The Glasgow Vampire, the Baobhan Sith and other Scottish monster tales to terrify this Halloween
Scotland is a magical place and for every unicorn and fairy story told here over the years, there are others of monstrous kelpies, murderous goblins and even terrifying vampires.
A land with a long history of the supernatural, ranging from the witches of Macbeth to the Loch Ness Monster, Scots have long been fascinated with otherworldly creatures.
And though the world may now know of Nessie, we have a catalogue of monsters they might not know about.
From a vampire that haunted a graveyard in Glasgow to the Monster of Glamis Castle, here are some of the scariest beasts and boogeymen to entertain and enthral this Halloween.
The Gorbals vampire
Did you know that a 7-foot-tall vampire with iron teeth once stalked the grounds of one of Glasgow's graveyards?
In September 1954 in the Gorbals area of the city, rumours began to sweep the nearby playgrounds that two of the local boys had been kidnapped and murdered by it and it wasn't long before a local posse of hundreds of children, some armed with weapons and bringing their pet dogs to help in the hunt descended on the Southern Necropolis.
Over the space of three nights, they sought to find the vampire and put an end to its nefarious schemes. Were they successful? Well, no vampire has troubled the site since.
READ MORE: The most haunted places in Scotland named with Edinburgh Castle topping list
The Kelpies
Though their modern counterparts, the incredible metal sculptures at Falkirk, are much-loved - the Kelpies of myth are far more disturbing creatures.
These spiteful water spirits, took the shape of horses and were said to haunt Scotland's lochs and remote rivers.
Appearing to their victims as a lost and frightened black horse, it would entice people to touch or try to ride on its back, however the moment that they did so the Kelpies' skin would suck in unwary hands before pulling those who had touched it to a watery grave.
The only way to identify these terrifying creatures would be look out for their manes - which were said to be constantly dripping with water.
Both Shetland and Orkney have their own versions of these evil creatures.
The Grey Man of Ben MacDhui
Am Fear Liath Mòr or the Grey Man of Ben MacDhui is a terrifying presence which is said to stalk the climbers of this beautiful Scottish mountain.
The giant creature has caused even vastly experienced climbers to suffer feelings of eeriness, fright and even induce panic.
Typically felt as a set of thumping, crunching footsteps following in their path at the misty summit, climbers say that to come across the Grey Man is a truly petrifying experience.
Perhaps most horrific is the fact that very few people have ever actually seen the creature - or at least lived to tell the tale.
A rare trick of the light and shadow at the top of a mountain, Brocken Spectres have often been blamed for sightings of the Grey Man.
Baobhan Sith
Often appearing as a beautiful young woman wearing a long green dress, the Baobhan Sith (baa'van see) is considered to be a mix of the common siren and vampire mythologies in that they prey on unsuspecting men who wander the woods alone or in small groups, appearing to entrance them with dance and song before brutally murdering them and taking their blood.
The Blue Men of the Minch
Scotland's malevolent water spirits are not just confined to isolated rivers and lochs, they can also be found in the waterway known as the Minch, which stretches between the north west coast, the northern Inner Hebrides and the islands of Lewis and Harris.
The Blue Men, that are said to haunt these waters, are the cousins of the Kelpies and will often be seen sleeping on the surface of the water on calm days.
Human-sized with blue skin, they are said to revel in creating storms and will often seek to capsize boats and drag sailors to their death.
The Monster of Glamis Castle
Glamis Castle was once the talk of the courts around Europe due to its supposed dark and terrible secret.
The childhood home of the Queen Mother was also once said to be home to not only the usual array of ghosts but also a monster.
At the turn of the 20th century, the rumours of a secret chamber and a monstrous heir were so strong that many accounts were written of the Monster of Glamis.
Said to be the deformed son and heir of the 12th Earl of Strathmore, the unnamed Bowes-Lyon child is was recorded as having died on the day of his birth but many believed he actually survived to become a "barrel-chested" monster with "toy-like" arms and legs.
The mystery left a dark and terrible stain on not only the reputation of the family but also put an immense strain on them.
The grandfather of the Queen Mother, Claude Bowes-Lyon and the 13th Earl of Strathmore once reportedly said: “If you could even guess the nature of this castle’s secret, you would get down on your knees and thank God it was not yours.”
Nuckelavee
This terrifying demon creature is another to rise from the depths of the sea, venturing forth onto the beaches of Orkney, appearing as a man's torso attached to a horse's back as if it were a rider.
The torso has no legs though, with terribly long arms that can reach the ground, while the horse's head is abnormally large and features one evil red eye.
Worse, the creature has no skin as though its fur has been freshly skinned and its musculature placed on show.
The Nuckelavee's breath was thought to wilt crops and sicken livestock, and the only way to escape it was to cross fresh water such as a river or stream, or to pray for rain which would force the creature back into its deep sea lair.
The Red Caps
These murderous little goblins are said to haunt the Borders, hiding in the ruins of castles to ambush or pounce on the unaware.
Armed with iron boots, talon-like claws, a sharp pike and often lobbing large boulders at any who take refuge within their lairs, they are known to soak their caps in the blood of their victims.
The most famous of these is Robin Redcap, who is said to have caused much harm and ruin in the lands of Hermitage Castle in the Borders.
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