Ex-Para survived week in Highlands after getting lost walking to Britain’s most remote pub
AN ex-Para survived alone for a week in the Scottish Highlands — after getting lost walking to Britain’s most remote pub for a free pint.
Retired soldier and former cop Paul Conway, 67, went missing on a 28.5-mile trek over mountains to the boozer, which has no access roads and is only otherwise reachable by boat.
His worried family raised the alarm when the dad, from Newcastle, failed to arrive at the Old Forge pub, Knoydart, last Friday.
The pub offers a free beer to anyone adventurous enough to walk there.
A search was launched using the RAF, coastguard, police and mountain rescue.
And Paul was found on Tuesday “in good health and spirits”, a week after beginning his three-day hike.
Police said he was found in a remote area near Loch Morar, having got lost on the “challenging and boggy” route.
Paul’s son Chris said his dad had been through a “hell of a lot”.
He previously posted online: “The dafty is 67 but still thinks he is 21 and can do anything. Which he can’t.”
Old Forge manager Will O’Neill said the ex-Para has yet to make it to the pub, but staff are “over the moon” he had been found.
He added: “A warm welcome awaits you Paul. We hope to see you in the Forge afore long.”
But Paul’s daughter, Claire Ferguson-Conway, said her dad would only be allowed to visit “if he arrives by ferry”.