Dark Miles II: The Haunted Road to the highlands

The A9 is Scotland’s longest road, stretching through the heart of the Highlands. It’s a route travelled daily by thousands — but it also carries a darker reputation. In this follow-up to my episode on the haunted A75, Dark Miles, I trace the length of the A9, uncovering ghost stories that cling to the road and the landscapes around it. From death omens in Pitlochry and the witch of Beinn a’ Ghlo, to phantom whistles in Glen Tilt and a modern woman in white near Drumossie Brae, the accounts are as varied as they are disturbing. While the story follows the road north, I also take some detours into places I know well and love to walk — glens, mountains, and old haunts where folklore and personal memory blur. What emerges is not just a road of traffic and tarmac, but one that seems to carry echoes of history, oppression, and tragedy.