IN this week's Ayrshire Myths and Legends, chief reporter Neil Smith investigates the Grey Lady of Brodick Castle, the Loch Doon kelpies and a ghostly Viking in Largs.
The mysteries of Brodick Castle
The legend of the Grey Lady said to haunt spectacular Brodick Castle on Arran seems to have endured since the 1600s.
It is claimed that Oliver Cromwell sent his troops to occupy the castle in the 1650s, killing the local Duke, then his successor in battle.
During or just after these troubled time, a serving girl fell in love with the captain of the guard - and fell pregnant. She was quickly dismissed from service and disowned by her own family.
The stag sculpture at Brodick Castle (Image: National Trust for Scotland) Abandoned, shunned by her relatives and left homeless and alone, she drowned herself in the Wine Port Quay close to the castle. An alternate version says she was a plague victim, locked up with two other women and left to die in the castle dungeons.
Whatever happened, the hauntings soon began...
The mysterious Grey Lady would be seen over the centuries - a spectral figure spotted in the former servant's area, but also spotted looking out over the castle battlements. It is even claimed she would follow some of the castle staff around - although only visitors noticed her.
Another Brodick Castle legend surrounds the mysterious white stag said to be seen in the grounds. Some say it only appears just before the Hamilton Clan chief is about to die.
Alternatively, the ghostly deer is believed to bring good luck to all who see it.
In 2018, a life-sized sculptures of the stag, by artist Sally Matthews and crafted from leaves of Arran whitebeam and bracken, was added to the castle grounds.
The Loch Doon Kelpies
Mist over Loch Doon (Image: Dave Hancox) Everybody loves the Kelpies now - at least the huge horse-headed sculptures just off the M9 near Falkirk.
The ancient legend of the kelpies? Not so much. Kelpies were said to be shape-shifting water spirits, luring the unwary to the doom across Scotland.
At Loch Doon, it is claimed kelpies would appear at first as a beautiful horse. Enchanted by the creatures, people would climb upon their backs... just before the beasts leaped into the waters drowning their victims.
Handed down through generations, these stories probably achieved their main goal - keeping the kids away from potentially dangerous water.
The Viking Ghost
Magnus the Viking. Definitely not a ghost... (Image: Trip Advisor) The Largs Viking Festival kicks off this weekend - so what better time to look at the legend of a spectral figure haunting the shoreline.
The Battle of Largs in 1263 put an end to any hopes of a Norwegian occupation of the Scottish mainland. A fleet sent by Norway's King Haakon Haakonsson moored off Cumbrae, ready to attack the Ayrshire coast.
A storm arose, sinking many of the Viking ships - and when a small force arrived in Largs, they were quickly sent packing by the Scots. More of a Skirmish of Largs, some would say.
However stories persist that a ghostly figure in Viking clothing haunts the area near the Pencil Monument in Largs to this day.
The sightings usually happen during the annual festival itself when the town is already filled with folk in Viking garb and drink has been drunk. I'll leave it to you to draw your own conclusions on that particular legend...