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Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Sean Murphy & Ryan Fahey

Scotland is 'most haunted country in UK' and rife with the supernatural and spectres

A 30-foot giant that stalks climbers on a famous Scottish peak and spectral armies once again clashing on the battlefield are just some of the horrifying phantoms haunting locations across the country, according to a top paranormal investigator.

Author John West, 54, said Scotland is a hotbed of the supernatural, and named it the "most-haunted part of the UK", due to its history of war and plagues.

The writer has just travelled across Great Britain while researching chilling experiences for his new book, Britain's Haunted Heritage.

He added that Scotland's Celtic heritage means the country is more "in tune" with the supernatural.

The folklore expert, who has written two books on the subject and has visited some of Scotland's most haunted locations including Edinburgh Castle and the Island of Iona, told The Sun : “Scotland is a country steeped in history. It’s endured invasion, war and plagues.

"It’s no wonder it must be the most-haunted part of the UK. Even now, there are places which make my blood run cold.

“The atmosphere becomes oppressive in these places and you just need to get out of there. Scotland has them in abundance."

The Grey Man of Ben Macdui

The folklore expert revealed one particularly blood-curdling story that of a 30ft "grey man" which is said to stalk climbers on the slopes of Ben Macdui in the Cairngorms.

Reports about the humanoid monster go back 100 years, with even vastly experienced climbers saying they were terrorised by the monster.

Another story involves the ghost of a wizard stalking the grounds of a medieval building in Edinburgh.

John also wrote of the chilling case of Major Thomas Weir and his sister Jane- who were both accused of witchcraft before being executed in 1670.

But a part of their home is still standing in the city - and visitors claim to hear laughter and chanting ringing out from its rooms.

John, who says he's been interested in haunted sights since he was a boy, has been ghost hunting for 40 years.

He said he became fascinated by the paranormal realm after sneaking away to read his mum's books of ghost stories.

John would be "transfixed" by the phantoms on the covers, he added.

Scotland's haunted Islands

The former journalist and ghost hunter, who lives in London, says that rural communities and Scottish islands are just as haunted as the big cities like Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

He revealed that the island of Iona - which is situated in the Outer Hebrides - is haunted by a fleet of ghostly Viking longships.

While spectral armies have also been said to clash at the Pass of Killiekrankie in Perthshire, John discovered.

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