Scottish Paranormal Investigations

The Fernpoint Hotel is a beautiful Georgian house hotel, situated 25 metres from the banks of Loch Fyne. The house was built between 1748 and 1752 and was the first building to be erected in the New Town of Inveraray after the land was granted to John Richardson (a local merchant) in 1748 by the Duke of Argyll. The house is named after the old name of the headland on which the new town was built.

Pre Investigation Reported Paranormal Activity – Report of Former Employee

This person was employed at the Fernpoint for two years as a Chef. During her time at the Fernpoint, she had many paranormal experiences:

Kitchen

• Sensation on the back of the legs as if a dog has brushed by while she was standing at a workbench which backs on to the wall separating the restaurant & kitchen area.
• Sense of someone looking over her shoulder.
• While working in the kitchen at night, she often heard the doors at the bar toilet area opening & closing.
• Cooker has gone haywire (no gas pressure and oven has been turned down). Fiona thought it was the other staff but everyone denied it.
• Strong aroma of whisky, not from bar but stale smelling as if it was coming from someone’s breath.

Bar

• While working in the kitchen, Fiona often got the impression of a man standing at the bar looking at her.
• Believes she actually saw him as a full apparition once. She described him as being in his late 40’s, country tweed type clothing (like a farmer), dark hair & weathered face. He was leaning against the bar looking into the kitchen at her.
• The previous owner & a few friends regularly used to play cards late at night in the bar area. Frequently the doors to the toilet are would open & close.

Fiona acknowledges that the activity happened frequently and at different times of the day but she only ever noticed it when it was quiet.

Report of Current Owner

After SPI’s investigation of the Fernpoint, the owner had contacted our team leader to tell them about a few incidents that had happened at the hotel since our visit. They had been sitting at the Bar one night, when they saw a shape move out from the Kitchen area to the Bar. She described at as a dark, smoky shape.

A recent wedding guest reported activity in one of the guest rooms. He had entered the room in which he was staying and saw a woman standing at the window. His partner also witnessed the apparition.

Additionally

2 of the SPi team members had stayed at this location previously both in Room 2 and both had been woken by noises coming from the window, 1 of them thought that the window had been opened but discovered that he could not open the window, concluding it was either locked or painted shut.

SPI’s Investigation Report

Outside Conditions: Heavy Rain

Baseline tests: The temperature throughout the hotel averaged between 14 – 18 deg C. No unusual EMF readings were recorded.
Psychic’s initial walkabout sessions

Toilet Area in Bar: They developed a headache when they approached the doors into the toilet area. Picked up a form of energy in the area but couldn’t give specifics.

Attic: They had the impression of a very large horse (not a working horse but is unsaddled) and a well to do man standing next to it. Dressed quite formally (maybe regimental). Also sees a dog similar to a Labrador. They also had the impression of a silver spoon – which may indicate wealth. Thinks they are in the courtyard outside the hotel.

Vigils were carried out in Room 2, Kitchen & Bar Area, there was also a Communications Circle Session held in the Bar/Restaurant Area

Room 2 – No activity or impressions from the team in the room however, the team member watching at the base station did report seeing flashes of light around someones head while in the room.

Vigil – Kitchen & Bar Area – Both team members were aware of noises behind the bar and 1 member thought that they heard a noise like someone sitting down on the leather seats.

2nd Vigil – Kitchen & Bar Area – In this vigil the team pick up on various feelings and impressions of past events, especially impressions of a market in the area.

Communications Circle Session – Bar / Restaurant area

During this session the team picked up on a wide variety of names and feelings including a the impression of a man with a strong connections to Native Americans.

Throughout this session various noises are then heard around the bar area by all members of the circle.

Further Research

Fair / Market:– In the 1834 – 1845 Statistical Accounts for Scotland, an entry for Inveraray parish details reference is made to a weekly market held on a Friday and three annual fairs. Held on 17th May, 15th July and 16th September (Appendix 1)
Native American connection – Upon further research, a connection to Inveraray & Native Americans has been found. Sir Alexander Cuming, Baronet of Cutler, was once in the employ of the Duke of Argyll as his Lawyer from 1719 -1721. IN 1729, he set sail for America. With Britain and France constantly at each other’s throats for the rich trade that could be had with the natives, the Cherokee, who had risen to great power in the region, became an instrumental objective of the British colonial government in South Carolina. Some British traders had ventured into the Southern Appalachian backwoods and peacefully lived among the native tribes. In 1730, Sir Alexander Cuming visited the Tellico Cherokee on an unknown mission. Alexander Cuming was an “adventurer”, who had no real connection to the British Crown, and was considered by many in the provisional government as being an unstable source. On April 3, 1730, Cuming visited the Tribal Council House at Nequassie with an interpreter named Eleazar Wiggan. Cuming persuasively asked the Cherokee to pay homage to King George as a way to increase trade and foster good relations between the two peoples.