind a scorched mess of beer bottles, rubbish, and charred earth.
Videos uploaded to the teen creator's page showed the group topless, drinking beer in the water, and boasting about how "cold water was good for their immune system."
In an earlier video, Vallat, dressed in a woolly jumper, shared his plans to "survive the next three days" with "Scottish guys," explaining how they intended to "fish, set a fire, and eat sausages."
He even posted tips to his followers advising how to "leave no trace" on their next camping adventure.
But shocked hiker Adrian Trendall encountered the aftermath on Wednesday morning while visiting the range to climb the Cuillin Ridge of Sgùrr Dearg.
He confronted hungover Vallat the next morning about the disgusting mess surrounding their tents.
Disturbing photographs shared on the Cuillin Facebook group revealed the destruction left behind by the group, including packed raw uncooked chicken, broken camping equipment, and rubbish scattered for metres across the path.
Adrian described the scene to stunned island residents: "The tents were surrounded by a mass of rubbish.
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"Drinks bottles were strewn everywhere, packets of raw chicken left open and abandoned, and bags of rubbish torn apart by the wind, spreading their contents far and wide.
"Perhaps worst of all was the fire the campers had attempted to light.
"A silver birch tree had been hacked down and dragged to the tents, but its fresh, sappy wood proved incombustible.
"There aren't many trees in and around the Cuillin, so it was particularly upsetting to see the blackened remnants of what had been a healthy tree."
After confronting the group, Adrian recounted: 'He thought he had the gift of the gab.
"But what came out was more like the gift of the gob.
"He claimed the tree was already down, just 'begging' to be burned.'
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The trio posted videos of them drinking bottles similar to what was left as litter
Credit: Instagram
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Residents slammed them for the mess they had left overnight
Credit: Instagram
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They posted a video of them moving the tree that was recently felled
However, footage posted to Vallat's public stories tells a different tale- one of his friends is seen dragging the birch tree along with the caption: 'Warrior.'
Nature enthusiasts condemned the irresponsible behaviour of the influencer. One remarked: "Pure scum."
Another commented: "The only reason they cleared it up, Adrian, is because they were caught."
A third added: "Even documenting the hacking down of this tree.
"Absolutely horrific behaviour from someone with a platform and following."
A fourth wrote: "Uneducated, self-centred cretins only concerned about their own needs—heat, coffee, Insta material... Well done for dragging them out of their pit and giving them what for."
The Cuillin is protected under various designations, including a Special Protection Area (SPA) and Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). It is also part of the Cuillin Hills National Scenic Area.
The area is part of the MacLeod Estate, which also manages historic sites such as Dunvegan Castle on the island.
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The beauty site was left with burnt out land and raw meat
Credit: Supplied
MacLeod Estate have been approached for comment.
August Vallat has been approached for comment.