October has arrived, and with it the spooky season. For those with an interest in the supernatural, Scotland offers plenty of supposedly haunted locations where a ghost might be encountered. The Daily Record has gathered some of the spirits said to roam the country this month, according to supernatural experts at The Paranormal Database.
Headless Horseman of Glenlivet
At Glenlivet in Moray, a headless horseman is said to wander a former battleground. In 1594, the armies of George Gordon, the First Marquess of Huntly, and the Ninth Earl of Erroll Francis Hay clashed there. One soldier, Alexander MacAllister, entered the fight only briefly before being decapitated by a cannonball. Ever since, the story goes, his headless spirit wanders the Glenlivet battle site every October.
Devil on the Deil's Cradle
In Clackmannanshire, the Deil's Cradle is said to be the site of a chilling Halloween encounter. According to legend, every October 31 the Devil can be seen floating atop a huge stone in Burngrens glen, surrounded by a group of witches. He remains there all night until morning breaks on November 1, when he fades away for another year.
Screaming Woman at Pittodrie House Hotel
The Pittodrie House Hotel, just outside Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, is among Scotland's supposedly haunted hotels. According to The Paranormal Database, guests staying there on October 31 might hear desperate pleas for help coming from the staircase. Some believe these are the cries of a maid who perished in a fire that once engulfed the hotel. The database also reports a ghost carriage drawn by a single horse roaming the driveway, and paranormal happenings in the former library.
The Baobh-shìth
The Baobh-shìth, or Baobhan Sith, is a creature from Scottish folklore said to take the form of a 'fairy witch' or 'fairy hag'. It roams the Scottish Highlands disguised as a beautiful woman, seducing victims before attacking and killing them. According to legend, it appears whenever a Scotsman expresses a desire for female companionship. The creature in the 2013 film Under the Skin, starring Scarlett Johansson, is thought to be loosely based on the legend.
