Scotland is the land of ghosts and legends. The abundance of ghosts there is very impressive. In the UK, it is common for every older building to have a resident ghost, there is not a castle or ruin that is not the subject of some mysterious lore. Scottish castles are particularly frequently haunted, as they are not just haunted by one ghost. Most castles are frequented by several ghosts or legendary figures. The many ruins, the spectacular and lonely landscape, the mist-covered mountains and the sparse population – all of this fires people’s imagination. Today I’m going to show you the most legendary and spooky Scottish hauntings.
Dunnottar Castle
Hardly any other Scottish haunted castle lies so dramatically and impregnably on steep rocky cliffs. Only a narrow path leads to the ruins, which are surrounded by the sea. The location on the cliffs is spectacular.
The current ruins of Dunnottar Castle date back to the 15th century, but there were important fortresses on this site much earlier. The first documented reference dates back to the 7th century. The first official Scottish king, Donald II, defended the fortress from invading Vikings, unfortunately without success. In 1297, the then English castle was conquered by the Scottish freedom fighter William Wallace(Braveheart*). He is said to have burnt the entire English garrison alive in a church. In 1562, the Scottish Queen Mary Stuart lived at Dunnottar Castle for a few months.
The Scottish crown jewels were hidden here from Oliver Cromwell and strangely disappeared after the conquest. It is said that the crown jewels are still buried near the castle to this day.
Dunnottar also served as a prison. A group of Scottish rebels, more than 160 people, including women and children, were held and tortured for months in the dungeons of Dunnottar Castle. A majority died in the dungeon. The dungeons of the castle can still be visited today and of course you can encounter ghosts here.
The ghosts of Dunnottar Castle
This haunted castle is predestined for supernatural phenomena. At night, several people are said to be heard screaming in the ruins of Dunnottar. Are these the ghosts of the rebels or of the English soldiers who were burnt to death there? Sometimes the figure of a tall man is sighted wearing an old-fashioned uniform and looking out to sea. A girl in a traditional Scottish green chequer has also been seen in the former kitchen, she is called the “Green Lady”. Other visitors saw a Scandinavian-looking man in the former guardroom, perhaps dating back to the time of the Viking invasion.
Slains Castle
Slains Castle lies to the north of Dunnottar Castle. I should correctly write New Slains Castle, as there is also a remnant of Old Slains Castle. But this is about the manor house from the 16th century. This ruin is also absolutely worth seeing, because unlike the medieval castles, this is a real castle ruin that is as picturesque as Dunnottar Castle. As the writer Bram Stoker often spent the summer months in Cruden Bay and was a frequent guest at the castle, the castle is said to have been an inspiration for Dracula’s Castle. Because Bram Stoker was never in Romania. During Bram Stoker’s lifetime, the castle was still inhabited and he was a frequent guest here. This alone makes the haunted castle one of the most legendary in Scotland.
The ghosts of Slains Castle are a little younger, as it is haunted by soldiers from the Second World War. On the steep cliffs below the castle are shelters from the Second World War, some soldiers fell here. Once a year, you can also encounter the ghosts of shipwrecked men who emerge from the sea and come ashore.
However, a white lady with horses and carriage has also been seen here. It is said to have been one of the women who were imprisoned in the tower in the 17th century because they were accused of witchcraft.
Linlithgow Palace
Linlithgow Palace is a truly royal palace, as both James V and Mary Stuart were born here and many kings lived here, not just Scottish rulers. The famous “Winter Queen” Elisabeth, Electress Palatine, also grew up here. Margaret Tudor (sister of Henry VIII) and Anne of Denmark chose the castle as their widow’s residence.
The present palace building was constructed in the mid-15th century, but there were also important predecessor buildings on this site. A royal manor in Linlithgow is mentioned for the first time in 1124. Some ruins can still be seen today. The castle was abandoned by the royal family at the end of the 16th century and was then temporarily used as a soldiers’ hostel for Oliver Cromwell’s soldiers. Bonnie Price Charlie and Queen Anne later visited the palace. The palace burnt down in 1746 and was never rebuilt.
Right next to the ruined palace is St Michael’s Church with an old cemetery. The late Gothic church is very magnificent and has seen many famous personalities. For example, Mary Stuart was baptised here.
Ghosts of Linlithgow Palace
Of course, this Scottish haunted castle is also haunted. The “Blue Lady” has been spotted here, a woman in a blue dress who wanders between the castle gate and the church gate. The ghost of the Blue Lady is also said to have been sighted in one of the towers, in Queen Mary’s former chamber. However, experts are not yet entirely in agreement as to whether the “Blue Lady” is Margaret Tudor (the wife of James IV) or Mary of Guise (the wife of James V). A woman in a blue dress is said to have warned the English King James IV not to fight against the Scots. He did not listen to her and died at the Battle of Flodden.
Edinburgh Castle
For the sake of completeness, I am also including Edinburgh Castle in my list, even though it is one of the least mysterious places in Scotland for me. Nevertheless, the castle is majestic and well worth a visit. Edinburgh Castle is located on a rock in the middle of the city centre. It is the landmark of Edinburgh and one of the most important sights in Scotland. And this haunted castle is said to be one of the spookiest places in Scotland.
A castle or fortress is thought to have stood on the castle hill as early as the 7th century AD. However, the first confirmed documentary mention only dates back to the beginning of the 14th century. Most of the walls still standing today date from this period. The castle is one of the most important royal residences in Scotland and almost every ruler has resided here. Mary Stuart also lived in the castle before her capture and abdication.
Since 1996, the legendary Stone of Scone has been back in Scotland, in Edinburgh Castle. It is the coronation stone of the Scottish kings. Since the 12th century, Scottish leaders have been crowned on this supposedly magical stone for over two centuries. Unfortunately, the Stone of Scone was stolen by the English at the end of the 13th century and taken to Westminster, where it was misused for the coronation of the English chiefs. The symbol of Scottish independence for the Scots was henceforth regarded as the symbol of the unity of England and Scotland (only for the English, of course). It was only returned to the Scots in a solemn ceremony in 1996 and has been kept in Edinburgh Castle ever since, alongside the surviving Crown Jewels.
The ghosts of Edinburgh Castle
This castle is frequented by a variety of ghosts. These include a headless drummer who has been spotted as far back as the time of Oliver Cromwell and a ghostly bagpiper looking for a way in. A particular favourite is the ghost of a dog, which is said to come from the dog graveyard next to the castle. The area around the castle is surrounded by a number of tunnels and dungeons, where ghostly apparitions are also reported. Visitors report light phenomena or sudden drops in temperature. However, I am disappointed that this castle is not haunted by a lady.
Stirling Castle
This castle is also a real tourist magnet, as it was one of the main seats of the Scottish kings from the 11th to the 17th century. The castle complex of Stirling Castle consists of several very different buildings, as it was extended and remodelled many times. Even William Wallace (Braveheart) rec aptured the castle from the English. The castle was repeatedly the site of armed conflicts between the Scots and the English.
The ghosts of Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle is haunted by female ghosts in colourful dresses. Not only has the “White Lady” been seen here , but also the “Blue Lady” and the “Pink Lady”. The scariest and most frequently sighted apparition is the “Green Lady”. Some legends say that she was the daughter of a general who threw herself off the tower when her affair with a soldier was discovered and he was shot. Others say that she was a maid of Mary Stuart who had the gift of clairvoyance and wanted to warn Mary. The lady in the pink robe is often seen in the graveyard. But a male ghost is also worth mentioning, as he appears in a kilt and is often mistaken for a castle guide. But as soon as he is approached, he disappears again.
Elcho Castle
Between Stirling and Dundee, you can visit the ruins of Elcho Castle. Although the castle has been abandoned since 1780, it is one of the best-preserved castle ruins in Scotland. The current ruins were built in the 16th century, but the tower in the south-west is said to be much older. William Wallace is also said to have sought refuge here. If you are looking for ghosts, you can encounter the classic “White Lady” in this Scottish haunted castle.
Eilean Donan Castle
Eilean Donan Castle is probably the most photographed castle in Scotland and is also one of the most photographed castles in the world. The location of the castle on the crystal blue lake in the middle of the rugged Highlands is dreamlike. Many films have been shot here, e.g. Braveheart*, Prince Valiant*, Highlander*, Elizabeth – the Golden Kingdom*, Rob Roy* and Tempting Trap*.
The castle was built at the beginning of the 13th century as a protective fortress against the Vikings. Originally the castle belonged to the Mackenzies of Kintail clan, from the 14th century to the Macrae clan.
This castle is said to be haunted by a Spanish soldier who died during a siege in 1719 during the first Jacobite uprising. The ghost of “Lady Mary” has also been spotted in one of the castle’s bedrooms, unfortunately I couldn’t find out what colour dress she was wearing. The shadow or silhouette of a strange creature can sometimes be seen in Loch Duich. It is said to be a giant water snake, similar to the Loch Ness Monster. Legend has it that three selkies (Scottish mermaids) live in Loch Duich. They sometimes play tricks on people.
Urquhart Castle
The most famous legendary figure at Urquhart Castle is of course Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, as the castle ruins are located directly on the shores of Loch Ness. The first documented mention of the Loch Ness Monster is said to date back to the 6th century, as a sea dragon on Loch Ness was also mentioned in the annals of St Columban.
The exact date of construction of the castle is not known. A predecessor castle is said to have stood here as early as the 6th century, but this has not been proven. In the 13th century, the castle was owned by the Urquhart clan, but fell to the Comyn clan very early on.
Castle Stalker
The ruins of Castle Stalker must have been impregnable in the past and are still very difficult to access today as they are located on a small island in the middle of a lake. The castle can only be reached on foot at low tide, but it is privately owned. Does the castle look familiar? It is the Grail Castle “Castle of Aaaaaaarh” from the Monty Python film “The Knights of the Coconut “*.
There are no ghost stories about this castle. However, legend has it that shortly before the death of the last head of the Steward clan, a shining sphere is said to have appeared above the castle. This disappeared when the clan leader died. Since then, the fireball has been sighted again and again.
Doune Castle
I’ll stick with the“Knights of the Coconut” for now, because Doune Castle was used almost inflationarily by Monty Python. It’s Doune Castle, Camelot Castle and Swamp Castle. Do the castle ruins look familiar? That’s not unlikely, as many great films and series have been shot here. It is Leoch Castle from the series “Outlander “* and parts of the castle were used as Winterfell Castle in “Game of Thrones”.
Doune Castle was built in 1390 by Robert Stewart. Over the centuries, the castle has served as a hunting lodge or refuge for several kings, including Mary Stuart. She is even said to haunt the castle as she was banished here. Visitors often report seeinga woman in a blood-red dress in one of the windows. This is actually the first “Red Lady” of the post.
Dunstaffnage Castle
Dunstaffnage Castle is one of the oldest stone castles in Scotland, built at the beginning of the 13th century. It was built by the MacDougall clan and became the property of the Campbell clan in the 15th century. Flora MacDonald is said to have lived here before she helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape from the Tower of London.
This Scottish ghost castle is said to be haunted by a maid in a green dress, the “Green Lady”. However, it is not known who this lady was.
Huntly Castle
Huntly Castle is one of the most impressive ruins I have discovered in Scotland. The first documented mention of the castle dates back to the 12th century, but at that time it was still a simple wooden castle that was continually extended. From the very beginning, the castle was owned by the Clan Gordon. In the 15th century, the castle burnt down to its foundations and was almost completely rebuilt. Today’s appearance dates from this time.
Strange things are reported about the death of the 5th Earl of Huntly, George Gordon. Gordon died of poisoned food and was laid out in a chamber. Several servants who were near the chamber fainted and on awakening reported feeling very cold. Strange noises came from the chamber of the dead man, although there was no living creature there.
But that’s not all, the lady of the house is still missing. At Huntly Castle you can encounter two female ghosts, a white lady and a green lady. The “White Lady” is said to be Mary Eleanore Bowes, widowed Lady of Strathmore, who was called “the unhappy countess”. Her second husband was a swindler who abused her and kept her prisoner. Her fate was the inspiration for the novel “Barry Lyndon “* by William Makepeace Thackeray. Incidentally, Mary Eleanor Bowes was the great-great-great-great-grandmother of Queen Elizabeth. So this place is haunted by a very important ghost.
The “Green Lady” is said to be a domestic servant who killed herself because she was pregnant out of wedlock.
Inverlochy Castle
Inverlochy Castle was built by Clan Comyn in the 13th century, later falling into the possession of Clan Cameron and then the Earl of Huntly. Two important battles for Scotland’s independence took place near Inverlochy. The castle has been abandoned since the 17th century and fell into ruin. In the 19th century, an imposing manor house was built next to the ruins, which is now a hotel.
Inverlochy Castle is said to be haunted by a male ghost who is said to have been one of the former owners and governor of the province. Other reports tell of footsteps that can be heard at night, reminiscent of an army. These are said to be the soldiers who died here. A female ghost has also been sighted, a woman named Agnes, who was condemned as a witch and died.
Haunted castles in Scotland – almost every castle is a haunted castle
Most of the stories I have mentioned in today’s article come from the book “Castles of Scotland” by Martin Coventry*. Although this is an ordinary guide to Scottish castles and their history, almost every castle has a ghost story. That’s the way it is in the UK, where every older building has a ghost. Either the island is much more haunted by ghosts than mainland Europe or the people there have more imagination. The English and Scots believe much more in supernatural phenomena than the Germans. In addition, the people preserve traditions and their legends more, whereas in Germany many have been forgotten.
On your next trip to Scotland, keep your eyes and ears open and you might even come across a mysterious lady in one of the many old walls.
Book tips for your trip to Scotland
More booking recommendations for your next trip to Scotland:
Haunted Castles & Houses Of Scotland
The Secrets Of Haunted Scotland
Haunted Scottish Castles and Houses (The Haunted Explorer Series)
*Affiliatelink to amazon.de, i.e. if you order something via this link (no matter what), you pay no extra charge, but I get a small commission. Thank you very much for your support!
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