Although tales of vampirism in the United Kingdom in modern times concentrate primarily on the interest in eastern European bloodsuckers, during the eleventh and twelfth centuries the British Isles developed their own ghoulish mythologies. The baobban sith, for example, are thought to be seductive maidens who can take on the appearance of crows and ravens to move freely about. In their maiden form, the baobban sith lure travelers and hunters into singing and dancing with them, and during the course of the merriment, slay their unsuspecting victims.

The Scottish redcap is thought to be an evil spirit who inhabits abandoned castles and fortifications, and it attempts to dip its hat into the blood of sleeping wanderers in order to dye its headwear crimson. A fashionable fiend to be certain, but not particularly friendly. Fortunately, religious words and artifacts are enough to drive the redcap to seek other, less-pious victims.

The Welsh Hag

The hag in Welsh folklore is a female demon who can take several forms, including that of a young maiden, a mature matron, or an ugly old crone. The old crone is the most feared because she signifies impending death and ruin and is generally seen as the symbol of a washerwoman who rinses blood-soaked clothing in streams. Those who run across her are doomed to a brutal fate.

The Gwrach y Rhibyn

The gwrach y rhibyn is another form of hideously aged woman who can be seen at crossroads threatening travelers, or who's seen only in brief glimpses beside streams and ponds. The wail of the gwach y rhibyn is believed to signal impending death, and she's sometimes known to attack sleeping children or the defenseless bedridden to drain their blood, weakening her victims until they perish. Evidence of her visitations is seen in the dried blood that clings to her mouth. It's believed that healthy folks can drive off the gwach y rhibyn with brute force.