Father of boy, eight, sexually assaulted on camping trip in Highlands 'saw attacker leave area'

The father of an eight-year-old who was sexually assaulted during a camping trip overheard the incident and saw the suspect leaving the area.

The boy was asleep within his tent at Loch Ness Bay Campsite in Drumnadrochit when he was approached by a man between 12.20am and 1am on Thursday, July 31.

A man sexually assaulted the boy while his family, who were confirmed to be tourists on holiday, were asleep in an adjacent tent.

During a media briefing in Inverness on Friday, officers confirmed that the boy’s father overheard the incident and witnessed the suspect – described as a white man, aged between 35 and 50 years old, around 5ft 10ins tall and bald – leaving the area.

It is understood the man was not known to the boy or his family.

An extensive investigation remains ongoing, and the public has been told to expect a large police presence in the area.

Detective Superintendent Callum Smith of Police Scotland said: “The father has overheard the incident, came out, and noticed the man leaving, and became aware of the incident.

“[The incident] was a sexual assault on an eight-year-old child, hugely traumatising on the child, hugely traumatising on the family and naturally worrying to the community.

“This is very unusual for this to happen in the Highlands.

“Our officers carried out CCTV enquiries, we’ll be speaking to witnesses, and we will be speaking to anyone who has been in the area at the time.

“I want to encourage anyone who was in the area at the time to come forward with information to us.

“Regardless of how small it may seem, it could be the information that allows us to piece together events leading up to the incident.

“I would ask people to think back, have they seen anyone acting suspiciously beforehand or immediately afterwards.”

Officers say that they have not ruled out that the man may have been a fellow camper who planned the attack.

Det Supt Smith added: “We’re interviewing people as they come and go from the campsite and building details where relevant.

“The owners of the campsite are engaging closely with us, and we’ve got a good line of communication with the staff there.”

If you have any information, you can contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0167 of July 31, 2025.

Alternatively, an anonymous report can be made to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.