​Former paratrooper pitches tent in craziest spot ever

A fearless former paratrooper pitched his tent in what could be the craziest camping spot of all time – all to get this incredible picture.

John Thow, 55, who spent eight years in the Red Devils free fall division, managed to set up his precarious camp on the bizarre mushroom-shape rock formation known as the Bonnet Stone, near Fife, Scotland.

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Despite struggling to even get his pegs into the hard sandstone, John shrugs off the cliff-top perch as 'nothing' compared to some of the other places he has stayed in his 14 years as a paratrooper.

Even more dangerous than scaling the edge to get on top of the perilous spot and pitching his tent on a cliff top table on 10 feet by 20 feet, is that John did it all in the pitch black dead of night so that he could get the perfect photo.

John, from Aberuthven in Perthshire, said: "It's fair to say it is a very dangerous spot and not one I would recommend to anyone else.

"There is hardly any room up there so the only thing you can fit is the tent really and there is a 40 foot drop off the edge.

"But I have camped in some pretty hairy places in my time so it is all relative. I have stayed in northern Norway in -40C, which is basically a survival situation and that is pretty treacherous to say the least.

"But we had all the correct equipment and we were properly trained. We all live within the range of what we are happy with. Putting that tent up on that rock is fine with me, I do tend to do these things but I wouldn't recommend it to just anyone.

"It's a very peaceful spot though with some beautiful views all around. It really is paradise for any outdoor lover."

John came up with the crazy camping idea as he had known the spot for a while from walking in the rolling hills and thought it would make the perfect photograph.

With only a head torch for light, John took the 40 minute trek up the hills towards the mushroom-shaped rock formation that consists of an elevated table of rock perched on top of a thin column.

John then had to use telescopic ladders to clamber up the side of the outcrop and begin pitching his tent, which took about half an hour.

John said: "I went in the dark as I wanted to limit the time I would actually spend on the stone itself as it was windy, which became very hazardous when the tent guide-ropes would not fasten properly into the stone. In the end I had to tie them around rocks to hold it down.

"However it was a bit of a race against time as I needed to get it all set-up ahead of dawn as I know the light can suddenly come up very quick and surprise you. The shot I wanted was as the sun was coming up while the light was changing.

"By 4.30am the conditions were perfect for the photo, and I managed to capture a series of pictures I was very happy with."

John left the paratroopers in 1997 and has since worked as a technician and enjoys photography as a hobby.

While there are numerous stories and myths about how the Bonnet Stone, or Bunnet Stane as it is sometimes called, was formed, it was actually through natural weathering of the exposed outcrop.

The stone is located near the hamlet of Gateside in Fife at the base of the Lomond Hills.