An MSP has intervened in the ongoing saga of Paul Lister’s bid to turn the 23,000 acre Alladale Estate in the Scottish Highlands into a pay-for-entry Safari Park.


Rob Gibson of the Scottish National Party has challenged the local council to review a decision that saw them renew a wild animal license for Alladale Wilderness Reserve. 

The licence allows Lister to keep boars and elk on the estate near Ardgay in Sutherland. Both the Mountaineering Council of Scotland and the Ramblers objected to the application on the grounds that the electrified fences around the compound where the animals are kept prevent walkers and climbers accessing wild land in the area and impede the route to mountains in the area, including the Corbett of Carn Ban.

Calling for a review of the Council’s unanimous decision, Rob Gibson said it sent out the wrong message regarding right-to-roam legislation.

“Since the initial license was granted in 2007, the eccentric plans of Paul Lister were exposed in an embarrassing TV series. This showed a millionaire lording it over his private mountain kingdom with scant regard to public access and long-established customary rights,” he said.

“Do we have to bow to private whims and block access through wild country that could be a life-and-death issue for walkers in severe weather?

“I am astounded Councillor Rhind and his committee have shown scant regard for the physical dangers to walkers on the Alladale path.”


He said he intended raising the issue with the Scottish Government.

A representative of Highland Council said the wildlife compound occupied just 500 acres of the 23,000-acre estate, giving people over 20,000 acres to roam about on.

Meanwhile, the estate has confirmed that it has applied for a zoo license to allow it to display three wolves, eight wildcats, six more boar and two more elk.