Mysterious Britain & Ireland

Author: Daniel Parkinson

Anniversary Ghosts / Apparitions / Folklore / Ghost Ships

The Palatine Light

The Palatine Light is a legendary ghost ship that was said to appear off Block Island (Rhode Island) in New England. When witnessed the ship was seen to burst into flames and sink into the ocean, and was the harbinger of bad weather.

0

Fairies / Folklore / Folktales / Manx Fairies / Manx Folktales

The Buggane

The Buggane is a fearsome supernatural creature from the rich folklore of The Isle of Man. It appears in literature in various forms, usually having the power to shape shift. In one of its forms it is associated with water, and is similar to the Cabbyl-Ushtey the Manx Water Horse.

Folklore

Trotternish, Isle of Skye

The Trotternish area of Skye was once the haunt of Colann gun Chean (The headless body) who would kill those unfortunate enough to cross his path by flinging his head at them. The ghoul was banished to Arisaig where he caused mayhem until a young man managed to capture the ghosts head – only promising to return it if he returned to Skye.

Hauntings

Broadford Skye

According to tradition recorded by Alasdair Alpin MacGregor (The Supernatural Highlands, Francis Thompson) a doctor holidaying at an Inn in Broadford on Skye witnessed a strange apparition by the sea. He was walking along the shore when he noticed a glow out to sea the glow came closer and as it did so became the figure of a woman in a cloak carrying a child.

Hauntings / Scottish Folktales

Duntulm Castle

Duntulm Castle is now a ruined shell of its former glory as a MacDonald stronghold, its walls disintegrating year by year against the constant onslaught of the Atlantic winds. The site traditionally has a long precedence as a defendable stronghold: there may have been an Iron Age, and a Viking presence here, situated on the rocky promontory of steep cliffs overlooking the sea.

Ancient Sites / Featured Sites / Standing Stones / Stone Circles

Croft Moraig

One of the most impressive and easy to access stone circles in the Tay valley: Croft Moraig is situated just off the A827 between Aberfeldy and the head of Loch Tay. The sites long history as a changing ritual centre in the Neolithic and early Bronze Age make it one of the most important monuments in the area.

Ancient Sites / Burial Mounds / Irish Folktales

Knockinarea

Knockinarea is the name of the prominent mountain on the Cuil Irra peninsula to the west of Sligo, County Sligo. The name of the hill has been interpreted as: The Hill of the King, The Hill of the Moon and The Hill of the Executioner amongst other things, and dominates the views from miles around.

Festivals / Folklore / May

Ben Ledi

Ben Ledi rises above the plain of Stirling to the North of Callander, a prominent mountain with superb views over the surrounding countryside. It is not a munro but at 2884 feet has the feel of a much larger mountain, due to a number of false tops and the rewarding panoramic view.

Hauntings

Holy Rood Church, Stirling

Another important historical building standing in Stirling’s old town is the Church of the Holy Rood. Its name has the same derivative as Holyrood in Edinburgh: Rood means cross, and in this case derives from an altar founded by Robert II in the late 14th century.