Geoff Holder – författare

The Little Book of Edinburgh is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the sort of frivolous, fantastic or simply strange information which no-one will want to be without. Here we find out about the most unusual crimes and punishments, eccentric inhabitants, famous sons and daughters and literally hundreds of wacky facts. Geoff Holder’s new book contains historic and contemporary trivia on Edinburgh. There are lots of factual chapters but also plenty of frivolous details which will amuse and surprise. A reference book and a quirky guide, this can be dipped in to time and time again to reveal something you never knew. Discover the real story of Greyfriars Bobby (he was a publicity stunt), meet the nineteenth-century counterparts of our favourite modern detectives, from Jackson Brodie to John Rebus, seek out historical sites from the distant past to the Second World War, and tangle with the Tattoo and freak out with the Festival. A remarkably engaging little book, this is essential reading for visitors and locals alike.

A beautifully illustrated guidebook to Perthshire's hidden treasures - stone circles, ancient castles, haunted forests, sacred wells - and where to find them.

A guide to supernatural, paranormal, folkloric, eccentric and, above all, mysterious that has occurred on islands of Iona and Staffa. It includes entries covering Iona's tombstones, simulacra, standing stones, gargoyles, ruins, churches and archeological curiosities which are complemented by more than sixty photographs.

This is a guide to everything supernatural, paranormal, folkloric, eccentric and, above all, mysterious that has occurred on the dark waters of the enigmatic Loch Ness and the surrounding area of Inverness. Containing Celtic gods and martyrs, telepathy, exorcism and magic, mermaids, demons and saints (and based on texts both ancient and modern), it is a fascinating introduction to the heritage of the area. This is a guide that the armchair adventurer or the on-location visitor can revel in. Comprehensive entries covering Inverness' tombstones, simulacra, standing stones, gargoyles, ruins, churches and archaeological curiosities are complemented by more than 100 photographs. The book also includes notes and cross-references to enable the reader to follow up the sources.

This is the essential guide to everything strange, marvellous and paranormal on the beautiful and rugged Isle of Arran. Why did the police in 1889 bury the boots of the victim of the Arran Murder below the high-water mark? What happened to the miracle healing stone of St Molaise? What is the truth behind the history of Robert the Bruce on Arran? Where have encounters with fairies been reported in the twenty-first century? Here are collected tales of folklore, witchcraft, magic, mermaids and ghosts, both historical and contemporary. Every stone circle, chambered cairn and standing stone is described, as are caves, old graveyards, castles, Viking sites, carved stones and ruined churches, all with walking directions and notes on access. This book will transform the way you experience Arran.

This is not a book about the prehistoric peoples who built the stone circles. Rather it is light-hearted look at the weird and wonderful uses that these circles have been put to through the ages. This strange and fascinating list of uses ranges from murder to the site of a rock concert . Discover how some circles were used for sex and promoting fertility, another for preventing pregnancy, and how these sites have been associated with fairies, witches, the Devil, UFOs, space aliens and visionary experiences amongst other things. In this unique guide by Geoff Holder, major sites such as Stonehenge and Avebury rub shoulders with comparatively little-known circles. As well as stone circles the book includes single standing stones, burial cairns, prehistoric rock art, and carved Pictish stones.

This is the essential guide to everything strange, marvellous, mysterious and paranormal in Glasgow, with a street-by-street description of all things bizarre and supernatural connected with the city. As well as a complete guide to all of the city's gargoyles, legends and relics, it includes tours of the Necropolis, the Cathedral, museums both famous and little-known, and Glasgow's hidden archaeological wonders. Many forgotten aspects of the city's murky history are also here, including pseudo-scientific marvels such as the re-animation of a corpse in 1818 ('His chest immediately heaved! He drew breath!'), along with the 'man monkeys' and leprechauns ('the only one ever captured alive') of the freakshows at the Britannia Music Hall. From the links between St Mungo, Merlin and werewolves to the urban legends of the Glasgow Underground, it will transform the way you experience the city. Containing more than 100 photographs and filled with countless tales of miracles, hauntings, curses, witchcraft, UFOs, big-cat sightings, vampires, murderers and bodysnatchers, The Guide to Mysterious Glasgow will delight residents and visitors alike.

This fully-illustrated guide explores all things strange and uncanny, paranormal and peculiar in Aberdeenshire, one of the most scenic parts of Scotland (which also includes part of the Cairngorms National Park). Historic sites and ancient monuments - such as the innumerable stone circles and castles - are surveyed in an enchanting and accessible way. Descriptions of what to observe and explore are married with detailed 'site histories' of the supernatural and mysterious. These include locations of witchcraft and fairy hills, eerie contemporary sculptures and spooky long-abandoned graveyards. There are tales of big cats and ape-men, murders and bodysnatching, and details of modern fire festivals (including the burning of a Wickerman). This is an indispensable companion for anyone journeying into the marvels and mysteries of Aberdeenshire.

From the dark corries of the mighty Cuillin Hills to the dramatic caves and cliffs of its stunning coastline, the beautiful Isle of Skye is alive with tales of ghosts, fairies, clan battles, Celtic mythology and witchcraft, and they are all collected in this essential guide to everything supernatural and strange on the most spectacular of Scottish islands. Also taking in the Isle of Raasay, and Glenelg and Eilean Donan Castle on the Lochalsh mainland, here are comprehensive place-by-place entries on every historic site, ancient monument and hidden treasure. Find out about the Fairy Flag of Dunvegan Castle, the giant Angus MacAskill, and the skeleton of a water-horse at Ord. Marvel at sightings of sea-serpents and discover which loch hosted a Victorian monster-hunt. Learn about the folklore and feuds of the MacLeods and MacDonalds. Uncover the links between Ring of Bright Water author Gavin Maxwell and the supernatural. Revel in stories of phantom cars, ghostly clansmen, saintly miracles, gateways to Hell – and the dozens of fairy sites on the island.The Guide to Mysterious Skye and Lochalsh is the ninth in Geoff Holder’s acclaimed series. As with the previous volumes, it is profusely illustrated and draws on both ancient and modern sources. Full access and location details are given for both driver and walker alike, making this the indispensable companion for anyone exploring the glorious and mysterious realms of Skye and Lochalsh.

With subjects ranging from the Croglin Vampire and the Renwick Cockatrice to witchcraft and the Cursing Stone of Carlisle, this collection of first-hand accounts contains all manner of weird and wonderful events from Cumbria's long and tumultuous history. With more than 50 photographs, both archive and modern, and sightings of everything from lake monsters and anomalous big cats to fairies, phantom airships and the Solway Spaceman, prepare to be astonished! Geoff Holder is the author of more than twenty titles exploring strange and unexplained events in the North of England and in Scotland, and this collection will fascinate and amaze both residents and visitors alike.

Standing on a lonely Perthshire road is the only historic monument to a named witch in the whole of Britain. But did ‘Maggie Wall’ actually exist? This book reveals the controversial truth for the first time. (Even more surprising results come from a quest to uncover the reality of Perthshire’s other famous witch, Kate McNiven.) Other strange tales in this book include direct evidence for the big cats roaming the county, a catalogue of the area’s UFO sightings, the story of the Fairy Rock that halted a housing development and the tale of the notorious Victorian scandal involving Ballechin House, allegedly ‘the most haunted house in Scotland’. With contemporary eye-witness accounts of ghosts, psychic episodes and encounters with supernatural beings, as well as more than fifty photographs, this book will delight all lovers of the mysterious and the paranormal.

Aberdeen is full of mysteries, marvels and strangeness, and this book is a comprehensive guide to them all. Here you will encounter magic, witchcraft, folklore and superstitions; contemporary urban legends; gargoyles and graveyards; graverobbers and murderers; stone circles and prehistoric burial sites; UFOs and freak weather; and tales of horror, madness, humour – and dangerous porridge. Many forgotten aspects of the city’s strange history are here, from the disturbing (spontaneous human combustion, William Wallace’s dismembered limbs, the man who died of fright after a mock execution, and the bodysnatching professors) to the downright bizarre (a talking statue, a wedding celebration which was mistaken for an alien invasion fleet, and golf with giant skulls).The Guide to Mysterious Aberdeen is the tenth in Geoff Holder’s acclaimed series. As with the previous volumes, it is profusely illustrated with over 100 photographs and draws on both ancient and modern sources. Full access and location details are given for both driver and walker alike, making this the indispensable companion for anyone exploring the Granite City.

This fascinating book contains a terrifying collection of true-life tales from in and around Dundee. Featuring stories of unexplained phenomena, apparitions and poltergeists, including the tale of the White Lady of Coffin Mill and Balgay Bridge, the hauntings of the historic ships Discovery and Unicorn, and a host of modern ghost sightings - this book is guaranteed to make your blood run cold. Drawing on historical and contemporary sources and containing many tales which have never before been published, Haunted Dundee will delight everyone interested in the paranormal.

In 1945 the celebrated psi-researcher Harry Price published Poltergeist over England, popularising the word poltergeist (German for ‘noisy ghost’) and making famous the kind of physical haunting characterised by thrown objects, mysterious noises, and damage by fire or water. Now, for the first time, an astonishing array of historical Scottish poltergeist cases are gathered together, from the Middle Ages to the modern period - unearthing many episodes that have remained neglected for centuries. Some were no doubt hoaxes, but in others, multiple witnesses testified to disturbing events enacted over months. Whatever the true cause of the events, the historical evidence from Scotland suggests that poltergeist phenomena is undoubtedly real.

Did you know?One of the biggest battles between the Scots and the English was fought in France.The success of his first book of poems saved Robert Burns from working on a slave plantation.Six craters on Mars are named after places in Scotland.The Little Book of Scotland is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the sort of frivolous, fantastic or simply strange information that no one will want to be without.Discover the most unusual crimes and punishments, eccentric inhabitants, famous sons and daughters and literally hundreds of other wacky facts. A reliable reference and quirky guide, this book can be dipped into time and tagain to reveal something you never knew.

Full details of where to find – and how to kill – all of Britain’s most historic zombies. Fact files on the undead in history, including Roman revenants, people who were buried alive and some resurrected royal corpses! High-profile targets including Jane Austen, Henry VIII, Richard III and William Shakespeare. Are you worried about the zombie apocalypse? Kept awake imagining you’ll only manage to take out a few before that chap at No. 9 gets you? Well, fret no more! Clasp a copy of this book and get a better class of horrible death from one of Britain’s best-loved historical legends. With full zombie-hunting details – including the locations of tombs, any wounds and weaknesses and a carefully calculated difficulty rating – no apocalyptic history lover should leave home without it!

Did you know?One of the biggest battles between the Scots and the English was fought in France.The success of his first book of poems saved Robert Burns from working on a slave plantation.Six craters on Mars are named after places in Scotland.The Little Book of Scotland is a funny, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the sort of frivolous, fantastic or simply strange information that no one will want to be without.Discover the most unusual crimes and punishments, eccentric inhabitants, famous sons and daughters and literally hundreds of other wacky facts. A reliable reference and quirky guide, this book can be dipped into time and tagain to reveal something you never knew.

Did you know?Part of the Antonine Wall runs through the course of Cawder Golf Club.The nursery rhyme ‘Wee Willie Winkie’ was written by Glasgow man William Miller.Rab Ha’, a nineteenth-century celebrity known as ‘the Glasgow glutton’, once ate an entire calf.The Little Book of Glasgow is an intriguing, fast-paced, fact-packed compendium of the sort of frivolous, fantastic or simply strange information which no-one will want to be without. Here we find out about the most unusual crimes and punishments, eccentric inhabitants, famous sons and daughters and hundreds of fascinating facts.Geoff Holder’s new book gathers together a myriad of data on Glasgow. Discover why two archbishops had a fight at the door of the cathedral, find directions to an Egyptian pharaoh and a Native American chief, and learn where you can find half-a-dozen Tardises. A handy reference and quirky guide, this book is essential reading for visitors and locals alike.