Scottish Highlands anomaly: recurring pattern or coincidence?

I'm doing some research into reported anomalies across the Scottish Highlands from the 1970s to now, and I've noticed something that might be coincidental but feels worth investigating: there's a geographic cluster of sightings (lights, unexplained phenomena, animal disappearances) that follows a rough north-south line through the valleys. Not perfectly linear, but enough to be noticeable on a map.

I initially thought it might correlate with geological features (fault lines, mineral deposits causing weird effects) but the pattern doesn't quite match. It seems more linked to population centres along transport routes. Which means either (a) anomalies happen everywhere and we just notice them where people are, or (b) there's something about these specific locations that attracts phenomena.

I'm looking for:
- Recent sightings in the Highlands (2010 onwards) from people willing to describe specifics
- Any local folklore about specific locations being 'odd'
- Accounts from residents who've experienced multiple incidents

Trying to build a proper geographic dataset. Happy to share findings once compiled.

This is genuinely interesting research methodology. The geographic clustering angle is something most paranormal research ignores. Before jumping to supernatural explanation though, have you considered reporting density might just correlate with population density and mobile phone prevalence? More people = more documentation = apparent clustering.

I grew up near Fort William and I can tell you there's definitely folklore about certain glens being 'strange'. Nothing specific I can point to, just community knowledge that some places felt off. Whether that's genuine anomaly or just human psychology around isolated areas is impossible to say.

The transport route angle is really smart. If phenomena are happening along roads and valleys, it could explain the distribution without needing anything supernatural. Or it could mean something uses those routes. Just trying to think like a proper researcher here rather than jumping to mystery.

If you can get detailed accounts, cross-reference with geological surveys, atmospheric conditions, and wildlife data. You might find correlations that aren't paranormal but are genuinely interesting. Could be natural phenomena nobody's bothered documenting properly.

I've got a few accounts from family in the Cairngorms if you want them. Nothing dramatic, just odd things - sounds that don't match animals, repeated sightings of something moving through the trees. Never reported them anywhere formal. Happy to contribute if you're building a proper database.

Really hope this project goes somewhere. Too much paranormal research is anecdotal. Proper geographic and temporal analysis could actually produce something meaningful, even if the conclusions are mundane.