A Guide to Scotland’s Most Mystical and Haunted Castles
Are you a fan of ghost hunting? If so, Scotland has lots of spooky castles with their own ghost stories and supernatural activity ready for you to explore.
Read on to discover some of the must-see haunted castles.
Edinburgh Castle
Visitors to this popular landmark report the feeling of being watched, cold spots, and unexplained touches.
Some of the ghosts sometimes spotted are:
- The Headless Drummer Boy: Witnessed originally in 1650.
- The Lone Piper: This ghost was searching the tunnels underneath the Royal Mile when they disappeared. Visitors report hearing faint bagpipe music through the floor.
- Dungeon Prisoners: This dungeon held both American sailors during the War of Independence and French during the Seven Years’ War. It is a supernatural hotspot.
Stirling Castle
This castle possesses Scotland’s most well-known apparition, the Green Lady. She is widely considered to have been a servant during the reign of Mary, Queen of Scots. She warned the queen of a fire within her chamber, saving the queen while succumbing in the process. Ever since, castle goers have claimed to see her ghostly figure wandering the halls.
This castle is also home to the Highland Soldier. Some mistake him as a costumed tour guide before he vanishes from view.
Fyvie Castle, Aberdeenshire
Dame Lilias Drummond supposedly walks the halls of this 13th century castle. She mysteriously passed away in 1601. Spookily, she supposedly etched her name on the window ledge outside the bridal chamber after her death after her husband remarried. The mark is still visible today.
Visitors have been spooked by the sound of silk fabric rustling, sighs and footsteps.
Dunnottar Castle, Aberdeenshire
This landmark is a ghost hot spot. Ghosts include:
- The Green Lady, who wanders the castle in search of her missing children. Visitors report seeing her around the clifftops or brewery before vanishing.
- A 17th century soldier in full uniform.
Paranormal investigators have reported faint whispers and unexplained temperature changes.
Castle Fraser, Aberdeenshire
The ghost of a brutally murdered young woman is thought to wander the halls of Castle Fraser. Her ghost story suggests her blood permanently stained the floor. Visitors mention hearing ghostly, unexplained footsteps.
Other supernatural activity includes objects inexplicably moving location, ghostly whispers and doors slamming by themselves.
Crathes Castle, Aberdeenshire
This castle offers a truly dark ghost story.
A lady clad in a green gown with a baby in her arms has been regularly spotted by the fireplace at the Great Hall. The plot thickened when renovation work uncovered the skeleton of a lady and child behind a wall.
Crathes castle is said to be especially creepy at night, with strange sounds occurring throughout the landmark and sudden chills impacting visitors.
Glamis Castle, Angus
This castle is said to be the most haunted in Scotland.
The most famous ghosts found there are:
- The Grey Lady: This is the ghost of a lady who was burned at the stake for witchcraft in 1537. Her name is thought to be Lady Janet Douglas. She is said to haunt the chapel, where a seat is always left for her.
- The Monster of Glamis: A dark family secret that was hidden away for years in a locked room. Guests report hearing laughter, footsteps and whispers in the hallways during stormy nights.
- Earl Beardie: A man who is said to have lost his soul to the Devil through a card game. The sound of shuffling cards and echoing laughter have been experienced by visitors at night.
Become a Lord or Lady of Scotland
Scotland Titles offer the opportunity to purchase a small plot of land in Fife, an area of wilderness in the Highlands. This will help preserve the landscape for future generations. If you fancy pairing your title with a trip to see some of Scotland's most iconic strongholds, take a look at our guide to the top 5 castles in Fife near your plot. Check out our website or get in touch for more details.
