Ready for NE250 Folklore?
The North East of Scotland, a region often celebrated for its rugged coastlines, majestic castles, and world-renowned whisky, holds another, equally captivating draw: the legendary NE250 road-trip circuit, steeped in a rich tapestry of myths, legends, and folklore!
For those seeking a deeper, more enchanting connection with this ancient land, there’s no better way to explore its mystical heart than from the comfort of a trusty campervan, allowing you the freedom to chase whispers of ancient tales wherever the road may lead.
Forge Your Own Legend
Imagine waking up to the gentle lapping of waves on an ancient beach, or parking beneath the shadow of a castle rumoured to house spectral residents! A campervan adventure through Aberdeenshire and Moray Speyside offers not just stunning scenery but also an unparalleled opportunity to immerse yourself in stories of kelpies, witches, giants, and fairy folk!
This guide will lead you through 10 of our favourite hair-raising locations, each steeped in fascinating folklore, providing an epic itinerary for your very own mythical NE250 road trip.
So, pack your sense of wonder, prepare for tales both eerie and enchanting, and let’s embark on an unforgettable journey into the legendary North East!
Table of Contents
Why a Campervan?
The beauty of exploring Scotland’s myths and legends in a campervan lies in the inherent freedom and flexibility it offers. Unlike fixed accommodation, your ‘home on wheels’ allows you to:
- Follow the Story: If a local tells you a new tale, you can easily adjust your route to visit the location.
- Stay Where the Magic Is: Picture yourself parking near a loch rumoured to house a monster, or beside ancient standing stones believed to be a gathering place for spirits. These are the extraordinary experiences that a campervan journey can offer, making your trip truly unforgettable.
- Embrace the Atmosphere: The snug confines of a campervan after a day of exploring wind-swept cliffs and mysterious glens heighten the sense of adventure and connection to the wild. It’s these moments that make a campervan journey a truly unique and inspiring experience.
- Self-Sufficiency: With your facilities, you can venture to more remote, less populated areas where many of these ancient tales originated, without worrying about amenities. This sense of independence adds a unique dimension to your journey.
Planning Your Trip
We use the below booking platforms to plan our trips. We hope you find them useful too!
Your NE250 Folklore Itinerary: 10 Legends
This itinerary, designed to be flexible, allows for detours and in-depth exploration of any location that particularly captures your imagination.
We recommend visiting these sites during the spring or summer months when the weather is milder and the days are longer, allowing you to soak in the atmosphere comfortably. However, journeying through these landscapes as the colours blend and change during Autumn is something we highly recommend!
Day 1: Secret Covens & Coves
The journey begins to the east along the Aberdeenshire coast, becoming more dramatic and more exposed with every mile, with tales rooted in the harsh realities of sea life and the fear of unseen forces.
Slains Castle: The Gathering Place
- The Legend: The dramatic ruins of Slains Castle, perched precariously on cliffs overlooking the North Sea, are deeply intertwined with tales of witchcraft and dark magic. It’s said to have been a notorious gathering place for covens of witches, especially on stormy nights, where they would conjure tempests to shipwreck passing vessels. The atmospheric ruins, high above the sea, may also have partly inspired Bram Stoker’s writing of Dracula.
- Campervan Charm: There’s a car park near the castle ruins. While you can’t park directly at the ruins overnight, finding a spot in a nearby village like Cruden Bay (check local restrictions) allows you to be close to this chilling site. The sound of the crashing waves and the wind whistling through the ruins will set a truly eerie scene.
- Exploration: Brave the elements and explore the ruins of Slains Castle. Stand on the windswept clifftops and imagine the cackling of witches carried on the wind!
Bullers of Buchan: Sea Trolls & Smugglers
- The Legend: This dramatic collapsed sea cave, forming a spectacular natural arch and cauldron-like feature, is a place of immense natural power. Local folklore speaks of a large, malevolent sea troll or monstrous creature dwelling within the churning waters of the “pot,” grabbing unlucky fishermen or those who venture too close. Given its hidden coves and dramatic cliffs, the area was also notorious for smugglers, leading to tales of hidden treasures and shadowy figures emerging from the mist.
- Campervan Charm: A car park is located near the Bullers of Buchan, offering breathtaking views. Park up and let the roar of the sea and the dramatic landscape fuel your imagination of ancient beasts and clandestine activities.
- Exploration: Walk the coastal path around the Bullers of Buchan, marvelling at the natural architecture. Listen to the roar of the sea within the “pot” and imagine what might lurk beneath the surface. Keep an eye out for seabirds, especially puffins, which add a touch of natural wonder to the mythical landscape.
Day 2: Selkies & Sea Monsters
Our journey now leads us to the dramatic Moray coastline, a wild expanse where the land meets the sea, and tales of oceanic beings and ancient powers abound.
Findhorn Bay: Selkies
- The Legend: Findhorn Bay, with its shifting sands and strong currents, is a place of powerful tides and powerful myths. It’s often associated with selkies, mythical creatures who can shed their seal skins to live as humans on land, but who always feel the call of the sea. Tales here speak of a selkie wife who, after years of living with a human, found her skin and returned to the ocean, leaving her heartbroken family behind. There are also older, darker whispers of a sea serpent, occasionally sighted in the deeper waters of the Moray Firth, its long, serpentine form creating fear and wonder.
- Campervan Charm: Findhorn village offers a unique, alternative vibe and designated campervan parking. Park up near the bay and watch the seals basking, wondering which of them might be a selkie. The sound of the waves will lull you to sleep with dreams of the deep.
- Exploration: Explore the expansive Findhorn Bay on foot, keeping an eye out for seals. Visit the ecovillage for a different kind of human-nature connection. The wildness of the bay itself is a reminder of the raw power of the sea and the creatures that dwell within it.
Burghead: The Pictish Beast
- The Legend: Burghead, a prominent headland jutting into the Moray Firth, was once home to a massive Pictish fort, the largest of its kind in Scotland. Beneath the fort lies the “Burghead Well,” a mysterious underground chamber believed to be a Pictish well or ritualistic bathhouse. Legends here are less about specific creatures and more about the raw, ancient power of the Picts and their connection to the land and water. The Pictish Beast, an enigmatic creature depicted on numerous Pictish stones, is said to be a guardian spirit of these ancient sites, embodying the untamed spirit of ancient Scotland.
- Campervan Charm: There’s a car park at Burghead with stunning views over the Moray Firth. Enjoy the sunset over the water, imagining the powerful Pictish kings who once held sway nearby.
- Exploration: Walk around the remains of the Pictish fort and descend into the atmospheric Burghead Well. Ponder the rituals and beliefs of the Picts and feel the ancient energy of this significant historical site.
Day 3: Whisky & Wee Folk
Moving into Speyside, the land of golden drams, the focus shifts slightly to the more elusive, often benevolent (but sometimes tricky) fairy folk and guardians of the land.
Craigellachie Bridge: The Drowsy Troll
- The Legend: While not a classic “troll under the bridge” tale, the iconic Craigellachie Bridge, a masterpiece of engineering by Thomas Telford, has a quiet folklore. Its robustness and longevity are sometimes attributed to a benevolent, if somewhat drowsy, spirit or guardian of the river Spey, ensuring safe passage for all who cross. Some local tales suggest that river spirits here are appeased by the sounds of whisky barrels being carried over the bridge – hope you’ve been hitting the gym!
- Campervan Charm: Find a spot near the Spey River (check local rules for overnight parking) where you can admire the bridge. The gentle murmur of the river and the distant sounds of the distilleries contribute to the peaceful yet historic setting.
- Exploration: Walk across the bridge, admire its unique design, and consider the centuries of history and stories it has overseen. Visit the nearby Speyside Cooperage for a tangible link to the whisky that flows through this region.
Ballindalloch Castle: Colour Co-ordinated Curses
- The Legend: An apparition of the Green Lady is said to appear to guests and staff, sometimes accompanied by a chill in the air and/or the scent of lavender, whilst a Pink Lady has been spotted reclining in a chair in a crinoline dress high in the Pink Tower, seemingly unworried by visitors. These glamorous ghosts are generally considered benign, so mind your manners!
- Campervan Charm: While you can’t park directly on the castle grounds overnight, there are nearby campsites and authorised parking spots. Enjoy the evening knowing you’re in the vicinity of ancient, gentle spirits.
- Exploration: Take a tour of Ballindalloch Castle, appreciating its beautiful gardens and historic interiors. Inquire about the Ladies – many guides are happy to share their own experiences or anecdotes!
Day 4: Dark Reflections
Venturing deep into the Cairngorms National Park, the landscape becomes increasingly wild, and with it, the legends grow more ancient and primal.
Glen Tanar Estate: The Water Horse of Loch Kinord
- The Legend: Nestled within the beautiful Glen Tanar Estate is Loch Kinord, an idyllic loch with a dark secret. It is reputedly home to a particularly malevolent water horse or each-uisge. Unlike the benign kelpie, the each-uisge is a shape-shifter, appearing as a handsome horse or even a man, but once mounted or lured close, it drags its victims to a watery grave, devouring them entirely save for the liver.
- Campervan Charm: Glen Tanar offers official parking areas and access points. Find a quiet spot nearby and listen for the sounds of the water, and perhaps avoid taking a late-night swim!
- Exploration: Explore the walking trails around Loch Kinord and admire the ancient pine forests. The peaceful surface of the loch hides its legendary dangers.
Corgarff Castle: Ghostly in Green
- The Legend: This stark, imposing tower house, standing isolated in a remote glen, is said to be haunted by another Green Lady – while many Scottish spectres share this mantle, Corgarff’s is particularly tragic. Lady Margaret Elphinstone, wife of John Forbes, was trapped in the castle during a fire set by the clan Gordon in 1571. She and her household, including children, perished. Her anguished spirit is said to wander the tower, still searching for her lost family.
- Campervan Charm: Park your campervan in the car park (check for any overnight restrictions) and spend a night in the shadow of this haunted fortress. The isolation only adds to the atmosphere.
- Exploration: Take a tour of Corgarff Castle. Stand in the barren rooms and imagine the desperate last moments of the Green Lady, feeling for any chill that isn’t from the Highland air.
Day 5: Royals, Fairies & Giants
Our journey comes to a close in Royal Deeside, a region renowned for its majestic landscapes and royal connections, as well as whispered tales of mischievous spirits and ancient beings. This region holds significant cultural and historical importance, being a favourite retreat for the British royal family and a place where many local traditions and legends have sprouted!
Balmoral Castle & Estate: The Fairy Hill
- The Legend: While Balmoral is famously a royal retreat, the surrounding landscape is alive with older tales. The hill of Craigendarroch, easily visible from the estate, is said to be a fairy hill or Sith Bhruaich. These hills are suspected to be portals to the Otherworld, where the ‘wee folk’ reside – if you hear music from within, you should never enter, or you may find yourself trapped for centuries!
- Campervan Charm: Find a peaceful spot in a nearby campsite or approved wild camping area (always adhering to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code) with views of Craigendarroch. Imagine the invisible revelry as dusk settles.
- Exploration: Walk parts of the Balmoral estate (when open to the public) and gaze upon Craigendarroch, letting your imagination wander to the hidden world within.
Loch Muick: The Giant of Lochnagar
- The Legend: Looming over the majestic Loch Muick is Lochnagar, one of Scotland’s most iconic mountains. Local folklore speaks of a giant, Am Fear Liath Mòr (The Big Grey Man of Ben Macdui), though primarily associated with the Cairngorms, his presence has been noticed in the broader mountain range, including Lochnagar. This elusive, shadowy figure is said to induce feelings of terror and panic in those who encounter him.
- Campervan Charm: There’s a car park at the end of the road to Loch Muick, offering limited overnight parking options for campervans (please check local regulations). Waking up to the serene (or perhaps unsettling) beauty of Loch Muick, said to be the home of a kelpie, is an unforgettable experience.
- Exploration: Enjoy a walk around parts of Loch Muick. Keep an eye on the water for any strange ripples and cast your gaze up Lochnagar’s slopes for any unusual movements (or feelings of being watched!).
Beyond the Checklist: Embrace The Magic
This itinerary serves as a starting point for your unforgettable campervan adventure. The true magic of exploring North East Scotland’s legends lies in the freedom your campervan provides, allowing you to enjoy wandering off the beaten path!
Chat with locals in pubs and village shops – they often hold the keys to untold tales and local quirks. Follow signs to ancient standing stones or forgotten kirkyards. Each turn of the road, each hidden glen, and each stretch of coastline holds the potential for an untold discovery and a new whisper of the past.
Responsible Mythical Exploration
As you chase legends, remember to be a responsible visitor!
Adhere to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code, leaving no trace, respecting local communities, and being mindful of the environment. Always check for specific parking regulations, especially for overnight stays!
Your Legend Awaits
A campervan journey through North East Scotland’s mythical landscape can be more than just an exciting drive – it’s an immersive experience that connects you deeply with the local culture, history and topography! It’s an opportunity to step away from the everyday and into a world where giants roam, fairies dance, and spirits linger.
Your trip doesn’t have to be just forest walks, coastal viewpoints, and museum visits – with this guide, you can infuse your itinerary with tradition and trepidation, and perhaps get more than you bargained for!
So, ignite your sense of adventure, let the legends guide your way, and embark on a truly unforgettable journey in your home on wheels – the mythical past of the North East awaits you today!
Safe travels!
