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Examining folkloric, paranormal & cryptozoological locations in the UK and beyond

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Giants and their Legacies from around the Isles

Red Hand

Location: Loch Morlich (Highland) - Shores of the loch
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A giant warrior, Red Hand reportedly walks along the shoreline.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2003-04-26 | Last updated: 2003-04-26 | ID #4186

Roman Legion

Location: Longdendale Valley (Derbyshire) - Bleaklow Mountain
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: First full moon of spring (reoccurring)
Further Comments: This long dead legion is said to march across the moor, carrying glowing torches; they set off from Melandra, old roman fortification near Glossop. Another report states that the area is haunted by a giant grey man, standing at least 10 meters tall.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2002-06-12 | Last updated: 2002-06-12 | ID #1164

Giant's Home

Location: Lythe (North Yorkshire) - Mulgrave Castle
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Castle still stands
Further Comments: This castle was said to be the home of Wade, the giant. He is also held accountable for a road and two large 'graves', marked by standing stones.

Source: Historical Record, Published Media
First added: 2002-10-17 | Last updated: 2002-10-17 | ID #2681

Finn's Kitchen

Location: Machrie, Isle of Arran (Ayrshire) - Fingal's Cauldron Seat
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: Created by the giant Finn McCool as a place for his cauldron, this set of standing stones remain intact ready for the next passing ogre...

Source: Published Media
First added: 2003-06-01 | Last updated: 2003-06-01 | ID #4320

Table & Chair

Location: Madron (Cornwall) - Lanyon Quoit
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: Legend states that this location was once home to a giant - the stones that remain were his table and sitting stone. Other reports say that Arthur used the site.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2002-07-16 | Last updated: 2002-07-16 | ID #1762

Giant Grave

Location: Marazion (Cornwall) - Chapel Rock
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Rock still present
Further Comments: The giant wife of St Michael's Mount was accidentally killed when struck by a carelessly tossed hammer. The rock was lifted by her husband and her body placed beneath.

Source: Historical Record
First added: 2020-04-02 | Last updated: 2020-04-02 | ID #13640

Loser

Location: Melcombe Horsey (Dorset) - Giant's Grave
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: This earth mound is said to contain the body of a giant who lost a stone throwing contest against another of his ilk. The two stones are close by and are said to rotate when a cockerel is heard to crow.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2008-08-05 | Last updated: 2008-08-05 | ID #8700


A giant and his slayer.

Giant's Grave

Location: Merbach Hill (Herefordshire) - Arthur's Stone
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: This large stone on Merbach Hill is said to be the final resting place of a giant slain by the king.

Source: Historical Record
First added: 2008-03-09 | Last updated: 2008-03-09 | ID #8316

Buried Giant

Location: Milton Lilbourne (Wiltshire) - Giant's Grave barrow
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Barrow still present
Further Comments: Running around this barrow seven times will result in the sleeping giant awaking.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2009-06-28 | Last updated: 2009-06-28 | ID #9539

Mahon Mac Mahon

Location: Monkstown (County Cork) - Giant's Stairs
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Rocks still present
Further Comments: Several giants lived in the cave, including Mahon Mac Mahon, who kidnapped children and forced them to work brass and iron. A blacksmith by the name of Robert Kelly managed to enter the cave and return one child to his parents - the child had been missing for seven years but had not aged a single day since disappearing.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2010-08-13 | Last updated: 2010-08-13 | ID #9998

Hulac Warren

Location: Monsal Dale (Derbyshire) - The Warren Stone
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Stone still present
Further Comments: Monsal Dale was once known as Demon's Dale, and a race of sadistic giants lived there. A shepherdess killed herself rather than be kidnapped by the giant's leader Hulac; the gods were so outraged by his actions that the giant was instantly turned into the Warren Stone.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2007-05-07 | Last updated: 2007-05-07 | ID #7446

Giant Quoit

Location: Mulfra (Cornwall) - Dolmen
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: The pile of rocks is said to be the discarded remains of stones used by giants during a game of quoits.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2008-10-19 | Last updated: 2008-10-19 | ID #9055

MacCoul Giants

Location: Munlochy (Highland) - Area around the bay
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: These two large warriors once lived in the bay, though now in shadow form only.

Source: Historical Record
First added: 2003-04-06 | Last updated: 2003-04-06 | ID #4082

Giant's Home

Location: Nancledra (Cornwall) - Cottage (no longer standing) by the brook
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown, but cottage ruins said to visible in early nineteenth century
Further Comments: This giant was said to eat the occasional child and pass time by throwing rocks at other giants who lived nearby.

Source: Historical Record
First added: 2020-04-02 | Last updated: 2020-04-02 | ID #13639

Robert FitzHamon

Location: Newport (Gwent) - Newport Castle
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The protective structure is haunted by the giant figure of FitzHamon, the castle's builder.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2005-03-01 | Last updated: 2005-03-01 | ID #5903

Gorm

Location: Norton Malreward (Somerset) - Hillfort
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: A giant by the name of Gorm built this camp as his home.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2004-03-14 | Last updated: 2004-03-14 | ID #5085

Returning Giant

Location: Oare (Wiltshire) - Giant's Grave barrow
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Barrow still present
Further Comments: A local legend states that if you run around the barrow seven times, the giant buried within shall return.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2009-06-28 | Last updated: 2009-06-28 | ID #9538

Staked Giant

Location: Offley Hay (Staffordshire) - Unidentified sycamore tree in the area
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: This sycamore grew from a stake used on the body of a giant. It is unclear whether this implies that if removed, the giant shall return.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2008-08-25 | Last updated: 2008-08-25 | ID #8807

Giant Shadow

Location: Outer London: Havering (Greater London) - Frank's Wood, now known as 'the brickfields', near Moor Lane, Cranham
Type: Haunting Manifestation
Date / Time: 2002
Further Comments: A black shadowy figure, standing two and a half metres tall with no discernible features, gave chase to a group of friends as they left the wood.

Source: User Submission
First added: 2004-11-13 | Last updated: 2004-11-13 | ID #5537

Altar

Location: Pawton (Cornwall) - Quoit
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: The Giant's Quoit has also been called the Devil's Quoit, leaving folklore concerning its creation a little fuzzy.

Source: Historical Record
First added: 2026-03-01 | Last updated: 2026-03-01 | ID #16406

Giant's Grave

Location: Penmaen (West Glamorgan) - Parc le Breos Chambered Tomb (aka Parc Cwm long cairn)
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: Although nicknamed a giant's grave, other details of the story are sadly forgotten.

Source: Published Media, User Submission
First added: 2026-03-01 | Last updated: 2026-03-01 | ID #16397

Giant's Grave

Location: Penrith (Cumbria) - St Andrew's Church
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Still present
Further Comments: Large stones mark the place where a giant is buried - he is thought to be Sir Ewen (or Sir Ewain), a great boar hunter.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2007-10-14 | Last updated: 2007-10-14 | ID #8052

Swelkie

Location: Pentland Firth (Orkney) - Swelkie Point
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Story date unknown - possibly Viking?
Further Comments: The whirlpool that forms here is thought to be created by the turning of a mill stone to grind salt, ensuring the sea remains salty. Some say the wheel is turned by a sea-witch, while others name the grinders Fenia and Menia, two local giants.

Source: Historical Record, Published Media
First added: 2008-03-09 | Last updated: 2008-03-09 | ID #8318

Wrath

Location: Portreath (Cornwall) - Sea cave in the area
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: Wrath was a giant who lived in a cave with direct access to the sea. He would wait for a ship to wreck before taking the surviving sailors home to eat.

Source: Historical Record
First added: 2008-03-09 | Last updated: 2008-03-09 | ID #8308

Giant's Home

Location: Preston (Borders) - Edin's Fort
Type: Legend
Date / Time: Unknown
Further Comments: The ruins of this once huge fortress were once home to a giant with three heads, known as Red Ettin. He was killed by a lad who managed to answer the giant's unanswerable riddles.

Source: Published Media
First added: 2003-02-08 | Last updated: 2003-02-08 | ID #3776

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