Scottish Ghosts: Legends, Tales and Haunted Castles. A.M Whether you believe in ghosts or not, Scotland is no stranger to a haunting or two. From stone-built castles with towering ramparts, to misty glens hidden in mysterious mountain passes, Scottish ghosts are the stuff of legends. We take a look at some of the top ghoulish sites around the country and ask…’are you brave enough to visit them all?’ Slains Castle Certainly looks the sort of place you’d expect to find on a top ten site list of Scottish ghosts. Craggy, ruined battlements, rocky cliff-tops and an impressive history of battles to fall back on have given rise to a vast number of mysterious sightings. It’s said that this ancient fortress, originally built in 1200AD but destroyed and rebuilt time after time by marauding invaders, is haunted by World War Two soldiers dressed in full battle uniform. There have also been reports of a horse and carriage trundling through the grounds. So imposing is this ancient stronghold that it is believed to have inspired Bram Stoker to create his Dracula. Culloden Moor One of Scotland’s bloodiest battles, the 1746 massacre of the Jacobite army at Culloden Moor resulted in the deaths of thousands of soldiers, along with women and children, many of which are thought to haunt the wild moorlands surrounding this Highland site. After defeating the Jacobite army, the invading Hanoverian’s chased any who managed to escape into the neighbouring villages, cutting them down with spontoons, bayonets, and claymores. Families who gave them shelter were seized and slaughtered, and the few who were taken prisoner were eventually hung, drawn and quartered or sent to the colonies in exile. Legend tells that on the 16th April every year, the Culloden Anniversary Ghosts reappear on the moorland. The clash of steel can be heard as they fight again to the death. Walkers have reported meeting the ghost of a Highlander who whispers “defeated” to them as he passes on by, and if you happen to find your way to St Mary’s Well, you might spot the ghosts of slaughtered Highlanders taking rest beside the cool waters. Glamis To be one of the most haunted castles in all of Scotland, this historic 14th century home is haunted by the spirit of the Grey Lady. The girl’s name was Janet Douglas, a local lass burned alive in 1537 at Edinburgh’s Castle Hill on charges of being a witch. She has been spotted in the clock tower, as well as in the chapel. Janet isn’t the only apparition to make an appearance behind these ancient walls. The figure of a woman who has no tongue is often seen staring from barred windows, and has been seen flitting through the grounds showing her maimed face to visitors in the grounds. When these two Scottish ghosts are taking a break, you might bump into Earl Beardie, an unpleasant character with a taste for gambling. You can hear the rattling of dice through the castle hallways as he plays against the devil for his soul. The game is said to take place in the castle’s legendary secret room, a place where enemies of the Crawford family were holed up and left to die. Dunstaffnage Castle On the rugged west coast of Scotland, the solid walls of Dunstaffnage Castle hold the secrets of even more Scottish ghosts. Owned by the Campbell family, this partially ruined stronghold perches above the frigid waters of Loch Etive. Built in the 13th century, it is haunted by the ghost of the Ell-maid of Dunstaffnage, part girl and part Brownie. She existed to help the family while the castle was inhabited and has been unable to leave since it fell into ruin. If you see her, cross your fingers and hope she’s smiling. A frown is a sure sign bad luck is coming your way. Fyvie Another castle inhabited by Scottish ghosts is Fyvie Castle, a pretty pink-stoned fortress in Aberdeenshire. Dating back to the 11th century it remains the home of Lady Meldrum, the former lady of the estate, who died two centuries later. Her body was interred in a secret room in Meldrum Tower – at her request – along with a warning that if she was disturbed she would wreak havoc on the household. She was left alone until 1920 when builders making repairs to the walls accidentally discovered her hiding place, freeing her spirit and bringing a plague of ghoulish happenings to Fyvie Castle. Lady Meldrum might be the oldest ghost within its walls, but a far more pleasant spectre also lives here. The Green Lady is believed to be Dame Lillias Drummond, first wife of the castle’s Sir Alexander Seaton. He cruelly held back her food until she died of starvation so that he could legitimately marry her cousin instead. Rarely seen, the Green Lady makes her presence known by wafting the scent of roses in her path.These aren’t the only Scottish ghosts reported to haunt the castles, glens and battlefields of Scotland, but they’re certainly some of the most famous. Have you visited any of these sites and met an apparition or two?
Posted on: Sat, 10 Jan 2015 03:24:54 +0000
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