With July here, we are officially in the peak of summer, and so people all over Scotland will be looking to get out and explore.
There is a practically limitless list of things to see and do around the country. Whether you're keen to enjoy the views at a pretty garden or head to the beach for some seaside fun, there is truly something for everyone.
If you're a fan of the supernatural, you may enjoy visiting some of the country's haunted sites. July in particular is said to see many spooky happenings each year in and around Scotland.
The Paranormal Database has put together a list of the ghosts across the country that are thought to only come out during the seventh month of the year. These include the unexplained sound of bagpipes on a Scottish island and the site of a bloody battle where the grass is said to turn bright red.
Read on for a summary of some of the spirits that you may see in Scotland this July if you happen to be in the right place at the right time.
Sound of bagpipes
If you head to the scenic village of Lochranza on the Isle of Arran on a quiet evening this July, you may hear a very strange sound. According to The Paranormal Database, going all the way back to the 1700s, there have been reports of unexplained bagpipe music heard around the village.
According to legend, a bagpiper who lost his life in the nearby hills is now thought to walk into Lochranza on calm summer evenings, with the only sign of his presence being the chilling sound of his pipes. It is said that a tourist once followed the sound of the music, only for it to suddenly come to a stop when they got close to the source of the noise.
Bloody battlefield
This apparition, said to occur at the Pass of Killiecrankie near the Perthshire town of Pitlochry on July 27, is particularly unsettling.
Said to be one of the most haunted battlefields in Scotland, this was the site of a bloody confrontation between the English Government and Jacobite Highlanders. The latter won the Battle of Killiecrankie, but both sides suffered heavy casualties.
It is said every year, on the anniversary of the conflict, the grass here turns blood red. Some have even reported seeing the bodies of Scottish and English soldiers, still wearing their uniforms.
If that wasn't spooky enough, the site is also said to be haunted by the floating head of a woman believed to have been killed in the area during the seventeenth century. Perhaps even scarier, some believe there is a tall white spectre who attempts to grab those passing along the roads, with anybody who gets touched by the ghost said to die within a year.
Strange whispering
Finally, if you're at the ruined Buchanan Castle near the Stirling village of Drymen between the hours of 11pm and sunrise this month, you may encounter some unsettling sounds.
The castle and grounds were once owned by Clan Buchanan, but in the late 17th century, they were passed to Clan Graham — who own the site to this day. The roof of the building was removed in 1954, and the condition of the castle has deteriorated over time to that point that all that remains today is the bones of the once-grand house — covered in trees and plants.
According to The Paranormal Database, ever since the 20th century, there have been reports of unexplained whispering sounds on the site where the castle once stood. Unless you don't spook easy, it is recommended that you avoid visiting after dark.
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