By Parkdean Resorts on 24/09/2018
From Bigfoot to the Beast of Bodmin Moor, the UK sets the scene for many spooky stories about mythological creatures and unexplained sightings. But are these stories fact or fiction? Until there’s scientific proof, nobody will ever know, but there are some extremely fascinating stories about unusual creatures which can be told, whether they’re real or not.
Here at Parkdean Resorts, we’ve teamed up with local enthusiasts to unearth some of the strangest sightings around our holiday parks.
The Black Shuck
For those who have never heard the story of the Black Shuck, it’s a dark tale about a dog-like animal, with red eyes and an evil spirit. Visit North Suffolk explained that the creature is believed to be a manifestation of the evil spirit of Hugh Bigod, the First Earl of Suffolk, who had a bad reputation as a sinful man.
Image sourced from BH Pumpkinclaw
The Black Shuck was first spotted by a young boy working at Bungay Castle, Suffolk, years after Hugh’s death. The child described the animal as a black hound with red eyes and giant teeth.
The dog then went silent, and for years was thought to be a famous folktale, until the 16th century. In 1577, a violent thunderstorm broke out over Bungay which shook the church of St Mary’s. Panicked and praying for mercy, the people inside the church saw the Black Shuck, and the ones who touched it were attacked.
The storm continued on to Blythburgh Church, where the dog reappeared and allegedly attacked two other men, before scratching the church door, where the marks are still visible today. Only 15 minutes from Kessingland Beach Holiday Park, head down to the church and see the scratches for yourself.
The Beast of Bodmin Moor
Video sourced from StorytellerMedia
Bodmin Moor in Cornwall is a fascinating place with the eerie open moorland dominated by towering granite rocks. In the 1980s and 90s, the moor set the scene for a series of spooky and strange events which people couldn’t quite piece together. It soon became rumoured that the Beast of Bodmin Moor was prowling around the area.
Over the years, a large panther-like animal has been spotted, supposedly five feet long with yellow eyes. In 1995, there were enough sightings of the large cat that the government ordered an official investigation into the beast, however they found no verifiable evidence.
Three years after the investigation, a video of an animal which fitted the description of the beast was released, giving people ‘the best evidence yet’ of the Beast of Bodmin Moor.
Bigfoot in Britain
Many people all over the world will have heard of ‘Bigfoot’, but most don’t know what it is or the story behind it. This ‘mythical’ creature is described as a large, hairy, ape-like creature, which has mainly been ‘spotted’ in forests and mountains in North America. However, there have been a couple of sightings in the UK, which has left Brits fascinated.
Although scientists believe Bigfoot is a combination of folklore and misidentification, there are many other theories as to what the mysterious creature is. Some people believe Bigfoot is a large ape, others believe the creature could be a prehistoric human, and some believe even stranger theories - attributing Bigfoot’s existence to alien origins.
Video sourced from Animal Planet
There have been ‘sightings’ of Bigfoot in Lincolnshire woods, Wales, and Sussex. The people who claim to have seen the creature in action describe it as having large eyes, a pronounced brow ridge, a large forehead, with a rounded head and an unpleasant smell. The footprints which have been seen at the ‘sightings’ claim to be as large as 24 inches (60cm) long and 8 inches (20cm) wide.
The Bristol Crocodile
Is it a log? Or is it really a crocodile lurking in the waters of the river Avon in Bristol? For years, the residents of Bristol have been wary about what is hiding in their waters, after a bus driver ‘spotted’ something resembling a crocodile in February 2014.
Video sourced from thethisisnetwork
Bristol might not seem like a likely home for one of the world’s most frightening animals, but some reptile and amphibian experts believe that a crocodile could easily survive in the cold waters of the Avon.
The crocodile has become so popular that it now has its own Twitter account, @TheBristolCroc, used to document any ‘sightings’ of the mysterious reptile. The ‘sightings’ have also clearly had an impact on the city, and crocodile warning signs have now been placed along the river.
However, there are many cynics who believe the black, 6ft object is just a large log. When visiting the Bristol area, head down to the river yourself to see if you can catch of glimpse of this mysterious creature.
If you think you’ve spotted any mysterious creatures lurking in the UK, we’d love to hear all about it on our Twitter page.