A man from Aberdeenshire has found £500 of gold in Glenshee after following clues left by a faerie gold enthusiast.
The hunt will continue in Skye next week as more gold will be hidden near popular tourist spots in the Fairy Glen, Fairy Pools and Fairy Bridge.
Michael Barron found the treasure after following clues that were left on a YouTube channel called Faerie Gold.
The 36-year-old dad only got into gold panning when his partner bought him a toy kit last Christmas.
Following the trail to gold
“I did lots of research, endlessly reading books and watching YouTube videos.”
Mr Barron eventually came across the Faerie Gold channel and decided to have a go following the clues to see if he could find it.
After a search, he found a total of five grams of gold – worth £500.
“I was really buzzing because it was my second attempt and I’m from Huntly so it’s 70 miles there and 70 miles back.
“I know Glenshee well, so I recognised where in the video he was walking. He was beside a standing stone that was linked to faeries and it was around there where I found it.”
The videos with the clues have been uploaded by George Marshall, 56, from Angus. He posts them under his Indiana Jones inspired alter-ego Dr Jonathan Bones.
The Glenshee golden casket is the first of 36 that he plans to hide around Scotland – worth a total £26,000.
Mr Marshall said: “I’m over the moon it has been found because it gives a proof of concept to the project.
“Michael Barron did it perfectly. He followed the clues and got the reward.”
Mr Marshall explains in his videos how the lost faerie gold was created a millennium ago in the faerie realm, and some of its mystical properties.
Stories of faeries have been a part of British folklore for many centuries.
‘I want people to get back into the countryside’
Mr Marshall added: “I have had adventures. I’ve seen the beautiful natural treasures of Scotland.
“I’ve been gold prospecting for 12 years, and have found gold from 28 burns and rivers in Scotland.
“I wanted people to get back into the countryside. I want grannies and grandpas, aunties and uncles, mums and dads, to take the kids or grandkids, or nieces or nephews to go and experience nature’s treasures.”
Mr Marshall is hiding the gold, which he gathered through panning across Scotland, in ways that look after the environment, meaning no digging or disturbing the area will be needed to find the gold.
The hunt continues in Skye
Each casket has a unique code on its front that can be scanned allowing Dr Bones to verify it has been found.
Next week the hunt will continue in Skye as three more caskets will be hidden near popular tourist spots in the Faerie Glen, Faerie Pools and Faerie Bridge.
After his success in finding the first casket, Mr Barron has decided to let others have a go in finding the next ones.
He said: “I’ve got relations from Skye. So I was telling them all and they’re all interested. So if you’re up for researching fairies, it’s worth having a go.”
Follow along with the clues on Dr Jonathan Bones Youtube and Instagram to have a go at finding the next stash of faerie gold.
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