HEADLESS HORSEMAN SEEN AT INGLISTON ESTATE AND COUNTRY CLUB

A group of holidaymakers at a Scots country club couldn’t believe their eyes when they saw a ‘headless horseman’ during an evening walk.
Tommy Gillan and his friends were staying in the on-site RV Park at the luxury Ingliston estate and country club in Bishopton when they decided to go for an after dinner stroll.
They were in the middle of filming some of the surrounding countryside to show their family before they were stopped in their tracks by a figure on horseback.
And they had to do a double take when the mysterious figure began cantering then galloping towards them on a dark horse.
Tommy from Glasgow, who was still visibly shocked after the incident, said: “My pals and I decided to take an early weekend break in Ingliston and were just enjoying the outdoor scenery.
We couldn’t actually believe it when we heard hooves then saw what looked to be a headless figure on a horse. It kind of came out of nowhere.
We didn’t know if we’d had too much to drink. One of my pals, Sharon, was freaking out when she saw it and shouted out ‘it’s got nae heid’. I was just running in the other direction by that point.”
He added: “I’m really not sure what we saw - the body on the horse was dressed in a black outfit, with a cape and the horse seemed bigger than normal. We tried to film it but to be honest we were all a bit shaken.”
The group managed to get a video of the ‘headless horseman’ as it came towards them.
Staff at the venue, which hosts a Christmas party with telly star Mark Wright on December 2 refused to comment though one insider said: “Ingliston House was built in 1846 on the old Greenock Road and the area has a history of some spooky going ons. With October and Halloween celebrations coming including their Masquerade Ball on October 28 theres definitely something in the air.”

SCOTLAND GETS ITS TEETH INTO DRACULA LINKS

 SCOTLAND’S surprising links to Dracula and its famed author Bram Stoker are being celebrated by Visit Scotland on the iconic book’s 125^th anniversary. 

 

Scotland is said to have played a crucial role in the creation of the classic story with Stoker holidaying north of the border as he wrote it. Visitors and locals alike are being encouraged to indulge in some literary tourism – whereby people are inspired to visit the locations depicted in literature – and delve into the country’s connections to Dracula, following in Stoker’s footsteps.

 

Locations in Edinburgh, the Scottish Borders and Glasgow all have links to Stoker – but it is perhaps the striking cliff top castle in Aberdeenshire that is best known for its links to the story.

 

Slains Castle, near Cruden Bay, is believed to have inspired Dracula’s castle – specifically a unique octagon-shaped room described in the book, which Slains boasts. Stoker began writing Dracula – which was published in 1897 - while staying at the nearby Kilmarnock Arms Hotel, with his signatures from its guestbook in 1894 and 1895 surviving to this day. 

Now in ruins, the castle is best admired from nearby and should not be entered due to safety reasons.

 

The 125^th anniversary of Dracula is fittingly marked during Scotland’s Year of Stories which celebrates and promotes the wealth of stories inspired by, written, or created in Scotland.

The national tourism organisation has just co-hosted a special event with Blackwell’s bookshop in Edinburgh to mark the anniversary attended by Stoker’s great-grandnephew Dacre Stoker, who took part in a Q&A and book signing attended by fans of Dracula and horror literature.

 

Jenni Steele, VisitScotland Film and Creative Industries Manager, said: “This anniversary is a fantastic opportunity to highlight Scotland’s connections to this world-renowned book and character. 

 

“Dracula holds such a sense of intrigue and mystery, so it is not surprising that Bram Stoker’s writing is said to have been influenced by the country's magical landscapes and locations while on his travels. It was pleasure to co-host the special event in Edinburgh and have Dacre involved in sharing his passion and knowledge about Dracula in Scotland.

 

“2022 also marks Scotland’s Year of Stories – so this anniversary is a perfect fit to celebrate our links to this world-famous tale. And we hope that by shining a light on those ties, people will come and see the inspirational places that arguably helped created one of the most famous pieces of literature ever written.”

 

Dacre Stoker, great grandnephew of Bram Stoker, said: "It is a great privilege to part of this special anniversary, and even more so to be celebrating it in what is arguably the birthplace of Dracula; Scotland.

 

“The rich culture and heritage clearly left its impact on Bram; from the ruins of Slains Castle clearly inspiring the gothic setting of Dracula’s castle, to the vast landscape of Aberdeenshire’s coast to his links to Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders, including his friendships with writers such as Arthur Conan Doyle and other writers that make up the fabric of Scotland’s literary tradition.

 

“Scotland has inspired many writers and artists for centuries and its stories and landscapes hopefully will continue to inspire many more to come.” 

 

Aberdeenshire Council will host a civic reception at The Kilmarnock Arms Hotel in Cruden Bay tonight [Thursday 26 May] to unveil a new information panel detailing Bram Stoker’s ties to the area. 

 

Scotland has world-class literary links. Our landscapes, history and people have inspired writers for centuries, helping to bring to life enduring characters that capture the imagination. From Dracula to Outlander, Harry Potter to Sunset Song, Scotland has inspired some of the world’s best-loved literary creations.

 

Pre-Covid19 there were over three million visits to literary attractions across Scotland (2013-2019). Figures released by the Moffat Centre for Travel and Tourism Business Development at Glasgow Caledonian University detail visitor numbers to places with literature links including Abbotsford – The Home of Sir Walter Scott, Robert Burns Birthplace Museum, the Grassic Gibbon Centre, the Writers’ Museum, JM Barrie’s Birthplace, Scott Monument and Burns Monument Centre. 

 

And there are several Scottish locations with Dracula and vampire ties for visitors to discover:

• Renfield Street, Glasgow – It is believed Bram Stoker supported the staging of plays at the Theatre Royal in Glasgow and that the name of RM Renfield, the character featured in the novel, was taken from Glasgow's Renfield Street.
• Edinburgh - Before writing Dracula, Bram Stoker worked as a theatre manager, which saw him heavily involved in the opening night of the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh in 1883.
• Glamis Castle, Angus - There is said to be a ‘vampire child’ who was born in the castle and kept in a secret room. Another vampire legend tells of a woman who worked in the castle and was caught drinking blood from a body and was punished by being walled up alive in a secret room, where she remains to this day.

• Melrose Abbey, Scottish Borders – Reportedly, during the 12^th century an unpopular priest lived at the abbey. He was a rule-breaker and nicknamed Hunderprest because he preferred hunting with dogs rather than serving God. After he died and was buried on the grounds, it’s alleged Hunderprest rose from his tomb, wailing and drinking the blood of the nuns. One night, as the undead priest rose again, the other priests beheaded him, cremated him and scattered his ashes to the wind.
• Blair Atholl, Perthshire - A local tale describes how two poachers were attacked by a blood sucking creature while they slept in a bothy near Glen Tilt. The pair fought the creature off after which it flew away into the night or accounts claim it simply vanished.

Another interesting Dracula connection is through Emily Gerard, an author born in Jedburgh, Scottish Borders and lived in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire. She was the first person to bring the word "nosferatu" or "vampire" into use in western Europe. She studied and wrote about Transylvanian folklore having married an Austro-Hungarian chevalier, who was stationed in a small town there. Gerard’s collection of Transylvanian myths and legends are known to have influenced Stoker's Dracula. 

 

For more information about Scotland’s Year of Stories 2022 visit: https://www.visitscotland.com/about/themed-years/stories/ 

 

GLASGOW WOMAN HAUNTED BY KNIFE LOVING DOLL

A Scots photographer reckons her 100 year old doll might be haunted - but she's vowed not to get rid of her because she loves her.

Natalie Mellon, 33, from Glasgow inherited the antique doll after her father in law's friend found her in an old attic.

But ever since she's had her in the house, weird things keep happening.
Natalie who has now dubbed the doll 'Annabelle' after the horror movie where a seemingly innocent doll has a life of its own, said: "Annabelle was given to me about a year ago by one of my father in law's friends who found a load of things in an old attic. I've always loved old antiques and loved her straight away. She does look a bit creepy but I wasn't freaked out when I saw her. I have four big dogs but they are absolutely terrified of her and won't go in the same room. We sarcastically named her Annabelle after the doll in the horror film."

Natalie, who lives in the Irish countryside, has always been interested in the supernatural but has never actually encountered anything strange before.

She said: "I've stayed in supposedly haunted houses before but nothing has ever happened. As well as my dogs barking incessantly at Annabelle she has got up to a few wee tricks. One of my friends stayed the night and heard a tapping noise outside the bedroom. There were no windows or doors open but in the morning she found Annabelle outside the room and she said she wasn't there before she went to bed. She thought I'd put her there for a laugh but I was sound asleep."
Most recently Annabelle appeared to have made a kitchen cupboard open and a knife slide off a shelf while Natalie was messing around taking selfies on her phone.
The incident was captured on video.

Natalie said: "I was literally taking a selfie but hit record by mistake and just went with it to make a video. Then the knife flew off the shelf and the cupboard door swung open. and I just about wet myself and shouted on my partner to come through."
She added: "I'm not easily terrified and found it quite funny afterwards. I'm sure there's got to be a logical explanation."

After Natalie made a video telling us about Annabelle she said there was a huge bolt of lightening outside.

She said: "I actually put her away last night for the first time. I swear im a ballsy little s*** and always stayed myself in the countryside bit when I came into this kitchen last night I swear I was freaked out. I kept looking at that cupboard and if it had done that again when I was here by myself I'd have died with my legs in the air. Annabelle can stay out in the shed for now."

Excerpts of this article have since appeared in the Daily Record, The Star, ITV and BBC.

From Scotland with Love - theshowbizlion.com