Examining folkloric, paranormal & cryptozoological locations in the UK and beyond
Location: Sandford Orcas (Dorset) - Woodland
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Pre-twentieth century?
Further Comments: A naked figure reputed to lurk within forested areas was said to be a 'wild man of the woods'.
Source:
Historical Record
First added: 2009-07-15
Last updated: 2009-07-15
ID: #9586
Location: Sannox, Isle of Arran (Ayrshire) - Sea around the area
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: September 1877
Further Comments: The yacht Valetta reported encountering a long green fish. While the creature's full length is undocumented, the tail was said to be eighteen foot (5.5 metres) in length. Local fishermen blamed the creature for the destruction of their nets.
Source:
Historical Record
First added: 2022-02-16
Last updated: 2022-02-16
ID: #14412
Location: Saxmundham (Suffolk) - Railway Line
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 09 July 2012, 11:20h
Further Comments: A train driver reported spotting an emu crossing the Ipswich to Lowestoft track.
Source:
Published Media
First added: 2012-07-14
Last updated: 2012-07-14
ID: #10986
Location: Scalloway (Shetland) - Bay
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 1810
Further Comments: The remains of a large mystery sea creature drifted into Scalloway Bay. Described as looking like an upturned vessel, it remained in the bay for two weeks before disappearing - during this time, no one was brave enough to approach it for a closer look.
Source:
Published Media
First added: 2012-06-16
Last updated: 2012-06-16
ID: #10960
Location: Scalloway (Shetland) - Waters around the area
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This area was thought to be home to humanoid sea creatures that drowned their victims before partaking of the deceased flesh.
Source:
Historical Record
First added: 2008-03-02
Last updated: 2008-03-02
ID: #8281
Location: Scalpay Island (Highland) - Waters off the island
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Late nineteenth century
Further Comments: Four witnesses in a yacht reported seeing two humped creatures swimming off the coast of the island. One witness estimated the length of the serpents to be at least forty feet (twelve metres).
Source:
Published Media
First added: 2004-09-14
Last updated: 2004-09-14
ID: #5427
Location: SE13 (Greater London) - Beckenham Place Park, Lewisham
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 2000
Further Comments: Footprints resembling those of a kangaroo were reported in the park, while another witness reported the creature had kicked her dog. No sightings of the roo have been reported since.
Source:
Published Media
First added: 2002-09-24
Last updated: 2002-09-24
ID: #2464
Location: Seaton Burn (Tyne and Wear) - Skies over the area
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Circa 1990
Further Comments: A Pterodactyl-shaped creature with a six metre wingspan flew around six metres over the top of houses. The creature moved at around 30mph and made absolutely no sound.
Source:
User Submission
First added: 2018-01-14
Last updated: 2018-01-14
ID: #12703
Location: Sevenoaks (Kent) - Woodland in the area
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Nineteenth century
Further Comments: This terminator-like serpent was said to be completely deaf, but if the snake spotted anyone, it would pursue its victim, never giving up the chase until it had bitten its prey. The bite was always fatal.
Source:
Historical Record
First added: 2012-10-20
Last updated: 2012-10-20
ID: #11143
Location: Shandra (County Antrim) - Loch an Eich
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The Each Ceannan Dubh was a magical horse with fire burning in its eyes. The creature also had a large spear embedded in its chest. Each Ceannan Dubh died after galloping into a wall, the impact pushing the spear further into its chest and piercing its heart.
Source:
Needs Review
First added: 2011-01-09
Last updated: 2011-01-09
ID: #10136
Location: Shannon Estuary (County Clare) - Close to Scattery Island
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Circa AD 500
Further Comments: Saint Senan fought a peist in this body of water. The creature, with fiery eyes and venomous mouth, fell after the saint made the sign of the cross, and was bound and thrown into Doo Lough (or Doolough).
Source:
Historical Record
First added: 2011-04-27
Last updated: 2011-04-27
ID: #10332
Location: Shapinsay (Orkney) - Off coast
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 1902
Further Comments: A creature with the body of a horse was observed by several fishermen, who reported it had scales like a fish, and a spotted effect over its body.
Source:
Published Media
First added: 2003-10-05
Last updated: 2003-10-05
ID: #4637
Location: Shawbost, Isle of Lewis (Outer Hebrides) - Valley in the area
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Two cousins, Dark Mary and Fair Mary, spent the night in a shieling in a valley near to Shawbost. One night an Each-uisge (a water spirit) appeared in the guise of little old lady and tricked the cousins into letting her spend the night with them - Fair Mary was murdered by the Each-uisge, and it escaped into the night.
Source:
Historical Record, Published Media
First added: 2012-06-10
Last updated: 2012-06-10
ID: #10938
Location: Sheffield (South Yorkshire) - Rawson's Arms, Tenter Street (no longer operating), and River Dun
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: June 1835
Further Comments: This pub featured in local news as it offered a sea serpent 'to be seen alive'. The creature, pulled from the River Dun, weighed around twenty-two kilograms, a head resembling a mastiff, and fine mouse-like hair. Music would calm or anger the creature, depending on the number of instruments played.
Source:
Historical Record
First added: 2023-05-23
Last updated: 2023-05-23
ID: #14930
Location: Sheffield (South Yorkshire) - Rivelin Valley
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Nineteenth century
Further Comments: It was said that there were three types of lizard in this area, the Running Asker, the Water Asker, and the Flying Asker, the latter being the smallest of the three.
Source:
Historical Record
First added: 2020-01-05
Last updated: 2020-01-05
ID: #13524
Location: Sheringham (Norfolk) - Parish Church
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: A carved wooden bench arm is in the shape of a mermaid. A notice in the church said that, in days of olde, a mermaid tried to enter but was turned away by a mortified crowd. She later snuck in undetected and remains to this day.
Source:
Published Media
First added: 2019-09-02
Last updated: 2019-09-02
ID: #13333
Location: Sherwood Forest (Nottinghamshire) - Deep within the forest
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Twentieth century
Further Comments: A local teenage myth says that the forest is home to a tall hairy man, whose eyes glow red in the dark. There is a chance that this is a modern version of the tree spirits that were once said to live here.
Source:
Published Media
First added: 2003-01-22
Last updated: 2003-01-22
ID: #3678
Location: Shetland (Shetland) - Exact areas unknown
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This creature was said to be like traditional water horses, other than it would use its tail like a propeller once in the water.
Source:
Published Media
First added: 2012-06-16
Last updated: 2012-06-16
ID: #10963
Location: Shetland (Shetland) - Exact location not known
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Pre-1822
Further Comments: A fisherman who caught a mermaid while out at sea killed the creature with a knife. It was said that from that moment, he was cursed.
Source:
Published Media
First added: 2012-06-16
Last updated: 2012-06-16
ID: #10954
Location: Shetland (Shetland) - Near water wheels
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The Noggle was a type of water horse that could be found stopping water wheels. When a miller appeared to chase the beast off, he would often be tricked into mounting it - being taken to deep water and his doom.
Source:
Published Media
First added: 2012-06-16
Last updated: 2012-06-16
ID: #10961
Location: Shetland Islands (Shetland) - Southeast of the island of Fetlar
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 1881 or 1882
Further Comments: The crew of the fishing vessel Bertie fired several shots at a sea monster they passed - this angered the beast, which created waves of such force that they washed over the boat, taking away fishing gear and other supplies. The creature continued to stalk the crew until night fell.
Source:
Published Media
First added: 2002-06-20
Last updated: 2002-06-20
ID: #1356
An Octopus Devours a Ship, by Orra White Hitchcock.
Location: Sidmouth (Devon) - Off coast
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 1890s
Further Comments: An octopus was said to have killed several people along the coast here during a year in this decade, although the story is likely fake.
Source:
Published Media
First added: 2005-11-22
Last updated: 2005-11-22
ID: #6658
Location: Skeffling (East Riding of Yorkshire) - Off coast
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: Circa 1938
Further Comments: Joan Borgeest spotted a large green creature off the coast of Skeffling. She described the beast as having a flat head, long mouth and protruding eyes. It dived when she shouted for others to come and see it.
Source:
Published Media
First added: 2011-03-25
Last updated: 2011-03-25
ID: #10207
Location: Skegness (Lincolnshire) - Area of sea between town and Maplethorpe
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 1930s and beyond
Further Comments: This creature, or possibly creatures, has been reported on and off for many years now - its humped form moving quickly and quietly through the water.
Source:
Published Media
First added: 2003-06-28
Last updated: 2003-06-28
ID: #4375
Location: Skerries of Work (Orkney) - Sea in the area
Type: Cryptozoology
Date / Time: 1910
Further Comments: The arrival of this creature was introduced by a school of whales leaping from the water and fleeing the area. The head and neck of the sea monster reached out of the water at the height of a small sailboat.
Source:
Published Media
First added: 2003-06-28
Last updated: 2003-06-28
ID: #4381