Your Detailed Itinerary Ghosts and Monsters

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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

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8

5

7

6

9

10

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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 Mapswww.digital-map.orginfo@digital-map.org+44 (0) 207 871 1332Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2011

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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