The White Wife Apparition
Deep in the Shetland Islands, on the winding Watlee Brae road that connects Watlee to Uyeasound, a chilling encounter took place. In January 1999, local musician Steven Spence was driving down this very road when he claimed to have seen a pale female apparition smiling at him from the side of the road. This unexpected sighting was significant enough to make local headlines, with the council even considering erecting a statue to honour the mysterious figure, dubbed the White Wife of Watlee.
Further investigation into the White Wife's story reveals that this wasn't just a fleeting moment of mistaken identity. The incident was covered in the local press, indicating a level of corroboration and interest from the community. While there's limited historical context available about the White Wife, the fact that a statue was proposed in her honour suggests she left a lasting impression on local residents. The manifestation of the White Wife appears to be a visual one, with Steven Spence describing her as a smiling entity. There's no recorded audio evidence, but the visual impact seems to have been significant.
Late 20th century Shetland Islands
Location
Location Details
Nearby Haunted Places
Unst Loch Water Horse
Unnamed loch, Unst
Deep in the rugged landscape of Unst, Shetland Islands, there's a mysterious loch that's home to a legendary creature. Locals have long whispered about a strange water horse said to roam its depths. The story goes that a weary traveller once stumbled upon a horse grazing by the loch's side and, assuming it was a kindly beast, decided to mount it. But as soon as he did, the creature suddenly lurched into action, trying to drag him into the water. The traveller managed to jump clear just in time, and as he watched in amazement, the horse entered the water and vanished into a blue haze.
Fetlar Fairy Hauntings
Unnamed disused watermills on the island, Fetlar
On the windswept island of Fetlar, several abandoned watermills stand as testaments to a long-forgotten industry. But it's not just their crumbling stonework that's intriguing - these mills are said to be haunted by mischievous fairies. According to local legend, the fairies drove the mill owners away, leaving the buildings to decay. The exact date of these events is unknown, but the story has become an integral part of the island's folklore.
Trow of Windhouse Yell
Area around Windhouse, Yell
Windhouse on the island of Yell has a dark Christmas Eve legend attached to it. A shipwrecked sailor stumbled upon the Windhouse household on Christmas Eve, only to find they were in the process of leaving. They warned him that terrible things would happen on this night, and a death would normally occur. The sailor, not one to back down, offered to spend the night in the house. As sunset approached, he encountered a huge Trow, a mysterious creature from local folklore. Grabbing an axe, the sailor gave chase, catching up with the creature outside and striking it a blow or two. But when the family returned home, they found the body had vanished, leaving behind only bright green holly.
Walking Stone of Birsay
Standing Stone in the area, Birsay
In the rugged landscape of Birsay, on the Orkney Islands, stands a mysterious stone with a dark and intriguing legend. Every year on Hogmanay, at the stroke of midnight, the Walking Stone is said to come to life and make its way down to Birsay Loch. According to local lore, it would briefly dip its head into the water before returning to its original location. But beware, for anyone foolish enough to try to observe this spectacle would be found dead the following morning, laid out at the base of the stone.