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Your Detailed Itinerary Ghosts and Monsters
To search over 7,000 quality assured accommodations, from bed and breakfasts to castles go to: www.visitscotland.com
For information, inspiration and more itineraries online check out: www.visitscotland.com
The information contained in this publication is as supplied to VisitScotland and to the best of VisitScotland’s knowledge is correct at the time of going to press. VisitScotland can accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. April 2015.
VisitScotland is committed to ensuring that our natural environment and built heritage, upon which tourism is so dependent, is safeguarded for future generations to enjoy.
Cover: Ramsay Garden, Edinburgh © Paul Tomkins, VisitScotland/Scottish Viewpoint Additional photography: National Trust for Scotland
Day 1Start your spooky encounter in Edinburgh in The Real Mary King’s Close. Your tour guide will show you where some of the apparitions have appeared in this atmospheric old setting. Then head north via the Forth Bridge and Dundee, for the A92 and Montrose.
At the north end of the town, the old aerodrome was the scene of a fatal accident involving a pilot who fell out of a plane (without a parachute), precipitating the first of several ghost stories involving airmen here. Visit the heritage museum in one of the original buildings for more information.
Day 2Continue north along the coast for Aberdeen and ‘Castle Country’. A signposted castle trail will point you to some of its finest castles, including Fyvie Castle. Part fortress, part stately home, it is also the setting for a number of hauntings, including a phantom
trumpeter. From Fyvie, take rural roads cross-country north-east to reach Fraserburgh, home of the unique Museum of Scottish Lighthouses. Adjacent is the 16th century Wine Tower, from where, according to local legend the love-struck daughter of the local laird jumped to her death. However, it is the piper she fell in love with who is said to play below the tower – but only on dark and stormy nights!
Day 3Head west along the coast of the Moray Firth, taking the A95 west of Banff for Speyside via Keith and Grantown-on-Spey. This leads on to the edge of the Cairngorms by Aviemore. Overnight here for a closer view of Ben Macdui, second-highest mountain in Scotland, and the haunt of the tall and fearful Grey Man of Ben Macdui.
Day 4Take the A9 north via Inverness for Golspie and visit Dunrobin Castle, which resembles a French chateâu
with its fairytale turrets. The castle's Seamstress's Room is thought to be haunted by the ghost of a girl who fell to her death trying to escape out of the tower window. It is said that you can still hear her weeping and wailing.
Day 5/6Return to the A9, continuing north for Scrabster, ferry port for Orkney. Skaill House, by Skara Brae, on the main island is a handsome 17th century mansion house with notable ghostly goings-on. Overnight on Orkney with the option of staying an extra night to explore the island.
Day 7Return to Scrabster and head west, turning south at Durness, enjoying the wild landscapes. Look for signs for Kinlochbervie, taking the road beyond to park near Sheigra. Walk to Sandwood Bay, 8 miles (13km), which some say is haunted but is certainly one of the most enchanted and beautiful stretches
of coast on the north-west seaboard. Rejoin the main road, continuing south and over the handsome Kylesku Bridge on the A837. You will pass the ruin of Ardvreck Castle on the shores of wild Loch Assynt. This old fortress is also haunted.
Day 8Continue south via Ullapool, taking the A832 round the coast past Little Loch Broom and Gruinard Bay. At Laide, look for a sign for Mellon Udrigle. Follow this sign and a few minutes drive brings you to a small loch (left). In the mid-19th century, local people began to see a dark shape like an upturned boat rise out of the loch on several occasions. Their landlord tried to drain the loch – but after two years gave up! By coincidence, the stretch of water was called Loch na Beiste (loch of the monster) – a name it had been given long before the sightings and still carries today.
Day 9There are many other tales of strange events along this west coast and even another monster or two! If you return to Inverness, take the road down the Great Glen watching out for the Loch Ness Monster as you pass, then go west from Fort William. On the way to Mallaig you will pass dark and mysterious Loch Morar, where in the 1960s a very curious large creature in the loch is said to have bumped into an angler’s boat!
Ghosts and Monsters
Ghosts and Monsters
1
THE REAL MARY KING’S CLOSE Below Edinburgh’s Royal Mile, a long-abandoned street or ‘close’ with its own selection of ghostly presences, most notably the ghost of a little girl called Annie.
7
SANDWOOD BAY – Beautiful and remote beach in the north-west Highlands, accessible only on foot. A great day’s walk – but watch out for the ghost of an old sailor, as well as a mermaid.
2
MONTROSE AIR STATION – Now with an on-site Heritage Museum, this aerodrome was haunted by the ghost of Lt. Desmond Arthur whose World War I biplane had a botched repair and crashed. Apparitions of other airmen have also been reported.
4
THE WINE TOWER – A local laird locked up his daughter after she fell in love with a piper – an unsuitable match. He murdered the piper and his daughter jumped to her death. A ghostly piper still plays on stormy nights!
5
URQUHART CASTLE – Historically important castle, also famous as a monster spotting vantage point, overlooking the deepest part of Loch Ness.
L i tt l e
M
i n ch
Th e M
i nch
M o ra y Fi r t h
Fi r t h o f Fo r t h
LochShin
LochNess
LochEricht
Loch Tay
LochAwe
Loch Earn
Loch LomondLoch Lomond
LochShiel
A712
A96
A96
A701
A702
A167A746
A702
A713
A816
A816
A848
A68A844
A702
A697
A688
A868
A947A940
A84
A811
A7
A7
A72
A596
A857
A71
A595
A815
A98
A77
A90
A920
A714
A710
A926
A9
A97
A75
A77
A701
A701
A711
A69
A855
A755
A867
A716
A941
A7
A82
A822
A837
A696
A957
A592
A95
A839
A941
A77
A77
A858
A944
A78 A737
A78
A83
A83 A82
A6
A933
A1087
A875
A814
A90
A821
A689
A93
A939
A686
A6088
A198
A831
A1
A920
A75
A75 A75
A75
A850
A830
A846
A709
A841
A99
A66
A835
A965
A83
A6112
A866
A930
A847
A948
A698
A751
A76
A76
A76
A81
A917
A69
A97
A917
A708
A68
A68
A760
A1
A980
A916
A923
A70
A9
A9
A721
A1068
A92
A699
A975
A91
A859
A986
A919
A966
A981
A967
A960
A15
A1
A1
A6105
A937
A70
A85
A706
A886
A913
A836
A90
A90
A689
A827
A888
A86
A990
A865
A938
A880
A698
A94
A95
A95
A591
A838
A894
A823
A819
A939
A6089
A762
A712
A85
A863
A928
A964
A849
A941
A719
A747
A861
A85 A85
A9
A934
A882
A924
A961
A828A884
A832
A950
A698
A822
A944
A889
A826
A817
A952
A832
A833
A699
A949
A703
A923
A920
A82
A87
A87
A87
A890
A890
A839
A836
A851
A836
A887
A99
A835
A689
A897A894
A846
A896
M74
A194(M)
M9
M74
M8
A1(M)
M77
A74(M)
M80
M8
M6
M8
M90
M9
M6
M8
E N G L A N D
N O R T H E R NI R E L A N D
SPEY VALLEY
StromnessKirkwall
John o’ GroatsGills Bay
Scrabster
ThursoMelvichBettyhill
Tongue
Durness
Scourie
Altnaharra
Lochinver
Wick
Dunbeath
Helmsdale
BroraGolspie
Dornoch
Tain
Lairg
Ullapool
Gairloch
Torridon
Stornoway
Arnol
Port of Ness
Callanish
Tarbert
Leverburgh
Otternish
Dingwall Nairn Elgin
CromartyBanff Fraserburgh
Peterhead
Turriff
HuntlyGrantown-
on-Spey
AviemoreBoat ofGarten
KingussieRalia
Muir of Ord
CullenMacduff
GardenstownForres
Dufftown
Craigellachie
AchnasheenStrathpeffer
Portree
Elgol
Uig
Dunvegan
Sconser
Lochcarron
Kyle ofLochalsh
Broadford
Carbost
Armadale
Mallaig
GlenelgShiel BridgeKylerhea
Lochmaddy
Lochboisdale
Isle of Eriskay
Castlebay
Drumnadrochit UrquhartCastle
Fort Augustus
Invergarry
Spean Bridge
Newtonmore
Braemar
Glenshee
BallaterCrathie
Aboyne
Edzell
AlfordInverurie
Ellon
Banchory
Stonehaven
Forfar
Kirriemuir
Glamis
Arbroath
Montrose
Crieff
Carnoustie
BrechinPitlochry
Blairgowrie
Aberfeldy
Killin
Dunkeld
Scone
KinlochRannoch
BlairAtholl
Bruar
Fort William
Oban
Corran
Strontian GlencoeBallachulish
LochalineFishnish
Craignure
Acharacle
Kilchoan
Tobermory
Fionnphort
Feolin Port Askaig
Bowmore
Port Ellen
Crinan
Lochgilphead
Tarbert
Tayinloan
Carradale
Dunoon
Rothesay Largs
Irvine
DumbartonBalloch
Drymen
Dunblane
Helensburgh
Wemyss Bay
Crianlarich
Tyndrum
Tarbet
Inveraray
Lochearnhead
Callander
AberfoyleArdgartan
GourockGreenock
ColintraiveRhubodach
PortavadieKennacraig
Claonaig
Lochranza
Brodick
Campbeltown
Ardrossan
Troon
Prestwick
Kilmarnock
Millport
Ayr
Maybole
LanarkPeebles
Penicuik
Biggar
Abington
Newton Stewart
Girvan
Stranraer
Whithorn
WigtownPortpatrick
Port Logan
Cairnryan CastleDouglas
Gatehouseof Fleet
Kirkcudbright
Dalbeattie
NewAbbey
Langholm
Gretna
LockerbieDumfries
Thornhill
GretnaGreen
Carlisle
Moffat
Berwick-upon-Tweed
Haddington
Galashiels
St Andrews
North BerwickDunbar
Cupar
GlenrothesKinross
Dunfermline
LinlithgowFalkirk
Selkirk
JedburghHawick
Poolewe
Tomintoul
Daviot
Spittal ofGlenshee
Arisaig
Kirkcaldy
Eyemouth
CrailAnstruther
SanquharWanlockhead
New Galloway
Melrose KelsoColdstream
Burwick
St Margaret’s Hope
Aultbea
Mellon Udrigle
Buckie
KeithFochabers
Lossiemouth
Carrbridge
Kincraig
Hamilton
Coatbridge
Motherwell
Paisley
Larne
Alva
Bo'nessRosyth
Auchterarder
Burntisland
RoslinNewtongrangeDalkeithOld Craighall
Leven
Mauchline
NorthKessock
Drimnin
Laga
Ballycastle
Beauly
GLASGOW
ABERDEEN
INVERNESS
DUNDEEPERTH
NEWCASTLEUPON TYNE
EDINBURGH
BELFAST
STIRLING
Cairngorms
National Park
Loch Lomond and the TrossachsNational Park
Cairngorms
National Park
Loch Lomond and the TrossachsNational Park
SkaillHouse
Aberfoyle
The Wine Tower
FyvieCastleUrquhart Castle
MontroseAir Station
SandwoodBay
Ardvreck Castle
The Real Mary King’s Close
LochMorar
1
2
4
8
5
7
6
9
10
3
LEWIS
HARRIS
BARRA
Canna
Rum
Eigg
Muck
Coll
Tiree
Colonsay
Iona
GighaBute
Seil
Lismore
Ardnamurchan
Luing
RAASAY
NORTHUIST
SOUTHUIST
MULL
JURA
ISLAY
ARRAN
Mull OfGalloway
SKYE
SCALPAY
BERNERAY
ORKNEY
SANDAY
STRONSAYEday
ROUSAY
HOYSOUTH RONALDSAY
BENBECULA
0 10 20 30 405 Miles
0 25 5012.5 Kilometers
© MFAtech [email protected]+44 (0) 207 871 1332Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2011
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03-GHOSTS_MONSTERS_SCOTLAND_MAP_FINAL.pdf 1 3/16/2015 12:58:55 PM
Old streets, ruined castles, empty moors and dark and silent lochs – no wonder the mind can play strange tricks sometimes, as you may find while exploring some of Scotland’s more atmospheric settings.The imagination of the Celts long ago populated this landscape with all kinds of other-worldly beings, from fairies to full-scale monsters. Take this tour to discover places where tales are still told which defy explanation!
Ghosts and Monsters
6
SKAILL HOUSE – 17th century mansion house, complete with a ghost which terrifies dogs, footsteps heard in empty rooms and reports from guests that, while in bed, a presence joins them and sits on the bed!
9
LOCH MORAR – This is home for a monster called Morag. There is plenty of room for her as Loch Morar, at 1017ft (310m), is the deepest fresh water loch in Europe.
10
ABERFOYLE – A marked trail leads to the top of the Doon Hill near Aberfoyle. The local minister, the Rev Robert Kirk, was taken into Fairyland from here.
8
ARDVRECK CASTLE – Picturesquely-ruined 15th century castle said to be haunted by a weeping figure, daughter of a Macleod chieftain who tried to marry her off to the Devil!
FYVIE CASTLE – Plenty of ghostly activity at this 13th century castle, including a green lady who has been seen gliding along the corridors!
3