Hercules - a memorial to a bear and his owner in the Hebrides

In 1980, a performing grizzly bear called Hercules escaped from an advertising set and went on the gentlest rampage possible in the Outer Hebrides, achieving international fame.

The Langass Woodland is an unusual feature of the Outer Hebridean island of North Uist. Natural woodland is rare on many of the Scottish Islands and Langass was planted artificially to provide residents and visitors with an opportunity to experience a type of environment that does not occur naturally.

In a clearing amongst the trees stands a life-size statue of a grizzly bear. This commemorates a famous visitor to North Uist, Hercules the bear, who is also buried here.

Hercules was born in captivity at the Highland Wildlife Park in Kingussie. The park could not accommodate more bears, and if the cub could not be rehomed, it would be put down.

Scottish wrestler Andy Robin and his wife Maggie bought the bear in 1976 for £50, with the idea of training it. The cub grew up at their home on Sheriffmuir near Dunblane, reaching 30 stone in one year.

Hercules and Andy Robin worked on several adverts and other publicity campaigns and, in August 1980, Hercules escaped during the filming of a Kleenex advert on Benbecula in the Outer Hebrides. The bear was missing for 24 days. Hundreds of volunteers and search parties looked for Hercules for three daysbefore calling off the search (though Andy continued to search on his own). There was great local anxiety that the bear would start killing some of the many sheep on the island.

On 13th September, a crofter spotted the animal swimming at North Uist, having crossed the causeway that connects Benbecula to the island of Grimsay, and from there to North Uist. Hercules was captured with a tranquilister dart.

He had not attacked a single sheep, surviving on leftovers and waste from humans instead, and had lost half his weight. This further endeared him to the public. After this adventure, Hercules’s fame only grew, culminating with a film cameo in 1983’s Octopussy.

Hercules also featured on the cover of Time and helped to promote the Miss World contest. He caddied for comedian Bob Hope at the golf course at Gleneagles, and was once named "Personality of the Year" by the Scottish Tourist Board and received a telegram from Ronald Reagan.

The bear died of old age in 2001, aged 25 (which is around the natural lifespan of a grizzly). Following his continued association with North Uist, his remains were moved to Langaiss Woods in 2015, alongside a wood sculpture.

Robin died in 2019, and a memorial stone in his honour was later incorporated into the site.