8 Haunted places in Scotland

With enchanting turrets, towers and ornate rooms, Crathes Castle near Banchory certainly looks like a place spirits would haunt. The castle was first built in the 1500s by the Burnett family with the brooding tower house still standing. It is said to be haunted by the restless spirit of ‘the Green Lady’, a ghostly apparition dressed in a green robe. The story goes that she was a servant girl or a ward of the Laird who disappeared soon after having a child. In the 1800s, skeletal remains were found behind the fireplace in a room she had been spotted in.

Things to do:
Visit Drum Castle, Garden & Estate nearby or head into Aberdeen city where you have a plethora of attractions at your doorstep, including The Gordon Highlanders Museum, Johnston Gardens and more.

The brutal massacre, which took place on 13 February 1692, is one of the bloodiest incidents in Scotland’s history. The story goes that a troop of soldiers – acting on government orders – posed as friendly visitors before attacking their hosts, Clan Macdonald, while they lay sleeping in their beds, murdering 38 men, women, and children. Other members of Clan Macdonald are reported to have fled to the surrounding mountains but died of exposure in the bitterly cold mountain landscape. Nowadays people have claimed to see re-enactments of the slaughter, or have heard screams in the glen, particularly around the anniversary of the massacre.

Things to do:
Glencoe is the perfect setting for low or high level walk. Wander along the Glencoe Orbital Path which takes in Glencoe village and the Massacre Memorial. Explore the Glencoe Lochan Trail or enjoy the Loch Leven viewpoint.

It was on this bleak moor in 1746 that the bloody battle of Culloden took place near Inverness. In barely 40 minutes, thousands of clansmen were cut down, and the army of Bonnie Prince Charlie was defeated, ending the Jacobite rebellion. Cries, sword clashes, and gunfire have all been heard at the battlefield and a forlorn looking Highlander is said to haunt the area, allegedly murmuring the word ‘defeated’ when encountered.

Things to do:
Visit nearby Clava Cairns featuring 4,000-year-old burial cairns, or head into Inverness and explore the Inverness Castle Experience, Ness Islands, and Inverness Botanic Gardens.

One of the most photographed castles in Europe, if not in the world, Eilean Donan Castle near Kyle of Lochalsh is said to be haunted by a Spanish soldier who was killed in a siege in 1719 during the first Jacobite rebellion. The ghost of ‘Lady Mary’ has also been spotted in one of the castle’s bedrooms.

Things to do:
Venture across to the Isle of Skye where you have a wealth of things to do at your disposal. Admire the views from the Skye Bridge as you drive across to the island, explore the towns of Broadford, Sligachan, and Portree, or head over to experience the Isle of Raasay.

St Andrew’s Cathedral is rumoured to be haunted by two ghosts, a friendly monk who has been encountered on the stairs at St Rule’s Tower, and the beautiful White Lady. For the past 200 years people have reported sightings of a lady wearing white gloves, gliding through the grounds before vanishing inside the cathedral’s haunted tower. Legend has it that stonemasons, repairing the haunted tower in the Fife town, broke through into a sealed chamber and found a number of coffins. One lay open and contained the well-preserved body of a young woman, wearing white gloves.

Things to do:
There are plenty of things to do in St Andrews. See the ruins of St Andrews Castle, visit St Andrews Aquarium, wander along West Sands Beach, or tee off on one of the most prestigious golf courses in Scotland, the Old Course.

A young woman is said to haunt the Seamstress’s Room in the upper floors of Dunrobin Castle, near Golspie. The story goes that in the 15th century, the Earl of Sutherland imprisoned a beautiful young woman from a rival clan, with plans to marry her. She tried to escape by climbing down a rope of sheets but fell to her death. Sounds of her crying can still be heard coming from the room to this day.

Things to do:
Spend a day exploring the nearby Loch Fleet National Nature Reserve. This coastal reserve is home to a range of diverse habitats, wildlife, and plant species, with plenty of ways for the kids to get involved in the outdoors too.

The Edinburgh Vaults, or South Bridge Vaults, are a series of underground chambers that were formed in the arches of South Bridge. The vaults were initially home to taverns, workshops, and other tradesmen and merchants in the 1700s, until they later became known as a hub for the homeless and criminal activity, including gambling, illegal whisky distilleries, and where body snatchers would store corpses, according to legend. Today you can venture on a tour of the vaults to learn more and hear tales of paranormal reports and encounters with spirits people have experienced over the years, including during many TV shows and productions.

Things to do:
Nearby, visit Edinburgh Dungeons for another step back in time to the city’s past, or wander the cobbles of the Royal Mile, visit St Giles Cathedral, or learn about the ghosts and tales of The Real Mary King’s Close.

The Tay Bridge disaster is one of the most memorable engineering catastrophes in Scotland’s history. On 28 December 1879, just two years after it was opened in Dundee, the bridge was hit by a terrible storm which weakened its central section and caused it to collapse while a passenger train was crossing, killing all on board. It is said that on the anniversary of the disaster a ghostly train can be seen crossing the part of the Tay where the ill-fated bridge would have stood before disappearing at the point of the collapse. What remains of the old bridge's pillars can still be seen beside the current Tay Bridge.

Things to do:
Dundee is full of enticing things to do. Head to Verdant Works Museum to delve into Dundee’s industrial heritage, explore the V&A Dundee – Scotland’s museum of design, or walk up Dundee Law for panoramic views of the city and beyond.