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If you’re looking for somewhere for a bit of a swim this spooky season, how about a pool in Scotland where the waters beneath run red as the blood in your veins?
This place has not only got a fairly creepy unique selling point to it, but there’s also a bit of a backstory behind it that has roots in the supernatural.
Of course, Scotland is littered with tales of old mythology, beasts, and cryptic tales – that’s why The Da Vinci Code ended up at Rosslyn Chapel, after all.
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This part of Stirlingshire is no different, except that you can have a freezing cold swim in this part of the world as well.
It’s called The Devil’s Pulpit – which is reason enough to spend a Halloween there – and it’s a river that flows through a deep gorge.
Obviously, this being the Scottish countryside, it’s also stunningly beautiful, but the terrifying reason it gained the name is what draws in many tourists looking for a glimpse of something otherworldly.
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If you’re in the Loch Lomond area, you can head towards Finnich Glen, where the gorge and the river beneath are revealed.
After descending the Devil’s Steps – there’s a theme developing here – you’ll arrive at the bottom.
It’s worth pointing out here that those steps can be slippery – so wear comfortable shoes and try to visit on a dry day.
At the bottom, you’ll see that the river is the colour of blood.
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The (slightly boring) truth of the matter is that the river’s interesting colour comes from the fact that the gorge has been carved out of sandstone, which is eroded and turns the river red.
However, that’s not the story we’re here for.
The Devil’s Pulpit itself is a grass-covered stone that pokes forth from the side of the river.
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Legend has it that Satan himself would stand atop that rock to deliver sermons and preach to his followers.
Others claim that the rock was where druids would stand to pass on their message, but no-one can be certain if there’s any truth to these claims.
Still, it’s a place that is shrouded in atmosphere and eeriness, despite being a real place of natural beauty as well.
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It’s not exactly a big secret anymore, though.
The area was used as a location for TV shows such as Outlander, Netflix’s Outlaw King, and even the 2019 live action Pokémon.
Still, for an atmospheric place to visit this spooky season, you can’t go far wrong.
Tom Wood