You are hereScotland
Scotland
Loch Maree
Until the middle of the 18th century bulls were sacrificed on August 25th (St Maerlrubha’s Day) to dragons that dwelt in the lake. These may have been akin to the creatures still reported in other Scottish Lochs to this day.
Taken from an article by Richard Freeman.
Loch Morar
It is surprising how many lochs in Inverneshire have monster traditions and sightings, Loch Ness, Loch Lhinne, Loch Lochy, and Loch Arkaig to name a few. Read More »
Loch na Beiste
In his 'Guide to Gairloch and Loch Maree' (1886), John H. Dixon gave the following account of a creature that was said to live in Loch na Beiste roughly 50 years early. 'The existence of water-kelpies in Gairloch, if perhaps not universally credited in the present generation, was accepted as undoubted in the last. Read More »
Loch Na Fideil
Loch Na Fideil was reputedly the home of a legendary female creature or spirit known as the Fideal after which the body of water is named (Loch of the Fideal). Depending upon which source you read, she attacks either men or women and children, dragging them down under the water in order to devour them. Read More »
Loch Ness
Loch Ness is famed in modern times as the supposed abode of a strange long necked monster, but the area is also rich in folklore, which Read More »
Loch Ness Water Horse
James Mackinlay in his Folklore of Scottish Lochs and Springs (1893) tells of another creature that was said to lurch in Loch Ness. 'A noted demon-steed once inhabited Loch Ness, and was a cause of terror to the inhabitants of the neighbourhood. Read More »
Loch Treig Water Horse
The freshwater Loch Treig (Loch of Death) has been a reservoir since 1929, however prior to this it had a reputation of being the home to some very dangerous Water Horses or Each Uisge. Read More »
Loch Urabhal
Loch Uravel or Urabhal in Gaelic is a small body of water roughly 2 miles north of Achmore. On 27 July 1961 two teachers fishing at the loch had a strange experience. Thirty five metres from their boat they reputedly saw a two headed, single humped creature swim by.
Lochmaben Castle
Dating from the 13th century, Lochmaben Castle, which is now a ruin, was built by King Edward I of England (Born 17 June 1239 – Died 7 July 1307) replacing the earlier 12th century Bruce motte and bailey castle. The de Brus or Bruce family, the Lords of Annandale, moved to Lochmaben following the ruination of Annan Castle. Read More »
Lochmaben Stane (Stone)
The Lochmaben Stane (or Lochmabenstane, Lochmabenstone, Clochmabenstane, Old Graitney Stone, Lowmabanstane, Loughmabanestane) stands in a farmers field near where the Kirtle Water enters the Solway Firth. Made if granite, it measures 7-8 feet in height and has a girth between 18 and 21 feet (depending upon your source). Read More »
Lochranza
Lochranza is situated at the Northern Tip of Arran, the loch contains a small island with a ruined castle, which was mentioned by Sir Walter Scott Read More »
Lordscairnie Castle
The castle has links with the legend of the more infamous Glamis Castle. Read More »
Loudon Castle
Now home to the Loudoun Castle Family Theme Park, there was a castle here from at least the 15th century, which was then converted into a mansion retaining the tower house. Read More »
Lukki Minnie
The following account of the tale of Lukki Minnie appeared in Malachy Tallack's blog on the New Stateman website (30 April 2007). 'For centuries – perhaps even for millennia, no-one is entirely sure – Shetland has been home to a very special creature. Read More »
Machrie Moor Stone Circles
The Isle of Arran, off the West Coast of Scotland, has many stone circles and standing stones dating from the Neolithic period and the early Bronze Age. The finest collection of circles can be found on Machrie Moor, on the West of the island. The whole moorland is littered with the remains of early man, from hut circles to chambered cairns and solitary standing stones. Read More »
Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club
The Dalmahoy Hotel, now part of the Marriott group is a Georgian Mansion dating from 1720 and it is reputedly haunted by the second daughter of the 8th Earl of Morton. The name Dalmahoy refers to the family that held the land from the start of the fourteenth century right up to it passing to the Dalrymples in the mid seventeenth century. Read More »
Mary King's Close
A close such as Mary King's Close is a narrow lane or passage that runs between two buildings or a route that would give access to the rear of a building. Read More »
Maryculter House Hotel
Maryculter House Hotel is situated on the site of a Knights Templar Manor and the ghost that reputedly haunts here may be related to these crusading knights. The land at Maryculter was given to the Templars in 1187 by the King of Scotland, which at that time would have been William the Lion (1165-1214). A further gift of land in the area was then made by Walter Bisset of Aboyne. Read More »
Marymass
3rd or 4th Monday in August - Once said to have been celebrated with hilltop fires, the festival is now associated with Mary Queen of Scots. A Queen is voted from the local Irvine girls and a parade goes through the town along with other events.
Meggernie Castle
The castle was involved in the intrigue of the 45 rebellion, and Jacobite troops are said to have stayed here, sheltered by James Menzie of Culdares. Read More »
Meldrum House Hotel, Oldmeldrum
Meldrum House Hotel is a grand mansion built around a medieval Tower House. The Barony of Meldrum dates from 1236 and was granted to Sir Philip de Phendarg by King Alexander II of Scotland. The house has been modified by and passed down through several prominent Scottish families including the Meldrum's, Seton's and Urquhart's. Read More »
Mermaid's Grave
A mermaid is said to be buried in the sands in the area around Nunton. In 1830 some women who were gathering seaweed spotted a mermaid in the waters close to the shore.They tried in vain to catch her, but she was too clever for them. Read More »
Mrs Paton's Prophetic Dream
The Dunfermline artist Sir Joseph Noel Paton (13 December 1821 – 26 December 1901) wrote the following letter reciting a dream to Catherine Crowe on 31st May 1847. It was his mother Catherine McDiarmid Paton who was "deeply interested in tradition, folklore, the supernatural, and the fairy-stories of the Celts" that had had the dream around the year 1830. Read More »
Mull of Galloway
According to legend this was the last stronghold of the Picts. In their last battle with the King of Scotland they were all killed bar two, a father and son. Read More »
Murder of Red Comyn
Robert the Bruce arranged to meet then stabbed Red Comyn to death 10 February 1306 in the Franciscan friary in Dumfries. Local lore says Bruce haunts the site where the building used to stand.
