Mysterious Britain & Ireland

Mysterious Britain & Ireland

Apparitions / Hauntings

Malahide Castle

Malahide Castle dates from the 12th century and is reputedly haunted by five distinct ghosts. Sir Richard Talbot, Lord of Malahide founded Malahide Castle in 1185 after he had been granted the "lands and harbour of Malahide" from Henry II, after taking part in the Kings campaign in Ireland. The Talbot family remained in the castle until 1975.

Folklore

Glyndwr’s Oak

According to the National Gazetteer of Great Britain & Ireland 1868, Newcastle is described as ‘a hamlet…..where are the remains of an ancient castle and an oak said to have been planted by Owain Glyndwr.’ It is said the locals considered the oak to be possessed by evil spirits who harmed anyone that damaged the tree in any way.

Hauntings / Legends

Hollow Demon Oak

A tree known as Derwen Ceubren yr Ellyl (hollow tree of the demons/spirits) used to stand in Nannau Park and it had a reputation of being haunted and evil, for this is the tree in which Owain Glyndwr was, according to legend, supposed to have hidden the body of his cousin Hywel Sele, 8th Lord of Nannau after he had killed him in 1404.

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.

Apparitions / Civil War Hauntings / Haunted Pubs / Hauntings

Ye Olde Man & Scythe

Ye Olde Man & Scythe is one of the best known pubs in Bolton town centre, one of the oldest public houses in the United Kingdom and is reputedly haunted by James Stanley, 7th Earl of Derby amongst others. Ye Olde Man & Scythe has stood in Churchgate since the 12th century.

Big Cats / Cryptozoology

Helensburgh Big Cat Video

The following article entitled "Policeman takes ‘big cat’ video" appeared on BBC News Channel website 28 July 2009.

An off-duty Ministry of Defence police dog handler has taken a video of what he claims is a panther-sized big cat. 

Apparitions / Haunted Hotels / Haunted Pubs / Hauntings

The Brigands Inn

The 15th century Brigands Inn is reputedly haunted by an unidentified female apparition who has apparently been witnessed several times. This family run renovated coaching inn dating from 1488, acquired its name from the buildings association with the Mawddy Bandits or Red Bandits or the ‘red haired thieves of Mawddwy’ who were active in this region during the 16th century.

Cryptozoology

Ginger Beast of Beckermet

I was intrigued to come across mentions of a Big Foot sighting in Beckermet, Cumbria and sought out the original source, a copy of the Whitehaven News, dated 5 March 1998.

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.

Fairies / Folklore / Folktales / Other Mysteries / Scottish Fairies / Scottish Folktales

Eynhallow, Ancestral Home Of The Finfolk

On 14th July 1990, eighty-eight bird watchers got off a ferry organised by the Orkney Heritage Society and the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds at the uninhabited Eynhallow Island. Only eighty-six returned for the journey back, which sparked a huge search and rescue operation involving the police and coastguard.