Travel - ghostly sounds from a spookometer
Whether you already have an interest in the paranormal, or you're just a little curious, then the Mary King's Ghost Fest in Edinburgh is a must.
Scotland's capital launched this annual event, now in its third year, on Friday night and it runs until May 20.
The festival's highlight is a series of ground-breaking research experiments at Mary King's Close by parapsychologist Dr Ciaran O'Keefe from television's Most Haunted, accompanied by Steve Parsons.
The pair lead their team and visitors deep below Edinburgh's Royal Mile to discover whether low level soundwaves, known as 'infrasound' are the real reason behind haunting experiences.
Mary King lived in a close off the Royal Mile in the early 1600s. The close was preserved when the city chambers were built over the site in 1853.
Today you can see some of the small houses in this strange underground time capsule steeped in mystery and shrouded in dark stories.
The award-winning attraction is open all year round. A warren of hidden streets where real people lived, worked, and died, is brought to life with subtle lighting and sound effects. A character guide leads you through revealing stories and recounts dramatic episodes and extraordinary apparitions.
You visit the home of a grave digger, the workshop of a sawmaker and the home of Mary King as well as the 'Shrine Room' which the ghost of a little girl is said to haunt.
Meanwhile Ghost Finders Scotland will be trying to capture spirit voices on tape using Electronic Voice Phenomenon.
Voices picked up on special recorders cannot be heard at the time of recording as they have a frequency below the human threshold. When played back through the recorder, however, and 'cleaned up' on a computer it is possible to hear words quite clearly.
Whilst in the Covenanter's Prison spirits were asked; "Do you mind us being here in this room?"
After what appeared to be 30 seconds of silence the recording was played back immediately and a rapid and anguished voice appeared to say "No!....get out."
Locations for the EVP workshops include the Ragged School House, The Blair Street Vaults and the Covenanter's Prison, home of the Mackenzie Poltergeist.
Scottish Paranormal will be armed with hi-tech equipment at Mary King's Close and the Blair Street Vaults, where there will be overnight vigils.
Visitors will be encouraged to get actively involved in the investigation to document paranormal activities at some of the city's reputedly haunted sites.
Whilst visiting the Blair Street Vaults my companion felt she was standing in a draught. Investigators rushed forward with their digital thermometers and found the temperature around her feet to be several degrees cooler than just a few inches away.
The Royal College of Physicians will also open its doors during Ghost Fest allowing visitors to explore the stories of old medical practices.
Literary experts and authors who have been inspired by Edinburgh's dark tales and legendary paranormal activity will be on hand to provide tours through the city.
Ghostbus Tours will take visitors to Rosslyn Chapel, Temple Graveyard and Crichton Castle.
There will be a gathering of international clairvoyants with a host of mediums and Tarot card readers, plus spooky story telling and the screening of cult horror films as well as a Ghoulish Pub Quiz.
Find out here what Lindsey and her colleagues heard.
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Weather for Preston
Thursday 09 February 2012
Today
Light sleet
Temperature: 1 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Light sleet
Temperature: -3 C to 3 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
