Reading time: 4 minutes
Skaill House on the Orkney Islands is the classic haunted house in every sense, writes RICK HALE
The Isle of Skaill in the Orkney archipelago is one of the most important islands in the entire United Kingdom.
In 1850 a powerful storm hit Skaill Bay with such violence that large areas of land were swept away.
When the storm passed and the local villagers dared to leave their homes, they made a curious discovery.
The land that the storm had torn away revealed the outline of a village that had gone completely unnoticed. Probably for countless centuries.
William Watt, an amateur geologist, was the first to begin excavations at the site. And after uncovering just four houses, Watt simply went up and left. Leaving the site with the evil intentions of treasure hunters who robbed the site of various artifacts.
Fortunately, the University of Edinburgh took control of the unknown Neolithic village and named it Skara Brae.
While Skara Brae is undoubtedly of great historical importance and worth exploring.
There is another location that has been attracting the attention of ghost enthusiasts for years. Skaill House with its countless ghosts will certainly capture the imagination. And never let go.
History of Skaill House
Prospect Skara Brae and other Neolithic sites, Skaill House was built sometime in the late 16th century.
In 1615 it was owned by Patrick Stewart. No, not that Patrick “Captain Picard” Stewart, but rather the 2nd Earl of Orkney.
Earl Stewart lost his country, his title and not to mention his head at Mercat Cross for orchestrating an ill-conceived rebellion.
Later the house was given to the Bishop of Orkney in 1620. After his ownership the house was extended and a succession of Lairds occupied the house.
Today, Skaill House is open to the public and can be rented for special occasions such as weddings and special events.
Before we explore the ghosts that haunt this beautiful home, it’s important to take a look at a spooky episode from Skaill House’s long history
Major Macrae’s grim discovery
Not long after Major Malcolm Macrae, 12th Earl of Breckness, became owner of Skaill, a disturbing discovery was made.
While completing the renovation work, workmen lifted some floorboards and found human remains where they should not have been.
Major Macrae quickly surveyed the ground and found fifteen skeletons staring silently up from the ground.
It was determined that the house had been built on a Pictish cemetery.
For those who don’t know, the Picts were an ancient tribe of Celtic-speaking people who flourished during Britain’s Iron Age.
Not wanting to disturb this ancient cemetery, the remains were carefully placed where they were found and reburied.
A ghost named Ubby
Now you might think that disturbing this ancient cemetery would cause prehistoric ghosts to haunt it.
I don’t want to disappoint you, but the ghosts that walk the halls of Skaill House aren’t that old.
When Major Macrae was Laird of Skaill, he had a faithful dog who clearly did not like to be in the house.
One day, while Macrae and his dog were in the house, the major heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps in the hallway.
Before he could shout, his dog went crazy. The dog started scratching and whining at the door, as if trying to get to whoever this mysterious person was.
Suddenly the dog seemed to lose his nerve and darted under the bed. Macrae threw open the door, expecting to find an intruder.
What he found was nothing. Not an intruder or even anyone he knew. The hall outside the door was empty and silent as a tomb.
When the incident replayed, a relative of the major said, the unseen person could only be Ubby, a ghost who haunts the house.
When asked, the relative explained that Ubby was a man who, for whatever reason, wanted to build an island in a nearby Loch.
While carrying stones to the Loch, Ubby fell dead from exhaustion. And chose Skaill House as the place where he wanted to spend his eternity.
And the Major’s dog wasn’t the only dog terrified of Ubby. Every dog that passed through Skaill House reacted in the same way as Major Macrae’s dog.
The tall man
Ubby isn’t the only ghost walking the halls of Skaill House.
In the main building you can regularly see the appearance of a tall man with a very friendly character.
He seems so real that visitors claim to have had full conversations with him about the house.
They soon discover that their friendly conversation was not with a living member of the house. No one really knows who this man was in life, but a few associates have their ideas about who he might be.
Other ghosts of Skaill House
The ghostly form of a woman wearing a scarf has been glimpsed staring down from the stairs as visitors wander through the house.
And what spooky atmosphere in a grand old house would be complete without an intruder in the bedroom?
A number of people who spent the night reported being woken by the feeling of a large person sitting on their bed.
And as you might expect, when they look into the dark walls of their room, no one is there. Well, didn’t see anyone anyway.
Skaill House in the Orkney Islands is a classic haunted house.
Fortunately, none of them appear to be malicious in any way. Like many ghost stories, the ghosts of Skaill House are just trying to say hello.
Have you been to Skaill House? Tell us about your experiences in the comments below!
