Believe it or not, Scotland possesses more quirkiness and mystery (with a good dose of the supernatural) than you’ll find in Tesco’s. And with restrictions finally shifting, there’s ample opportunity to explore Scotland.
Fairy Knowe, Doon Hill
Doon Hill is accessible with a short, simple walk (5km) from Aberfoyle, as part of Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. Some believe it to be the home of faeries, with the faery tree the entrance to the magical realm. Reverend Robert Kirk, the local minister in 1685, would spend much time recording his findings of the faerie. After Kirk’s body was found at Doon Hill, folklore has it his spirit resides in the pine on the hill’s summit.
Source: Elah Cohen
Bearreraig Bay
Whilst Skye’s Fairy Pools garner a lot of attention, Bearreraig Bay is an equally dramatic spectacle with plenty of mystery and fossils. Gannets may also provide an impressive performance of diving for fish. There’s fairly accessible public transport but it definitely requires proper planning, with around a 2km walk from one of the most popular drop-off points.
The Three Sisters of Glencoe (Bidean nam Bian)
There’s a reason Glencoe is one of Scotland’s most famous Glens. The turbulent history towards the end of the 17th century lends a strong sense of atmosphere amidst its beauty. The three steep ridges, according to Visit Scotland, were formed millions of years ago, and form a dramatic feature of the skyline.
Devil’s Pulpit (or Finnich Gorge)
Located in Finnich Glen, it’s roughly half an hour’s car journey to Stirling city centre. There are multiple different folk stories about the different events that took place here. Some believe the mushroom-shaped rock is where the Devil spoke to his followers, or where the ancient Druids could meet in secrecy. Some even believe that witches held executions over the rock. The riverbed is composed of red sandstone, hence the striking red appearance of the water.
Source: Elah Cohen
Ben Macdui
The second highest mountain in the UK after Ben Nevis, it’s definitely a challenging climb. As ever with spooky Scottish folklore, the legendary 10 foot ‘Am Fear Liath Mor’ (The Greyman) is said to haunt the summit of Ben Macdui. If you don’t fancy the climb (or running into a spectre) there are plenty of more achievable munroes close by, including Braeriach or Cairn Toul.
Wide-mouthed Rannoch Frog
It’s not the most stunning name, but it is definitely an intriguing sight. It’s located on the way toward Rannoch station, in a western direction from Rannoch village. He resides on the right-hand side of the road and it’s affectionately been termed the ‘Frog Stone’ by locals. In the extremely likely event that this spectacle doesn’t fill the whole day, visit Rannoch Moor or the beautiful loch. There are plenty of other stunning sights which are easily accessible from the frog. Rannoch itself may be accessed from the West Highland Railway Line, or by bus from less remote nearby towns, such as Pitlochry.
Source: Elah Cohen
Check out Visit Scotland for more: https://www.visitscotland.com/
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