Bruce Castle and Cave

 

Bruce Castle and Cave

On the very tip of Northern island sits Rathlin island, a coastline of cliffs and the remains of what was the hiding place of Bruce King of the Scots. They used the ruin perched on the edge of the cliff and the caves down below the avoid capture and plot there counter attack. This location now is where they remain. Countless ghost stories from fisherman and hikers alike from all around the area. Some of the stories are nothing short of incredible. 

Bruce Castle,
Rathlin Island,
United Kingdom

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 Ghost Hunting at Bruce Castle and Cave

 

 

Ghost Hunting at Bruce Castle and Cave.

Surrounded with legend and myth, the Bruce Castle and Caves have been at the heart of tourism in the Rathlin Islands. However the majority of them know about the darker side of the site, and those who have managed to make it down into the caves can testify to that.   

 

The Bruce Castle Ruin. 

 One of the main causes of the severe hauntings on this island is the Rathlin Island Massacre. 600 people where killed and the majority of them where in Robert the Bruce’s Castle whilst others perished when fleeing into the caves. 

The ruin itself is a shell of the of the original castle, but there are alot of figures seen around. People have reported seeing men dressed in the leather armor, typical of the period walking around the castle. People have also heard screams and cries even in the dead of night coming directly from the castle. But ofcourse this could all just be residual ( replaying memories )

But perhap’s most disturbing is the apparition of the Brown Lady. The lady is seen around the castle, walking. But most often she appears and seems to try and interact with strangers passing through. She will appear and look directly at a person and it looks like apparently she is trying to speak. Is this the spirit of one of the women who where brutally murdered ?

 

The Bruce Cave. 

To enter the cave you actually have to wade into the back, but when get onto the landing there is whats been described as ” a cave fit for kings” with a huge area inside, it is easy to believe that is where Bruce and many of his men hid. 

There are so many strange stories around this cave that it’s difficult to pick a starting point. There is an eerie chill that isnt just the wind in the cave. People have heard whispers and moans coming from the very depths of the cave as if someone is still back there. 

Legends include that of a witch who put a spell on the cave to protect the children of Lir, ofcourse stories are stretched overtime but this does suggest witchcraft !

Another story comes from an occasion where three fishermen entered the cave and sat down for a break. They lit a fire and brewed tea. In the very center of the cave is a large flat boulder which they used as a make shift table and placed the cups on it before pouring the tea. When pouring the tea a hand came from the darkness and placed a fourth cup on the boulder. The men terrified filled the cup and didn’t even look in the direction of the cup. The hand withdrew with its fresh cup of rosie lee. 

Probably not true, however this again does suggest strange activity, legend and myths are based from some truth.

 

`Recommended Ghost Hunt Kit

 

 

Ghost Hunting at Bruce Castle and Cave.

Surrounded with legend and myth, the Bruce Castle and Caves have been at the heart of tourism in the Rathlin Islands. However the majority of them know about the darker side of the site, and those who have managed to make it down into the caves can testify to that.   

 

The Bruce Castle Ruin. 

 One of the main causes of the severe hauntings on this island is the Rathlin Island Massacre. 600 people where killed and the majority of them where in Robert the Bruce’s Castle whilst others perished when fleeing into the caves. 

The ruin itself is a shell of the of the original castle, but there are alot of figures seen around. People have reported seeing men dressed in the leather armor, typical of the period walking around the castle. People have also heard screams and cries even in the dead of night coming directly from the castle. But ofcourse this could all just be residual ( replaying memories )

But perhap’s most disturbing is the apparition of the Brown Lady. The lady is seen around the castle, walking. But most often she appears and seems to try and interact with strangers passing through. She will appear and look directly at a person and it looks like apparently she is trying to speak. Is this the spirit of one of the women who where brutally murdered ?

 

The Bruce Cave. 

To enter the cave you actually have to wade into the back, but when get onto the landing there is whats been described as ” a cave fit for kings” with a huge area inside, it is easy to believe that is where Bruce and many of his men hid. 

There are so many strange stories around this cave that it’s difficult to pick a starting point. There is an eerie chill that isnt just the wind in the cave. People have heard whispers and moans coming from the very depths of the cave as if someone is still back there. 

Legends include that of a witch who put a spell on the cave to protect the children of Lir, ofcourse stories are stretched overtime but this does suggest witchcraft !

Another story comes from an occasion where three fishermen entered the cave and sat down for a break. They lit a fire and brewed tea. In the very center of the cave is a large flat boulder which they used as a make shift table and placed the cups on it before pouring the tea. When pouring the tea a hand came from the darkness and placed a fourth cup on the boulder. The men terrified filled the cup and didn’t even look in the direction of the cup. The hand withdrew with its fresh cup of rosie lee. 

Probably not true, however this again does suggest strange activity, legend and myths are based from some truth.

 

`Recommended Ghost Hunt Kit

 

 Ghosts of Bruce Castle and Cave

Ghosts of the Bruce Castle and Cave.

 
. Robert the Bruce
. The Brown Lady
. The Entity in the Cave

 

 

Robert the Bruce, King of Scots.

Legend has it that Bruce and his chief warriors lie in an enchanted sleep in a cave of the rock on which stood the castle and one day they will rise up and unite Rathlin to Scotland.

Robert the Bruce fled from Scotland in 1306 to regain his strength at Rathlin. He sat in the cave below the castle and tried to plan a return after his exile. It was in this cave that he sat and watched a little spider weaving its web. This is actually where the proverb ” If at first you dont succeed, try and try again” came from. This little spider inspired Robert to return to Scotland and reclaim his homeland. 

Maybe a bit of a crazy story but the fact is that this cave and castle played a large part in Robert the Bruce’s life, so it would make sense for him to haunt it. Is he the male presence felt and seen down there, aswell as the rouge seen up in the ruin of the castle ?

. 

 

The Brown Lady.

 The Brown Lady who is seen wandering around the upper ruins both and day night. She seems to be an intelligent spirit, known to watch passing travelers and sometimes even tries to interact. There is alot of activity up in the ruin, screaming, people being touched and black shadows darting across. But is this all her ?

After the tragedy suffered on this island it could easily be residual, however who was this women and what are her reasons to choose to return to this place ?

 

Whats in the Cave ?

The Cave is perhaps the most mysterious location in Northern Ireland . Surrounded by so much legend and myth, stories of witchcraft and magic. Not to mention the ghostly hand demanding a hot drink.

 Of course for some reason fishermen are known for there tall tales, but caves in themselves have always been somewhat mysterious, and one like this with so much history is bound to inspire some stories. 

However we did find an account of one more person entering the cave he wasn’t in there for very long but he had been travelling around northern island mapping the caves, he said this cave had a strange feeling in the air and said he felt he wasn’t alone. 

Ghosts of the Bruce Castle and Cave.

 
. Robert the Bruce
. The Brown Lady
. The Entity in the Cave

 

 

Robert the Bruce, King of Scots.

Legend has it that Bruce and his chief warriors lie in an enchanted sleep in a cave of the rock on which stood the castle and one day they will rise up and unite Rathlin to Scotland.

Robert the Bruce fled from Scotland in 1306 to regain his strength at Rathlin. He sat in the cave below the castle and tried to plan a return after his exile. It was in this cave that he sat and watched a little spider weaving its web. This is actually where the proverb ” If at first you dont succeed, try and try again” came from. This little spider inspired Robert to return to Scotland and reclaim his homeland. 

Maybe a bit of a crazy story but the fact is that this cave and castle played a large part in Robert the Bruce’s life, so it would make sense for him to haunt it. Is he the male presence felt and seen down there, aswell as the rouge seen up in the ruin of the castle ?

. 

 

The Brown Lady.

 The Brown Lady who is seen wandering around the upper ruins both and day night. She seems to be an intelligent spirit, known to watch passing travelers and sometimes even tries to interact. There is alot of activity up in the ruin, screaming, people being touched and black shadows darting across. But is this all her ?

After the tragedy suffered on this island it could easily be residual, however who was this women and what are her reasons to choose to return to this place ?

 

Whats in the Cave ?

The Cave is perhaps the most mysterious location in Northern Ireland . Surrounded by so much legend and myth, stories of witchcraft and magic. Not to mention the ghostly hand demanding a hot drink.

 Of course for some reason fishermen are known for there tall tales, but caves in themselves have always been somewhat mysterious, and one like this with so much history is bound to inspire some stories. 

However we did find an account of one more person entering the cave he wasn’t in there for very long but he had been travelling around northern island mapping the caves, he said this cave had a strange feeling in the air and said he felt he wasn’t alone. 

 

Bruce Castle Location

 

Brief History Of Old Roe Valley Hosptial

During the first half of the 19th century, most people in the Roe Valley – as indeed in the whole of Ireland – were extremely poor and just about managed to scrape the means of an existence by seasonal work, laboring on plots of land too small to feed a family or begging. But a beggar in the land of the poor will not make much money of course. If illness or bad economic conditions or old age made this hard lot even worse, starvation would ensue. There was no hospital in Limavady and any illness whatsoever was generally treated by the internal and external application of whiskey. As a cure this was presumably not much worse than being bled by the doctors of that period – and presumably tasted a lot better. 

To cope with these problems, Ireland followed the English example of establishing Poor Law Unions which raised funds to set up workhouses. These were meant to be a last resort for those in need. They were deliberately harsh and unfriendly, with poor food, worse treatment and a near military discipline. Many people would rather starve than become an inmate of the poor house!

The names of the board of guardians of the Newton Limavady Poor law Union are a list of the few rich and hence powerful names in the area. Names like Boyle, Hunter, Ross and Barber still sound familiar, as does the name of their chairman – a certain Mr. Marcus McCauseland. This is of course no surprise. The poor law was financed by the rate payer, and only the reasonably comfortable off could afford to pay high rates – hence they also had a major say in how these rates were to be spent.

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