The Paranormal Database

An old postcard showing Dean Castle.

Rolling Head

Location: Kilmarnock - Dean Castle
Type: Manifestation of the Living
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A Laird's servant in the building once saw her master's decapitated head roll across the floor in front of her, even though he was still alive and well in another part of the building. Exactly a year later, the Laird lost his head in the Tower of London. In more recent years, an old woman dressed in black has been seen on site, radiating an evil aura.

Protective Voice

Location: Kilmarnock - Craufurdland bridge
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A hoard of treasure is reported to be hidden under the bridge, though if anyone comes too close to discovering it, a voice talks them into leaving the scene empty handed.

Man on Stairs

Location: Kirkmichael - Cloncaird Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This unknown figure blocks the stairway, vanishing if approached.

Gravity Hill

Location: Knoweside - Electric Brae, aka Croy Brae (on the A719 close to caravan park)
Type: Other
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: It was once believed that electricity pulled cars up this hill, rather than the phenomenon being created by optical illusion. A large stone now marks the spot after visitors repeatedly stole the old signage.

Summoning the Devil, from a chapbook.

Debt Collection

Location: Lagg, Isle of Arran - Lagg Inn
Type: Legend - Old Nick
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: It is said a local laird haunts this building, after selling his soul to the Devil for enough money to repay his large debts.

Guardians

Location: Lagg, Isle of Arran - Torrylin Cairn
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Structures still present
Further Comments: Strange shadowy entities once stood guard over the burial chambers, cursing anyone who removed treasure or relics. In one instance, the entities followed home a man who removed a skull and tore around his home like a whirlwind. The man returned the skull the following day, but even then, the phantoms remained, until the man was thrown from his horse and killed a few months later.

Pestilence Free

Location: Largs - Prophet's Grave (aka Minister's Grave or Smith's Grave), Brisbane Glen
Type: Other
Date / Time: 1647 onwards - grave still present
Further Comments: As he lay dying of an illness (possibly Typhus), Reverend William Smith prophesied that if two holly trees growing at the head and foot of his grave were prevented from touching, pestilence would never return to the parish.

Tron Tree

Location: Largs - Tree in town centre (tree no longer standing)
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Pre twentieth century
Further Comments: The Tron Tree stood in the centre of the community and was a favourite haunt to the elves, until chopped down by a local man. The man's sow was found dead the following day.

Screaming

Location: Lendalfoot - Carleton Castle (ruins)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: It is unknown whether the screams belong to the first seven wives of a mad baron, who pushed them off a cliff to their deaths, or his, after the eighth wife managed to push him first.

Bagpipes

Location: Lochranza, Island Of Arran - General area
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1700s onwards, calm summer evenings (reoccurring)
Further Comments: A bagpiper who died in the nearby hills now walks into the village on calm summer evenings, the only indication to his presence is the sound of pipes. It is said that one tourist followed the sound, only for the piping to suddenly cease when the holiday maker approached from where they thought the music emerged.

Finn's Kitchen

Location: Machrie, Isle of Arran - Fingal's Cauldron Seat
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: Created by the giant Finn McCool as a place for his cauldron, this set of standing stones remain intact ready for the next passing ogre...

Crying Child

Location: Mauchline - Poosie Nansies public house
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Circa 2008 / 2009
Further Comments: A young girl has been heard crying on the site, and owner Marion Young felt someone walk into her office, even though no physical person was there. Other people have felt a tap on their shoulder, while sometimes glasses fall to the floor for no explainable reason.

Secret Meeting

Location: Maybole - Coves of Culzean
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: 31 October (reoccurring)
Further Comments: The little people are reported to gather here once a year for secret planning sessions.

Portrait of a monk by Gerard David.

Monks

Location: Maybole - Crossraguel Abbey
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Former monks who once worshiped at the abbey still walk amongst the ruins.

An old postcard showing Culzean Castle.

Piper

Location: Maybole - Culzean Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Heard above the rising gale on windy nights, the musical notes of this long dead piper still haunt the castle. The cries of someone being tortured have also been recorded, while another witness reported talking to a raven haired lass who vanished as he moved too close.

Bulging Eyes

Location: Milton - Unnamed fields in the area
Type: Shuck
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A large black dog with bulging eyes, moving faster than a normal hound, was spotted by a local farmer. The farmer followed the dog as it crossed a field and reached the farmhouse of a neighbour. As the dog entered the farmhouse a firearm was heard to discharge - upon investigation the body of the neighbour was found shot dead.

Monk

Location: Monkton - Ruined Abbey
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A phantom monk is said to haunt this area, guarding a golden communion plate which was hidden from Cromwell's forces. The entity was said to have no face.

Young Woman

Location: Pinmore - Railway line
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Mid-twentieth century
Further Comments: A girl who threw herself under a train just before the start of the Second World War has occasionally been spotted standing by the tracks.

Suicidal Man

Location: Prestwick - Balgownie House
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1940s onwards
Further Comments: The ghost found in this old house walks up the staircase and into a bedroom. It was said to be the shade of a man who committed suicide in that particular room.

The Man on the Grass

Location: Saltcoats - Coastline
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: 24 November 2008
Further Comments: A photograph taken by David Kerr of Ardrossan showed a strange object on the shoreline. It is thought to be an image of a ghostly man looking out to sea.

Green Fish

Location: Sannox, Isle of Arran - Sea around the area
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: September 1877
Further Comments: The yacht Valetta reported encountering a long green fish. While the creature's full length is undocumented, the tail was said to be eighteen foot (5.5 metres) in length. Local fishermen blamed the creature for the destruction of their nets.

Knocker

Location: Sauchie - Unknown private house, and school
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: Early 1960s
Further Comments: An eleven year old girl became the focus of this poltergeist, who accompanied her everywhere. Knocks and taps were heard both at home and at school, while furnishings would move untouched by human hands around her.

Third Figure

Location: Stevenston - Beach
Type: Unknown Ghost Type
Date / Time: 2009
Further Comments: A photograph taken on the beach at night of two children standing by a fire showed a third 'figure' kneeling in the scene. Due to the amount of noise on the image, it is impossible to determine whether the 'figure' is an apparition or smoke from the fire.

Green Lady

Location: Sundrum - Sundrum castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The castle is room to the common Scottish emerald tinted shade.