Along a lonely stretch of road between St. Johnston and Lifford lies a steep brae and bridge near Craigadoes, still said to be haunted by a restless spirit. The ghost is believed to be that of a pedlar, brutally murdered in the 1700s by an old couple who lured him in with the intent of stealing his wares.

Known in some tellings as Tom the Toiler, the pedlar met a grisly end – struck down with a pickaxe and stripped of his belongings. In a gruesome attempt to conceal the body, the couple emptied his pack and tried to stuff him inside. But Tom was too tall. So they hacked off his legs at the knee and buried him among the roots of a tree.

Legend says Tom returned from the grave, vengeful and grotesque, dragging himself along on the stumps of his legs. His spirit tormented his murderers until their dying day — and to this day, some say he still roams the brae on misty nights, seeking justice on the blood-soaked ground.