This fun little book, containing 200 fantastic facts about the Christmas season as well as 90 illustrations, will delight readers everywhere this Christmas.

'The Little Book of Scotland' is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the sort of frivolous, fantastic or simply strange information which no-one will want to be without. Here we find out about the most unusual crimes and punishments, eccentric inhabitants, famous sons and daughters and literally hundreds of wacky facts. Geoff Holder's new book contains historic and contemporary trivia including such gems as the real story of William 'Braveheart' Wallace, which king was murdered in a barn, and where were the Second World War Commandos formed. From Sir Walter Scott to Sir Sean Connery, Queen Victoria to Mary Queens of Scots, this is a remarkably engaging little book, essential reading for visitors and Scots alike.

With the country's oldest university and the ruins of both a magnificent castle and one of the grandest cathedrals of medieval Europe, St Andrews is one of the most beautiful and historic places in Scotland. But it's also one of the most haunted. Here are investigations into St Andrews' most famous ghost (the White Lady) and its most famous paranormal location (the Haunted Tower, with its real-life Victorian mystery of mummified bodies); the numerous phantoms, historical and contemporary, that appear to cluster around the medieval quarter of The Pends and St Leonard's School; and spectres of castle and cloister, town and gown. There is also the Pitmilly House poltergeist, whose fire-raising activities resulted in a payout by an insurance company. Join paranormal expert Geoff Holder in an exploration of the darker side of St Andrews.

The Little Book of Edinburgh is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the sort of frivolous, fantastic or simply strange information which no-one will want to be without. Here we find out about the most unusual crimes and punishments, eccentric inhabitants, famous sons and daughters and literally hundreds of wacky facts. Geoff Holder's new book contains historic and contemporary trivia on Edinburgh. There are lots of factual chapters but also plenty of frivolous details which will amuse and surprise. A reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped in to time and time again to reveal something you never knew. Discover the real story of Greyfriars Bobby (he was a publicity stunt), meet the nineteenth-century counterparts of our favourite modern detectives, from Jackson Brodie to John Rebus, seek out historical sites from the distant past to the Second World War, and tangle with the Tattoo and freak out with the Festival. A remarkably engaging little book, this is essential reading for visitors and locals alike.

This is not a book about the prehistoric peoples who built the stone circles. Rather it is light-hearted look at the weird and wonderful uses that these circles have been put to through the ages. This strange and fascinating list of uses ranges from murder to the site of a rock concert . Discover how some circles were used for sex and promoting fertility, another for preventing pregnancy, and how these sites have been associated with fairies, witches, the Devil, UFOs, space aliens and visionary experiences amongst other things. In this unique guide by Geoff Holder, major sites such as Stonehenge and Avebury rub shoulders with comparatively little-known circles. As well as stone circles the book includes single standing stones, burial cairns, prehistoric rock art, and carved Pictish stones.

This is a guide to everything supernatural, paranormal, folkloric, eccentric and, above all, mysterious that has occurred on the dark waters of the enigmatic Loch Ness and the surrounding area of Inverness. Containing Celtic gods and martyrs, telepathy, exorcism and magic, mermaids, demons and saints (and based on texts both ancient and modern), it is a fascinating introduction to the heritage of the area. This is a guide that the armchair adventurer or the on-location visitor can revel in. Comprehensive entries covering Inverness' tombstones, simulacra, standing stones, gargoyles, ruins, churches and archaeological curiosities are complemented by more than 100 photographs. The book also includes notes and cross-references to enable the reader to follow up the sources.

'The Guide to Mysterious Perthshire' contains everything folkloric, supernatural, paranormal, eccentric and odd that has been recorded about the county. It features tales of ghosts, fairies, witchcraft, freak weather, strange deaths, tall tales and hoaxes, and is illustrated with the author's own photographs.

This is the essential guide to everything strange, marvellous and paranormal on the beautiful and rugged Isle of Arran. Why did the police in 1889 bury the boots of the victim of the Arran Murder below the high-water mark? What happened to the miracle healing stone of St Molaise? What is the truth behind the history of Robert the Bruce on Arran? Where have encounters with fairies been reported in the twenty-first century? Here are collected tales of folklore, witchcraft, magic, mermaids and ghosts, both historical and contemporary. Every stone circle, chambered cairn and standing stone is described, as are caves, old graveyards, castles, Viking sites, carved stones and ruined churches, all with walking directions and notes on access. This book will transform the way you experience Arran.

From the dark corries of the mighty Cuillin Hills to the dramatic caves and cliffs of its stunning coastline, the beautiful Isle of Skye is alive with tales of ghosts, fairies, clan battles, Celtic mythology and witchcraft, and they are all collected in this essential guide to everything supernatural and strange on the most spectacular of Scottish islands. Also taking in the Isle of Raasay, and Glenelg and Eilean Donan Castle on the Lochalsh mainland, here are comprehensive place-by-place entries on every historic site, ancient monument and hidden treasure. Find out about the Fairy Flag of Dunvegan Castle, the giant Angus MacAskill, and the skeleton of a water-horse at Ord. Marvel at sightings of sea-serpents and discover which loch hosted a Victorian monster-hunt. Learn about the folklore and feuds of the MacLeods and MacDonalds. Uncover the links between Ring of Bright Water author Gavin Maxwell and the supernatural. Revel in stories of phantom cars, ghostly clansmen, saintly miracles, gateways to Hell – and the dozens of fairy sites on the island. The Guide to Mysterious Skye and Lochalsh is the ninth in Geoff Holder’s acclaimed series. As with the previous volumes, it is profusely illustrated and draws on both ancient and modern sources. Full access and location details are given for both driver and walker alike, making this the indispensable companion for anyone exploring the glorious and mysterious realms of Skye and Lochalsh.

Are you worried about the zombie apocalypse? Kept awake each night imagining you'll only manage a few before that thug at No. 9 gets you? Well, fret no more Clasp a copy of this book and get a better class of horrible death from one of Britain's best-loved historical legends Will you take the easy option and try shouting 'kiss this, Hardy' as you take a swing at Nelson? (Pros: no right arm to worry about; cons: buried next to Wellington.) Or will you be a man, woman or corpse to make your forebears proud and go for Edward I, 6ft 2in tall, a king so martial he directed his bones be carried into future battles so he could fight on after death? With full zombie-hunting details - including the locations of tombs, any wounds and weaknesses, height, weight and difficulty level - no apocalyptic history lover should leave home without it

Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities in the world--with one of the darkest histories on record. Starting with the Roman era, and sweeping through the centuries in a blood-soaked catalogue of battles, diseases, royal deaths, and disasters, this is history as you have never read it before. Read how Lord Drumlanrig once roasted a servant on a spit. Discover why Station Road used to be caled "Cut-Throat Lane." With horrible tales involving Mary, Queen of Scots, James VI and Bonnie Prince Charlie, as well as the execution of the Marquis of Montrose--and the story of his stolen heart--only the bravest of readers should open it. Containing riots, murders, severed heads, sieges, and the bull's head that sparked a clan massacre, read it if you dare

Standing on a lonely Perthshire road is the only historic monument to a named witch in the whole of Britain. But did 'Maggie Wall' actually exist? This book reveals the controversial truth for the first time. Even more surprising results come from a quest to uncover the reality of Perthshire's other famous witch, Kate McNiven. Compiled by Perthshire's own paranormal specialist, writer and researcher Geoff Holder, Paranormal Perthshire also presents direct evidence for the big cats roaming the county, as well as cataloguing the area's UFO sightings, digging into the story of the Fairy Rock that halted a housing development and reassessing the notorious Victorian scandal over Ballechin House, allegedly 'the most haunted house in Scotland'. With contemporary eye-witness accounts of ghosts, psychic episodes and encounters with supernatural beings, as well as more than fifty photographs, this book will delight all lovers of the mysterious and the paranormal.

This fully illustrated guide explores all things strange and uncanny, paranormal and peculiar in Aberdeenshire, one of the most scenic parts of Scotland (which also includes part of the Cairngorms National Park). Historic sites and ancient monuments--such as the innumerable stone circles and castles--are surveyed in an enchanting and accessible way. Descriptions of what to observe and explore are married with detailed "site histories" of the supernatural and mysterious. These include locations of witchcraft and fairy hills, eerie contemporary sculptures, and spooky long-abandoned graveyards. There are tales of big cats and ape-men, murders and bodysnatching, and details of modern fire festivals (including the burning of a Wickerman). This is an indispensable companion for anyone journeying into the marvels and mysteries of Aberdeenshire.

* LAST STAND at STAMFORD BRIDGE: The day a BLOODY VIKING ARMY met their match *DEATH aboard the WHITE SHIP: Royal deaths and disasters discovered *HORRORS of the BLACK DEATH: The most terrifying true stories of THE PLAGUE revealed * CONQUEST, WAR, FAMINE and DEATH: TRUE BRITISH HISTORY to put even the Four Horsemen to shame * ENTER the AXEMAN: British executions galore *THE NAZIs ARE COMING How British spies defied Hitler's secret plans for invasion Britain has an incredible history, steeped in all manner of blood, death, disease and horror. This collection celebrates it all.

This is the guide to everything strange, mysterious and uncanny that has occurred in the beautiful and rugged Lake District. Every historic site and ancient monument is explored - including stone circles, ancient cairns and crumbling stations - along with the many hidden treasures to be found in the area. Full access and site details are given, along with something more: the strange and mysterious histories of each. This volume is filled with sources both ancient and modern. From the strange histories of the Romantic poets to modern sightings of ghosts, UFOs and monsters in the lakes, it is an indispensable companion for the traveller about to travel into the mysterious realms of the Lake District.

Stirling District, which includes parts of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, is one of the most beautiful parts of Scotland - and one of the most mysterious. This is a comprehensive guide to the county' ancient sites and archaeological curiosities, from tourist attractions such as Stirling Castle and Dunblane Cathedral to strange carvings, stone circles, healing wells and hidden cairns. With countless tales of encounters with ghosts, magical beings and monsters, a full list of all Stirlingshire's witch trials and the real story of Robert Kirk, the 'Fairy Minister', who is reputed to have been abducted by the Little Folk in the seventeenth century, this fascinating addition to Geoff Holder's best-selling series will delight residents, walkers and tourists alike.

"Paranormal Glasgow" digs into the strange and peculiar stories of Scotland's greatest city. Here are tales of contemporary ghosts and historical haunting, UFO and big-cat sightings, time slips, spontaneous human combustion, bizarre beliefs, and urban legends. There is a thorough and shocking expose of the city's gory history of witchcraft trials, the story of the "Gorbals vampire" of 1954, which saw hundreds of schoolchildren hunting for "a monster with iron teeth," and the case of John Scott, the Glasgow Fasting Man who allegedly survived without food or water for 106 days, and was proved to have done so by the Vatican. With more than 50 photographs, this collection by writer and paranormal specialist Geoff Holder will delight, unnerve, and surprise visitors and residents alike.

Aberdeen is full of mysteries, marvels and strangeness, and this book is a comprehensive guide to them all. Here you will encounter magic, witchcraft, folklore and superstitions; contemporary urban legends; gargoyles and graveyards; graverobbers and murderers; stone circles and prehistoric burial sites; UFOs and freak weather; and tales of horror, madness, humour - and dangerous porridge. Many forgotten aspects of the city's strange history are here, from the disturbing (spontaneous human combustion, William Wallace's dismembered limbs, the man who died of fright after a mock execution, and the bodysnatching professors) to the downright bizarre (a talking statue, a wedding celebration which was mistaken for an alien invasion fleet, and golf with giant skulls). The Guide to Mysterious Aberdeen is the tenth in Geoff Holder's acclaimed series. As with the previous volumes, it is profusely illustrated with over 100 photographs and draws on both ancient and modern sources. Full access and location details are given for both driver and walker alike, making this the indispensable companion for anyone exploring the Granite City.

From ancient mysteries to modern weirdness, this fascinating volume contains countless strange and terrifying places and episodes from across Dundee and Angus. Anyone with an interest in the paranormal will be delighted to find here a full history of all of Dundee's witches, UFO and Big Cat sightings, as well as Gothic horrors such as the man who claimed to be Jack the Ripper, the genesis of Frankenstein, a 'vampire' murder, and an outbreak of modern zombies. From the tramp discovered - still breathing - inside the belly of the famous Tay Whale, to the Dundee lass who became queen of a cannibal tribe, it will surprise, entertain and delight residents, visitors and lovers of the Fortean alike. With more than fifty modern and archive illustrations and photographs, no Dundee bookshelf is complete without it.

Graverobbing was a dark but profitable industry in pre-Victorian Scotland - criminals, gravediggers and middle-class medical students alike abstracted newly-buried corpses to send to the anatomy schools. Only after the trials of the infamous murderers Burke and Hare and the passing of the Anatomy Act of 1832 did the grisly trade end. From burial grounds in the heart of Glasgow, Dundee and Edinburgh to quiet country graveyards in the Scottish Borders and Aberdeenshire, this book takes you to every cemetery ever raided, and reveals where you can find extant pieces of anti-resurrectionist graveyard furniture, from mortsafes, coffin cages and underground vaults to watchtowers and morthouses. Richly illustrated, filled with hundreds of stories of 'reanimated' corpses, daring thefts, black-hearted murders and children sold to the slaughter by their own mothers, and with Robert Louis Stevenson's classic short story The Body Snatcher at the end, this macabre guide will delight everyone who loves Scotland's dark past.