Castle Loch N'Moore

***Castle Loch N'Moore*** is an old medieval castle which can be found deep within the hidden valleys of West Scotland. The castle sits within the centre of a deadly marshland. It was ruled by a Lord Samuel Loch N'Moore until his death when he was the first victim the curse took effect on. To this day the castle remains lonesome and derelict.

## History

It is unknown when the castle was built, but history buffs believe that it must have been built sometime before the events of the Battle of Alnwick took place. At the capture of King William I of Scotland, King Henry II sent soldiers up north to claim many castles in Scotland. However Lord Samuel Loch N'Moore had already gotten word of William's capture and made sure that the castle could not be reached. A bridge used to carry people across to gain access to the castle, but Loch N'Moore gave orders for the bridge to be destroyed so that nobody could cross the marsh and invade.

Many of Henry's soldiers perished in the marsh as each one tried to gain access across to a point where it was impossible to claim the castle. However Loch N'Moore was not aware of the invasions being called off and remained very skeptical.

One night, while the wind blew through the cracks and crevices, a visitor came to the castle. The visitor was an old man who came to shelter from the storms. respecting his elders Loch N'Moore took him into his care, and after the man had regained his strength, he asked how he managed to cross the marsh. The man said that he made a path of rocks that he used to cross the marsh from the shore. Angered that the chances of invasion could happen if word was given out about the path, Loch N'Moore ordered the man to be thrown into he marsh. A young maid who had overheard the conversation, ran out and tried to save the man from the deadly marsh. Before he was completely submerged, the maid could hear the man cry out,

"Leave this castle while you can. For tonight I place a curse to anyone who remains within its walls before the dawn breaks will not live to see it dawn."

The maid ran back and tried to warn Loch N'Moore about the curse, but he simply laughed and dismissed it as nonsense. However, no sooner had he said this, Loch N'Moore suddenly collapsed tot he ground, dead. Everyone, terrified believed the curse to be true and ran out into the storm to find the hidden path, only to plunge into he waiting arms of the marsh. As the young maid ran out, the lightening from the storm showed her the location of the path and she sprinted across, her hands covering her ears so that she could not hear the many screams of the castles residents as they met their demise. What became of the maid was unknown. Some say that she is still running, her ears covered to protect her from the screams.

But when the moon rises and the mist hovers over the marsh, you can still hear the cries of the castle folk for someone to save them. Other times people witness a figure running across the marsh through the mist and vanishing into the night, though what part of the marsh she ran from is not known. On some random occasions a light can be seen within the castle walls, but nobody knows who/what is in the castle not to mention how they managed to cross the deadly marsh.

The tale of the curse became well known in the nearest village, who have an inn named after the servant girl who escaped the castle - The Deaf Servant. The inn's sign portrays the image of the servant running along the hidden path, covering her ears with her hands.

Officials have urged to set up a visitor's centre for tours of the castle, but an appeal to prevent this was passed on behalf of the village folk who continue to tell the tale of the castle's curse to those who know better than to venture out to it.

## Trivia

* The site of the castle is loosely based off The Castle Causeway as seen in the children's series, *Thomas & Friends*.
* The hidden path is loosely inspired by The Leap of Faith as seen in *Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade*.