Highland Paranormal investigators celebrate 14th anniversary as Halloween draws near
Things that go bump in the night may have inspired the investigative exploits of a Highland paranormal investigations team - but as they prepare to enter their 15th year it may surprise some to learn that their activities are as much about helping the living as exploring the realm of the dead.
Highland Paranormal, which was set up in 2010, has just celebrated its 14th anniversary.
In that period it has grown from its initial four members to a team of 12 investigators, researchers and mediums - with interests and skills ranging from runes to photography. They also welcomed their first Gaelic speaker in recent years, adding another vital skillset to their Highland-based activities.
And, as we approach the eve of the spookiest time of year they show no signs of slowing down - with their paranormal investigations taking them to many corners of Scotland - from the famously haunted confines of Inveraray Jail in Argyll, to Inverness’s oldest historic domestic dwelling - Abertarff House - and even the bustling interior of the city’s Victorian Market.
Indeed, it has carried out no fewer than 180 investigations over the years and has even joined the ranks of the TAPS International Family - a worldwide network of paranormal groups which grew out of the famous TV series Ghost Hunters - whose cast founded The Atlantic Paranormal Society from which TAPS gets its name.
Liam Shand, the co-founder of Highland Paranormal and its team leader, explained that membership of TAPS means that the Inverness group give their services for free to those seeking answers about the unusual and strange.
But he added that while they may be investigating the ghostly and unexplained, their priority is to come at their investigations in as rigorous a manner as possible.
“Our approach is always to try to debunk. We always try and find logical explanations for what we do,” he said. “That doesn't always please the people we are dealing with but that's the way it goes.
“In many cases they appreciate we do help people sleep in their beds at night. We do deal with some pretty terrified people at times and we are proud that our work lets us give them answers and they can relax a bit. So we'll do private houses. If people call us in we'll go and we'll investigate the house and see what we can find.”
He added that the group had also been “very lucky over the years” with the high profile buildings they’d been permitted to investigate - visiting the likes of “Culloden House, Tulloch House, Brodie Castle, even the Victorian Market to name but a few”.
At the time of writing they’d also just carried out an investigation and tour of Pool House in Poolewe and have plans for a charity investigation at Dunollie Castle in Oban in spring of next year.
Speaking of charity, Liam is proud of the group’s charity fundraising efforts, which have help provide financial support to worthy causes: “Things have evolved over the years, roles change, we do all of these events now as well - we support charities, and community organisations.
“We're non-profit, we're 100 per cent free in theory. So we don't charge for our services per se. So we've supported lots of different organisations over the years.”
One such charity is Anam Cara Fasgadh, a cause which provides a caravan and support for bereaved parents so they can get away and take a break during a very difficult personal time - and Highland Paranormal has run several tours and investigations to raise funds for those vital activities.
One could even say that their investigations into the dead are quite literally helping the living.
“We're going back to Oban next year to support them again. We've supported their charity for quite a few years now. We’ve gone to Inveraray Jail with them a couple of times before and we're hoping to do Dunollie Castle and museum in Oban in April with them.”
And their investigations have resulted in a lot of travel down the years.
“Yeah, we've done Edinburgh, been through Aberdeen. We've been up almost as far as Thurso and also across to the west coast as well,” continued Liam.
“For TAPS we cover the Highlands, Moray and Aberdeenshire but we're always happy to venture further. We're actually planning a trip to Edinburgh next year to link up with some other groups… we're going to be investigating parts of the [Banshee] Labyrinth in Edinburgh, which is one of Edinburgh's most haunted pubs.”
Their public tours and investigations also take place a little closer to home, with Liam explaining that they’ve been to the likes of Strathpeffer Pavilion in the past and are already planning a sleepover event in the near future.
“We hope to go back next year to do a sleepover at Strathpeffer Pavilion. That will be a first - we've never done with the public an actual sleepover in the building.
He continued: “We were there last week with the BBC doing some filming for Halloween, so it's a very interesting building and we're looking forward to going back there next year.”
They also do public ghost walks which attract a lot of locals as well as tourists visiting the region, and will be back with more of those events in 2025.
Speaking of activities, what are some of Liam’s personal highlights from the group’s 14-year history to date?
“There's been some amazing locations,” he said. “Inveraray Jail for instance - reportedly one of the most haunted buildings in Scotland and it doesn't disappoint.
“We captured growling, heat signatures, the other team then went in and they got the same growling we got. So it was a really, really good night.
“Castle Fraser, again that we've just done again - there was lots of activity there that we were picking up on our equipment and what not.
“It's difficult to just pick one because we've had so many experiences but we've been lucky to see a few things over the years. Never when filming unfortunately - it seems they've got the Beetlejuice book, the Guide to the Recently Deceased,” he joked. In the films that book helps the recently deceased navigate the afterlife and interact with the living… if they wish.
He continued: “There does seem to be this thing where if you're not actually recording they might show themselves. It's basically when you're not looking for it,” he said - a situation that wildlife spotters and photographers are no doubt familiar with themselves.
“So yeah, there’s lots of different places. Recently we were at Abertarff House - obviously being the oldest house in Inverness - and we were very honoured to get to investigate there.
“A medium picked up on a spirit of a blonde-haired girl, and we actually caught on audio a female voice as well. The National Trust [for Scotland, which runs the building] then confirmed to us the following day that quite a lot of their staff had seen a female girl around the age of 12 in the building. So, that was really good to do.”
And what next as the group looks towards its 15th year?
“We've still got some private cases to do this year. And we're also do ghost walks in the town - wellbeing walks as well around interesting sights.
“The ghost walks are really successful. We do one a month, through the tourist season mainly although it's mostly locals who attend. But we've had people from Florida, Toronto etc, asking for tours.
“So word is starting to spread. In fact I'm doing a tour next week, a free one for Alzheimer's Scotland's group up here,” adding that such tours also talk about the folklore and history of the area as well.
For more information about Highland Paranormal and its various activities, visit https://www.highlandparanormal.org.
