Trow of 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.
This eerie encounter took place pre-mid-eighteenth century, a time when superstition and folklore were deeply ingrained in rural communities. The Trow, a creature from Shetland mythology, is often described as a large, ugly being. The sailor's bravery and quick thinking likely saved the family from a terrible fate that Christmas Eve. The story has been passed down through the local population, who still whisper about the exact spot where the encounter took place. It's a chilling reminder of the island's rich history and the mysterious creatures said to roam its landscapes.
The Shetland Islands have a rich history of folklore and mythology, with the Trow being a creature from local legend.
Location
Location Details
Nearby Haunted Places
The Windhouse Ghostly Gentleman
Windhouse, Isle of Yell
Windhouse, a remote dwelling near the Lumbister RSPB Reserve on the Isle of Yell, is home to a multitude of ghostly inhabitants. One of the most intriguing is a gentleman attired in a top hat, who shares the house with a woman dressed in silken clothes, a former pet dog, and a servant doomed to ascend the staircase for eternity. The presence of these spirits has been acknowledged for centuries, with reports dating back to the early twentieth century.
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.
The White Wife Apparition
Road between Watlee and Uyeasound, Uyeasound, Unst
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.
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.
Trowie Knowe Fairy Haunting
Trowie Knowe cairn, Northmavine
Trowie Knowe cairn stands eerily on the Shetland Islands, shrouded in an aura of mystique and otherworldliness. This ancient site was allegedly used by trows, mischievous fairy-like creatures from local folklore, who would venture out at moonlight to hunt. The very thought of these supernatural beings gathering beneath the cairn's stones sends shivers down the spine. It's little wonder that this spot is steeped in paranormal legend, beckoning thrill-seekers and curiosity-driven visitors to explore its haunted grounds.