What do the world's most famous cryptid and the world's most infamous occultist have in common?

This week on Spooky UK, we're diving deep (pun intended) into the mystery of The Loch Ness Monster. Most people know the legend of Nessie, but what is fact and what is folklore?

Could there really be a connection between Crowley's time at Boleskine House and the enduring mystery of the loch? Is it simply coincidence, or has folklore, history and the paranormal become tangled together over the last century?

Edt - We refer to a group of people living in what is now eastern and northern Scotland as 'Pikes' but the correct term is 'Picts'

This week we have both researched four famous stories that captivated people for decades, but how many of them actually stand up to scrutiny?

From the eerie mystery of the Mary Celeste to the blood-soaked legend of Sawney Bean, the enchanting tale of the Cottingley Fairies, and the mind boggling spontaneous human combustion, we're separating the evidence from the embellishment.

Some of these tales may have perfectly ordinary explanations. Others may have been exaggerated over time. And a few... well, perhaps they were never true in the first place.

Join us as we ask the only question that matters:

Believe-a-bull... or Just Bull?

As always, expect plenty of laughs, a few disagreements, Helen trying to keep Martin on track (good luck with that), and a healthy dose of scepticism as we dig into the stories behind the legends.

What do you think? Which of these tales still has a grain of truth, and which deserves to be filed firmly under Just Bull? Get in touch at [email protected]

Can our pets really come back to visit us after they've gone?

From mysterious phantom cats prowling the shadows to faithful dogs that refuse to leave their owners, even after death we're diving into some of the strangest ghost animal stories ever reported.

Martin explores eerie tales from around the UK and beyond, including his own spine-tingling encounter with a ghostly feline, the legend of Greyfriars Bobby, spectral black dogs, haunted horses, and other unexplained animal encounters that have left witnesses questioning what they saw.

Meanwhile, Helen keeps everyone grounded... at least until the conversation takes an unexpected detour into a deep-sea cry fest! Let's just say if you've never heard about anglerfish before, you may wish you'd kept it that way.

So grab a brew, settle in, and join us as we ask one very important question...

If ghosts exist... why wouldn't our pets come back too?

Mystery Triangles – Bennington, Bridgewater & Cannock Chase

What is it about certain places that seem to attract the strange, the unexplained, and the downright terrifying?

In this episode we head into three of the world's most infamous paranormal hotspots. We begin in the forests of Vermont to explore the chilling disappearances of the Bennington Triangle, where hikers, hunters and even an experienced guide seemingly vanished without a trace.

From there, we travel to Massachusetts and the legendary Bridgewater Triangle, a region where UFO sightings, Bigfoot encounters, ghostly apparitions, mysterious lights and Native American folklore have combined to create one of America's most active paranormal locations.

Finally, we bring things back home to compare these American mysteries with one of Britain's own paranormal hotspots – Cannock Chase. From reports of Black-Eyed Children and the Pigman to UFO sightings and ghostly soldiers, we ask whether these locations really share common characteristics, or whether our brains simply connect unrelated mysteries into compelling legends.

Are these places genuine paranormal hotspots? Are there geological or psychological explanations? Or is there something else lurking in these mysterious landscapes?

Join us as we compare the evidence, examine the folklore, and decide whether these infamous triangles deserve their eerie reputations.

Bonus episode! Can you really read one of the greatest horror novels ever written in a single day? Helen decided to find out.

In this episode we talk about what the challenge was really like, was it worth it, and how reading the novel in one sitting changed the experience.

We also dive into our thoughts on the book itself, exploring its themes, characters, and the elements that have made it one of the defining horror novels of modern literature. Along the way, we compare the novel with both the 1990 TV miniseries and the recent film adaptations, discussing what each version gets right, what they leave behind, and which captures the spirit of King's novel most effectively.

Whether you're a lifelong Stephen King fan, curious about tackling a reading marathon yourself, or just love talking horror, this bonus episode is for you.

Hidden among the woodlands of Leicestershire lie the atmospheric ruins of Grace Dieu Priory, a place steeped in nearly 800 years of history, tragedy, and local legend.

In this episode, we explore the rise and fall of this medieval Augustinian priory, from its founding in the 13th century through its dissolution under Henry VIII, and the generations of stories that have surrounded its crumbling walls ever since.

Was Grace Dieu simply another religious house lost to history, or has something lingered among the ruins? We delve into the reports of ghostly figures, unexplained experiences, and the folklore that has made the priory one of Leicestershire's most intriguing historic sites and add our own investigation into the mix.

Whether you're fascinated by medieval history, haunted locations, or the hidden stories of Britain's past, this is a journey into one of Leicestershire's most evocative landmarks.

In this episode, we dive into one of Britain's strangest and most enduring mysteries, the terrifying tale of Spring-Heeled Jack. Was he a wealthy aristocrat playing a cruel prank? A mass hysteria that gripped Victorian London? A demon? Or something that defied explanation entirely?

We follow the story from the terrifying first reported attacks on young women through to the infamous encounters with soldiers and ordinary Londoners who claimed to witness a tall, cloaked figure with burning eyes, impossible leaps, and an unnerving laugh.

Join us as we investigate one of Victorian England's greatest unsolved mysteries and decide for yourself whether Spring-Heeled Jack was merely a man... or something far stranger.

This week we're heading to one of Britain's most atmospheric seaside towns, Whitby. Famous for its dramatic abbey ruins, chilling ghost stories and its connection to Bram Stoker's Dracula, Whitby has become a pilgrimage for paranormal enthusiasts, goths, and history lovers alike.

In this episode we explore:

The real connection between Whitby and Bram Stoker's Dracula, the haunting ruins of Whitby Abbey, local ghost stories and supernatural legends and discuss our personal experience there.

Places Mentioned:

Whitby Abbey - The iconic Gothic ruins overlooking the town. Stoker visited Whitby in 1890 and used the abbey, St Mary's churchyard and surrounding cliffs as inspiration for scenes in Dracula.

St Mary's Church - Reached via the famous 199 Steps. The graveyard overlooking the harbour features prominently in Dracula and is one of Whitby's most atmospheric locations.

Whale Bone Arch - One of Whitby's most recognisable landmarks and the meeting point for several of the town's ghost walks.

Dracua Connection - Whitby plays a major role in Bram Stoker's 1897 novel. In the story, Dracula arrives aboard the doomed ship Demeter, which crashes into Whitby harbour during a storm. A large black dog is seen leaping ashore and running towards the abbey ruins, one of the novel's most famous scenes.

Sources and further information:

https://www.visitwhitby.com/

Crypid fight night! This week, Martin and Helen dive into the strange and fascinating world of cryptids as they champion their favourite monsters: Sasquatch and Mothman.

From Native American legends and early eyewitness reports to the famous Patterson–Gimlin footage and the terrifying events surrounding Point Pleasant, we explore the history, evidence, and enduring mystery behind two of the world's most famous cryptids.

Expect theories, laughs, questionable science, and a completely unnecessary debate about what happens when Sasquatch and Mothman fall in love.

Join us for another weird and wonderful journey into the unexplained.

Sasquatch / Bigfoot

• Patterson–Gimlin Film: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWZeWFBU0Zk
• Bigfoot Field Researchers Organization (BFRO): https://www.bfro.net/
• Washington State Sasquatch Reports: https://www.wta.org/go-outside/seasonal-hikes/fall-destinations/bigfoot-and-batsquatch-find-washingtons-mysterious-creatures-on-these-trails

Mothman

• Point Pleasant Museum: https://www.mothmanmuseum.com/
• The Mothman Prophecies: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mothman-Prophecies-John-Keel/dp/0340824468

Listener Question: If Sasquatch and Mothman met in the woods tonight, who walks away the winner?

Or would we all end up meeting their child... the legendary Mothsquatch? Let us know at [email protected]

This week we’re discussing one of England’s most famous paranormal cases, the Enfield haunting.

This case attracted journalists, police officers and even Ed and Lorraine Warren! Nearly 50 years later it remains one of the most debated haunting cases ever reported.

Sources and further viewing:

‘This House Is Haunted’ by Guy Lyon Playfair

Interviews with Janet Hodgson recorded during and after the case

Films and Dramatations: 

The Conjuring 2 (2016)

Get in touch at [email protected]