Sir Ranulph Fiennes is 'taken to isolated farmhouse hidden behind a 6ft gate'

Sir Ranulph Fiennes is believed to be back home at his isolated farm in Shropshire, the Daily Mail has learned.

The property is hidden by a 6ft-high 'industrial' security gate where two modular homes – one for Sir Ranulph, the other for his carer – were assembled near the main residence last week.

The latest development follows mounting speculation about the whereabouts of the world's greatest living explorer, who was last seen in public two years ago.

Sir Ranulph, 82, who suffers from Parkinson's, has been shunted around a succession of facilities by his second wife Louise Millington-Cotes – Lady Fiennes, as she now is – with his identity concealed under an alias in a bid to stop his friends seeing him.

At one establishment in London, she made visitors sign non-disclosure agreements; at another in Wales, she gave instructions for him not to socialise with other residents and to wear a disguise when he left his room.

Describing the draconian instructions issued by Sir Ranulph's wife, last week the owner of the Welsh care home told us: 'I wouldn't do that to an animal. Never mind Sir Ranulph Fiennes.'

His predicament has led to an outcry from many celebrity friends, including fellow adventurers Bear Grylls and Ben Fogle, who called on the police to investigate.

But in Cheshire at least, where Sir Ranulph was most recently in a care home in Crewe, the constabulary issued a statement, saying 'no immediate safeguarding concerns have been identified at this time' and 'any new information received will be assessed and considered through the appropriate multi-agency arrangements'.

Mounting worries: Sir Ranulph Fiennes has not been seen in public for two years

Weak: A frail Sir Ranulph walks with a frame in what looks like a stable or barn with his wife at his side directing him. It is believed the video was shot in his Cheshire home

The care home in Crewe is one of four facilities (and a hotel) where Sir Ranulph has been moved to in the past year alone. The fact he is now back home in Shropshire, according to our information, will give all those who know and love him little cause for optimism, given there will be no 'outside eyes on him' now.

His whereabouts were disclosed by Sir Ranulph's friend of more than 30 years, Michael Kobold, who was contacted by a source after they saw the new accommodation being put up. 

'Louise [Lady Fiennes] told the source that her husband had a car accident which was why he was in a wheelchair,' Mr Kobold explained.

It was not the extent of the veil of secrecy surrounding her husband. 'She also introduced his carer as the blacksmith for the horses,' he added.

Hard to believe his 'disappearance' is still generating such bizarre revelations. The Shropshire farmhouse is where his stepson Alex Millington-Cotes, 31, last saw Sir Ranulph in September 2024.

He had to climb over the gate because he no longer had a key, having become estranged from his own mother, who is Sir Ranulph's second wife and 23 years younger than the explorer.

A horse trainer from Cheshire, she married Sir Ranulph in 2005 following the death of his beloved wife Ginny Fiennes from cancer in 2004.

'I'd only gone about 100m or so, and... there was Ran,' Alex said recently. 'He immediately grabbed me by the arm and swung me around and walked back down towards the drive.

'I told him how difficult things had been and he said: "Every family has its problems." Then he pulled me into a hug and told me how proud he was of me.' 

Mr Millington-Cotes began walking back with him but stopped upon seeing his mother. He has called for her lasting power of attorney over her husband's property and financial affairs as well as his health and welfare to be stripped from her.

The Office of the Public Guardian, which exists to protect the elderly and vulnerable from being exploited by those who have power of attorney, has reportedly rejected nine complaints to intervene, saying the case is beyond its remit.

Sir Ranulph Fiennes and his wife Lady Louise, after returning to Britain following a failed attempt to climb Everest

In another development, footage has emerged of Sir Ranulph for the first time since concerns were raised.

The clip shows a frail Sir Ranulph in chinos and a blue jacket walking in what looks like a stable or barn with his wife at his side directing him. It is believed the video was shot in his Cheshire home.

She tells him: 'Stand up straight, that's it, walk between the wheels, nice and straight.'

Then she sings 'heigh ho, heigh ho, it's off to work we go' from Disney's Snow White And The Seven Dwarfs. As the clip ends, Lady Fiennes can be heard saying again: 'That's it, stand up straight, back up. There we go. Do not hit anything.'

The video was posted yesterday by Mr Kobold. He also added an image showing him sitting in an armchair wearing a woolly hat and covered by a blanket, holding what looked like a bed pan.

He wrote on social media: 'Sir Ranulph Fiennes, broken and frail, after two years of strict isolation. It's a national disgrace: How can the system fail so egregiously that even a national treasure like Ran Fiennes can experience such mistreatment?'

Mr Kobold – who with Sir Ranulph climbed Mount Everest almost 20 years ago – launched his attack after the Daily Mail spoke to the Welsh care home boss where the explorer had been living. 

The manager told how he had contacted police and the Office of the Public Guardian in March to raise his concerns. But before any action could be taken, Sir Ranulph was moved.

There is no suggestion Lady Fiennes has done anything wrong, but the Care Inspectorate of Wales found her husband was being unlawfully 'deprived of his liberty' because she didn't have the authorisation which covered his residence.

It has also now emerged that King Charles has taken an interest in the case as Sir Ranulph is a close personal friend.

The King's equerry was reportedly told to 'back off' when he contacted Lady Fiennes.

Considering the concerns that have been raised over his care, it will hardly be a source of comfort to know he's back home.

READ MORE: Police say they are 'satisfied' Sir Ranulph Fiennes is 'living in an appropriate setting' after friends raise fears for his welfare