The Paranormal Database

Road Crossing Serpent

Location: Oban - A85 between Oban and Perth
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 30 September 1965
Further Comments: Two independent motorists reported a six metre long legless creature alongside the road, grey in colour. One witness said it propelled itself along like a giant caterpillar.

Old postcard of Dunollie Castle, also known as Dunolly Castle.

Piper

Location: Oban - Dunollie Castle, aka Dunolly Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 1971
Further Comments: This ghostly, semi-transparent piper appeared before half a dozen witnesses visiting the castle grounds. Folklore says another entity, a Glaistig, also haunted the site. She would be seen moving towards the castle in the evening and would sweep the floors at night.

Dunstaffnage Castle.

Glaistig

Location: Oban - Dunstaffgne (or Dunstaffnage) Castle
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Prior to major news
Further Comments: The Glaistig is a fairy-like guardian entity that follows a family, only becoming apparent when good or bad news is heard (that is when she bursts into song, cheers, or cries). Dunstaffgne's Glaistig would also be heard stomping around and on one occasion, pulled the sheets off a guest's bed. The creature has not been heard since the castle burnt down.

An old postcard showing Oban Bay.

Coiled Serpent

Location: Oban - Oban Bay
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 18 November 1873
Further Comments: A one hundred foot (thirty metre) long black creature was observed swimming in the bay for around fifteen minutes. A story which may be a hoax states that the same or similar creature was killed in 1877, and the locals dragged the carcass above the high water mark to use as fish bait.

Manufacturers

Location: Pennygown, Isle of Mull - Unidentified earthen mound in the area
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The fairies who lived within this mound would be happy to manufacture any item overnight if the correct raw materials and instructions were placed on nearby grass in the evening. Someone left a short piece of wood and requested a ship's mast be made, resulting in the fairies ceasing their helpfulness.

Whisky Lover

Location: Port Ellen - Hotel (name not known)
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This hotel was once a distillery; a burglar fell to his death from a second floor window after drinking too much during his raid. This drunken crook still lurks the corridors looking for more liquor to consume.

Mermaid

Location: Rinns of Islay - Small island off Rinns of Islay
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Nineteenth century
Further Comments: There are several entities said to haunt this small island, including a mermaid, the sound of rattling chains, and water horses. A woman supervising cattle on the island was attacked by something tall and hairy, with no skin upon its face. She managed to survive by throwing boiling water over the entity and creating a magic circle, remaining inside it.

Rothesay Castle, from the Evening Express, 30 July 1897.

Lady Isabell

Location: Rothesay - Rothesay Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Local stories tell of a female form which moves along the battlements after dark, with the occasional scream heard. One account says the entity is white in colour, while others maintain the ghost is green. The woman has been named as Lady Isabell, who took her own life rather than being forced to marry a Viking raider. A step, known as the 'Bluidy Stair', is said to have a bloodstain that can never be removed.

Rothesay

Location: Rothesay - Shoreline within a mile of town
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 19 (or 12) July 1826
Further Comments: Three men spotted a mermaid carefully combing her long black hair along the shoreline. One of the witnesses also reported a large sea monster nearby, which had the body of a man 'but with the head of a brute'.

Drowned Sailor

Location: Rothesay - Steam yacht moored in bay
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: July 1899
Further Comments: A member of the crew who drowned days previous was blamed when the skipper and engineer were awoken by knocks and rattling sounds. The lid of a pan was thrown at the men by an unseen hand.

Restless Dead

Location: Saddell - Abbey and castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: It is said that a former laird removed the headstones from nearby churchyards to use as construction material for his castle - hence, much of the area is haunted by those disturbed. Particularly noted are the shades of a monk and that of a white lady.

Tossed Towels

Location: Sandbank - Wren HQ (no longer present), laundry area
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: Circa June 1945
Further Comments: Towels were thrown from a cupboard, a teapot lifted itself from a table and smashed a cup held by a woman, and a kettle moved unaided from the hob to the floor. The activity appeared to be centred around one woman; after she received medical treatment, the activity ceased.

No Ordinary Deer

Location: Scalasdal (possibly Scarisdale?), Isle of Mull - General area
Type: Other
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A deer that was killed here later transformed into a woman.

Green Lady

Location: Skipness - Skipness Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The castle is reputed to be haunted by a green lady which protects the castle. The entity is said to dislikes dogs, although no one appears to be sure how this dislike manifests.

Glassy Eyed Mermaid

Location: Sound of Mull - Sea
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Pre-twentieth century
Further Comments: Becalmed in their skiff after setting out from the Sound of Mull, two men spotted a creature in the water which had the head, neck and upper torso of a woman, although the hair was coarser and the eyes glassy.

Talking Horse

Location: Strathcoil, Isle of Mull - Lake north of Aird a' Chaoil
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A man passing through the area spotted a saddled horse by the loch but decided against riding the animal. Shortly after, the horse passed the man and spoke to him, stating that the man would have drowned if he had tried to ride the horse, and also bestowed the date that the man would die.

Stone Throwers

Location: Sunipol, Isle of Mull - Campbell household, exact location unknown
Type: Poltergeist
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This building was bombarded by stones that were thrown from the beach - armed guards patrolling the area could not find the perpetrators, even though the stones rained down around them.

Dog Killer

Location: Tayinloan - Old Largie Castle (demolished 1958)
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Pre twentieth century
Further Comments: The Brownie that lurked around this area would split its time between the castle and the MacDonald house on Cara Island. The entity could be quite vicious, killing dogs that had been left in the house at night and slapping visitors who disrespected the castle, although it would also tidy the site and secure the cattle.

Black Cat

Location: Taynuilt - Field in the area
Type: ABC
Date / Time: Circa 2018
Further Comments: Seen sitting in a field, this large black cat with a very long tail sat in profile to the witness. The creature slunk into the bushes and, despite the witness waiting a while, never reemerged.

Murdered Glaistig

Location: The Knap, aka the Lump (opposite Shuna Island) - Building in the area
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The Glaistig who resided in this area died after being stabbed by a member of Clan MacMillan who she had grabbed and interrogated.

Barking Hound

Location: Tiree - Cladach a Chrogain beach
Type: Shuck
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This harbinger of doom, known locally as a Cusith, was renowned for its barking - if it yapped once or twice, it was a sign everything was okay, but three times warned of incoming danger for the listener or their family. Some people believe that the creature can become semi-human in appearance.

Gruagach

Location: Tiree - Island House
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Pre twentieth century
Further Comments: Said to manifest as a little woman with long yellow hair, this paranormal entity could be heard tidying the site before the arrival of guests (even if they were surprise visitors). The Gruagach would hit servants who did not work hard enough.

Cu Sith

Location: Tiree - Unknown
Type: Shuck
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Two boys spending the night in a shieling hut were awoken by the sound of a large creature on the roof howling. When dawn came and they ventured out, they discovered the large prints of a Cu Sith on the turf roof.

Unclothed Man

Location: Tiree - Unknown farm on the west of the island
Type: Fairy
Date / Time: Pre twentieth century
Further Comments: Cattle left overnight were looked after by a Brownie that remained invisible to moral eyes. A seer investigated and reported spotting an unclothed man looking after the cows. To show his gratitude, the seer left a gift of tartan trousers and shoes; the Brownie put on the clothing and left the island.

Lizard-like Creature

Location: Tiree - Waters off the island
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 19 July 1934
Further Comments: A fishing boat reported being attacked by this creature, resembling a lizard but fifty foot (fifteen metres) in length with a long neck. The creature took a bite out of the boat before retreating into the deep.