Scotland has always had a reputation for the supernatural. With our ancient castles, brooding landscapes, and turbulent history steeped in conflict and tragedy, it’s hardly surprising that ghostly tales abound throughout the country. Over the years, Janette and I have visited many of these reportedly haunted locations, and whilst I remain healthily sceptical about such things, there’s no denying the eerie atmosphere that pervades some of Scotland’s most historic sites.
From violent poltergeists to spectral ladies in green, from headless drummers to ghostly pipers, Scotland’s haunted places offer a fascinating glimpse into our dark and dramatic past. Whether you’re a firm believer in the paranormal or simply enjoy a good ghost story, these locations provide a unique way to experience Scottish history.
So wrap up warm, keep an open mind, and join me as we explore some of Scotland’s most haunted places.
The Edinburgh Vaults
Location: Edinburgh City Centre
Hidden beneath the bustling streets of Edinburgh’s South Bridge lie 19 underground chambers that were built into the bridge’s arches around the end of the 1700s. These vaults initially housed legitimate businesses – taverns, cobblers’ workshops, and storage areas – but they quickly became a hotbed of illicit activity. Illegal whisky distilleries, gambling dens, and even body snatchers storing corpses for medical dissection all found a home in these dank underground spaces.
As conditions deteriorated, the poorest residents of Edinburgh moved into the vaults, living in squalor and darkness. By the mid-1800s, the vaults had been sealed up and forgotten, only to be rediscovered during excavations in the 1990s. Since then, they’ve gained a reputation as one of Edinburgh’s most haunted locations.
Visitors on ghost tours regularly report feeling unseen hands touching them, sudden drops in temperature, and an overwhelming sense of unease. Some have been pushed or pulled by invisible forces, whilst others have felt small hands grabbing at their legs – perhaps the spirits of the many children who died in the vaults during Edinburgh’s darkest days.
The vaults are accessible through various ghost tour companies, and whilst I can’t personally vouch for any supernatural encounters, there’s certainly an oppressive atmosphere down there that’s hard to shake.
Stirling Castle
Location: Stirling
Perched atop its volcanic crag, Stirling Castle has witnessed some of Scotland’s most pivotal historical moments. It was taken and destroyed by Robert the Bruce in 1314, served as the childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots in 1542, and was besieged by Jacobite forces in 1746. With such a turbulent past, it’s little wonder the castle harbours more than a few restless spirits.
William Douglas is said to haunt the Douglas Gardens, where he was pushed from a window by the King himself – a rather unpleasant end to what was presumably an equally unpleasant disagreement.
The castle is also home to several spectral ladies. The Black Lady has been seen and felt on the Back Walk, whilst the Pink Lady fills those who encounter her with overwhelming feelings of longing, sadness, and unrequited love. But the most famous of all is the Green Lady, first sighted way back in 1561 and seen by countless witnesses over the centuries.
Legend suggests the Green Lady was a servant who died saving Mary Queen of Scots from a fire in her bedchamber, perishing in the flames herself. Her spirit, dressed in green, is said to still wander the castle corridors. Another tale claims she’s the ghost of a commander’s daughter who fell in love with one of his soldiers. When the commander discovered their affair, he shot the soldier dead. Overcome with grief, the young woman threw herself from the castle tower, forever doomed to haunt Stirling as the Green Lady.
The castle also hosts a ghostly Highland soldier, sometimes mistaken for a tour guide in costume, until he turns away and vanishes into thin air. Stirling Castle is well worth a visit, haunted or not, and remains one of Scotland’s finest historic attractions.
Leith Hall
Location: Huntly, Aberdeenshire
The tragic ghost of John Leith haunts this beautiful country estate near Huntly. In 1763, John was shot in a drunken brawl in Aberdeen and brought home to Leith Hall, where he died three days later on Christmas Day. The circumstances surrounding his death remain mysterious – the identity of his killer was never discovered.
John’s ghost appears wearing dark green trousers, a white shirt, and a dirty white bandage wrapped around his head, obscuring his eyes. He’s often seen in great distress, lamenting his injuries with ghostly wails. Other paranormal activity includes sightings of a family dog and the sounds of children playing, though no children are present.
Leith Hall is managed by the National Trust for Scotland and is open to visitors. The house and gardens are absolutely beautiful, and whether you encounter John Leith’s troubled spirit or not, it’s a wonderful day out in rural Aberdeenshire.
Culzean Castle
Location: South Ayrshire
Perched dramatically atop sheer cliffs overlooking the Firth of Clyde, Culzean Castle looks every inch the haunted castle. The current structure was built in the late 18th century, though the Kennedy family have held these lands since the 1300s – plenty of time for ghostly tales to accumulate.
The castle’s most famous ghost story involves Sir Archibald Kennedy, known as “Archibald the Wicked” – a nickname that tells you everything you need to know about his character. He died around 1685, and his funeral was marked by the most extraordinary supernatural event.
As mourners gathered for the burial, a tremendous storm blew up. A ship struggling through the turbulent waters in the bay spotted what appeared to be another vessel approaching. But as it drew closer, the horrified crew realised it wasn’t a ship at all – it was a carriage pulled by four black horses, moving across the surface of the water.
The captain called out: “From whence to where?”
“From Hell to Culzean’s burial,” came the reply, before the phantom carriage vanished beneath the waves.
The castle also boasts a haunted cave beneath the cliffs, where visitors report hearing the sound of ghostly bagpipes. More disturbing still are the tales of screams echoing from the old dungeons, where one unfortunate prisoner was allegedly roasted on a spit over a fire until he agreed to surrender his land.
Culzean is managed by the National Trust for Scotland and is one of the country’s most popular visitor attractions. The castle and country park are spectacular, and you can even stay overnight in the Eisenhower apartment – though whether you’d sleep soundly is another matter entirely.
Culloden Moor
Location: Near Inverness
The windswept expanse of Culloden Moor is where the final, brutal battle between Jacobite forces and the British Government army took place on 16 April 1746. The battle lasted barely an hour, but it changed Scotland forever. Over 1,500 men died on this bleak moorland, and Bonnie Prince Charlie’s hopes of reclaiming the British throne died with them.
Today, Culloden Battlefield features an excellent visitor centre with fascinating exhibits about the battle and the Jacobite cause. Walking across the battlefield itself, particularly on a misty day when haar from the Moray Firth rolls across the moor, is an incredibly atmospheric experience.
Many visitors report hearing the sounds of battle echoing across the moorland – the clash of steel, the crack of musket fire, and the anguished cries of dying men. Some claim to have seen a lone Jacobite soldier wandering the battlefield, whilst others swear they’ve spotted Bonnie Prince Charlie himself, resplendent in full Highland dress, surveying the scene of his greatest defeat.
If anywhere in Scotland deserves to be haunted, it’s surely Culloden. The atmosphere here is profoundly moving, and whether you believe in ghosts or not, you can’t help but feel the weight of history pressing down upon this tragic place.
Nearby Clava Cairns, a Bronze Age burial site, adds to the mystical atmosphere of the area and is well worth combining with a visit to Culloden.
Broomhill House and the Black Lady of Larkhall
Location: Larkhall, South Lanarkshire
Larkhall lies about 14 miles outside Glasgow, and on its outskirts once stood the grand Broomhill House. The house fell into ruin after a devastating fire in 1943, and today only the shell remains – but it’s said to be haunted by a tragic spirit known as the Black Lady.
The Black Lady is believed to be Sita Phurdeen, who came to Broomhill House in 1902. She was brought to Scotland from South Africa by Captain Henry McNeil-Hamilton, who had fought in the Boer War. Sita became his mistress and worked as a servant in the house, all whilst the Captain’s wife remained oblivious.
But Sita mysteriously vanished from Broomhill House. The Captain claimed she’d left abruptly to return to her home in Sri Lanka, but nobody believed him. Many suspected – and still suspect – that Captain Hamilton murdered her to prevent the affair from being exposed.
Since her disappearance, numerous sightings of a woman in black have been reported around the ruins of Broomhill House, particularly on the path that runs around the property – now known as the “Black Lady’s Walk.” The house is now in such a dangerous state of disrepair that it’s not safe to visit, but her sad spirit is said to wander the grounds still, searching for justice or peace.
Comlongon Castle
Location: Dumfriesshire
Comlongon Castle, near the Scottish-English border, was once a popular wedding venue (though it’s now closed). The castle has long attracted visitors, not just for its romantic setting, but for its resident ghost – the Green Lady.
The Green Lady is thought to be Marion Carruthers, born in 1541. After Marion and her sister inherited Comlongon Castle and the valuable Mouswald estate, Sir James Douglas of Drumlanrig claimed it was impossible for women to control such power and wealth. He took the girls to his castle at Drumlanrig under the pretence of caring for them, but in reality, they were prisoners, kept away from their inheritance.
After years of torment, neglect, and isolation, facing the prospect of a forced marriage, Marion threw herself from a tower window. Her death was ruled a suicide.
Today, visitors to Comlongon Castle report hearing sobbing coming from behind doors that lead to empty rooms. People have been pushed, nudged, and claim to have seen a ghostly green figure drifting through the castle. There’s even a legend that grass has never grown on the spot where Marion fell at the base of the Lookout Tower – as if the ground itself remembers her tragedy.
Mary King’s Close
Location: Edinburgh
Hidden beneath Edinburgh’s Royal Mile lies Mary King’s Close – a labyrinth of underground streets that were once home to hundreds of Edinburgh residents. These narrow, steep closes (alleyways) would have been bustling thoroughfares in the 17th century, with families living and working in cramped conditions, sometimes in buildings seven storeys high.
Life in the closes was far from pleasant. With no sewage system, residents would empty their chamber pots into the street at designated times, shouting “Gardyloo!” (from the French “gardez l’eau” – watch out for water) to warn passersby below. Disease was rampant, and during the plague outbreak of 1645, Mary King’s Close was hit particularly hard.
Contrary to popular myth, the close wasn’t sealed with plague victims inside. However, the suffering and death that occurred here seems to have left its mark. Many ghosts are said to haunt Mary King’s Close, but the most famous is “Annie,” a little girl whose story began in 1992.
A Japanese psychic named Aiko Gibo was visiting the close when she felt the presence of a small child in one of the rooms. She claimed the girl had died of plague after being abandoned by her family, and that she was crying because she’d lost her beloved doll. Gibo purchased a tartan doll from a shop on the Royal Mile and left it in the room for Annie.
Since then, visitors from around the world have left hundreds of toys, dolls, and gifts for Annie. The money left in her room is donated to children’s charities. Whether you believe Annie’s ghost truly haunts the close or not, the shrine that’s grown up around her story is both touching and eerie in equal measure.
Mary King’s Close is now open to the public as The Real Mary King’s Close, offering fascinating guided tours that bring Edinburgh’s hidden history to life. It’s one of the city’s most popular attractions and well worth a visit.
Edinburgh Castle
Location: Edinburgh
Perched high above Scotland’s capital on its volcanic rock, Edinburgh Castle is one of the most iconic landmarks in the country. With a history spanning nearly a thousand years and involving sieges, executions, imprisonments, and battles, it’s hardly surprising that the castle is considered one of Scotland’s most haunted places.
Several spirits are said to haunt the castle:
The Headless Drummer Boy is perhaps the most famous. He was first sighted in 1650, shortly before Oliver Cromwell’s army besieged the castle. His appearance is said to foretell danger or an attack on the fortress. Visitors have reported hearing the sound of phantom drums echoing from the battlements, though the drummer himself is rarely seen.
The Grey Lady appears dressed as a 16th-century noblewoman. She’s been spotted in the older sections of the castle, sometimes simply wandering the corridors, sometimes weeping. Her identity remains a mystery.
The Prisoner is said to smell strongly of manure – the result of his desperate attempt to escape the castle dungeons. He hid in a wheelbarrow of horse manure, hoping to be taken outside the castle walls. Instead, the barrow was emptied over the edge of the castle rock, sending the poor prisoner plummeting to his death on the rocks far below. His angry spirit now attempts to push visitors from the castle ramparts.
The Piper tells perhaps the eeriest tale of all. A soldier and piper was sent to explore an underground tunnel that was rumoured to run from the castle all the way down the Royal Mile to Holyrood Palace. He played his bagpipes as he descended, allowing those above to track his progress. But somewhere beneath the city, the music suddenly stopped. Despite extensive searches, the piper was never seen again. To this day, people claim to hear the faint sound of bagpipes echoing from deep underground.
Good Boy was a regimental mascot dog whose loyal spirit can sometimes be seen roaming the castle interior, forever faithful to his post.
Edinburgh Castle is open year-round and offers regular ghost tours for those brave enough to explore its haunted halls after dark.
Rosslyn Chapel
Location: Roslin, near Edinburgh
Made famous by The Da Vinci Code as a supposed hiding place for the Holy Grail, Rosslyn Chapel is one of Scotland’s most beautiful and mysterious buildings. Built in the 15th century by the St Clair family, the chapel is adorned with extraordinary stone carvings, including the famous Apprentice Pillar.
Nearby stand the ruins of Rosslyn Castle, and both locations are said to be haunted. The White Lady is most commonly reported, wandering the castle ruins. Legend suggests she’s a member of the St Clair family who was placed under a magical curse, doomed to sleep until a brave knight rescues her. Whoever breaks the curse will apparently be rewarded with untold riches – though so far, no knight has succeeded.
A ghostly Black Knight has also been sighted near the castle, sometimes appearing to drivers on the nearby road. Perhaps he’s searching for the White Lady, hoping to break her curse?
The spirit of a faithful dog has been heard barking on the wind. According to legend, this hound charged into battle to avenge his fallen master, only to be slain himself. His loyalty transcends death, and his ghostly barks still echo around the castle ruins.
Even the chapel itself has its supernatural tales. In 2010, workmen renovating the chapel had to work overnight. They reported feeling constantly watched whilst they laboured. One workman even turned around to find a monk standing over him, silently observing his work, before vanishing into thin air.
Rosslyn Chapel is open to visitors and remains one of Scotland’s most intriguing historic sites, regardless of whether you believe Dan Brown’s fictional theories or not.
Skaill House
Location: Orkney
Skaill House stands on Orkney’s west coast, with the 5,000-year-old Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae right on its doorstep. If anywhere is going to be haunted, surely it’s a 17th-century mansion built on land inhabited for over five millennia – possibly even on top of an ancient Pictish burial ground.
The current laird has had several unsettling experiences. Late one night whilst working on the house, he and his dog heard distinct footsteps. His dog immediately raised her hackles and started barking loudly before fleeing the room in terror. But there was nobody there.
On another occasion, he suddenly smelled fresh cigarette smoke, as if someone were smoking nearby. He doesn’t smoke, and he was completely alone in the house.
Visitors and staff have reported seeing ghostly figures, reflections in windows when nobody should be there, and countless instances of disembodied footsteps walking through the house at night. During renovations, 15 skeletons were discovered beneath the floorboards – a discovery that only added to Skaill House’s eerie reputation.
Skaill House is open to visitors and even offers accommodation if you fancy a genuinely spooky Scottish getaway. Just don’t be surprised if you hear footsteps in the corridor outside your room.
Cawdor Castle
Location: Near Inverness
Cawdor Castle is one of the Highlands’ most beautiful castles, surrounded by immaculately maintained gardens and woodland walks. The castle is famous for its connection to Shakespeare’s Macbeth, though the historical accuracy of that connection is somewhat questionable.
Inside the castle, you’ll find historic portraits, beautiful tapestries, and more four-poster beds than you could ever sleep in. But you might also encounter the castle’s ghosts. A ghostly lady in a blue velvet dress has been spotted around the castle – an interesting detail, as most ghost sightings are vague about clothing.
Another female spirit has been seen in the Drawing Room, gazing up at the portrait of the first Baron of Cawdor. It’s assumed this is his wife, still gazing lovingly at her husband centuries after death. The Baron himself has also been spotted walking the castle halls – perhaps one day they’ll find each other again.
Cawdor Castle is open to visitors from spring through autumn and is well worth a visit, whether you’re interested in ghosts, gardens, or simply soaking up the atmosphere of a truly magnificent Highland castle.
The Black Mausoleum – The Mackenzie Poltergeist
Location: Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh
If there’s one location in Scotland that could justifiably claim to be the most haunted, it’s the Black Mausoleum in Edinburgh’s Greyfriars Kirkyard. This is home to what has become known as the Mackenzie Poltergeist – possibly the best-documented and most violent paranormal case in the world.
Sir George Mackenzie died in 1691 and was interred in a grand mausoleum in Greyfriars. During his lifetime, he served as Lord Advocate for Scotland under Charles II and earned the nickname “Bluidy Mackenzie” for his brutal persecution of the Presbyterian Covenanters during a period known as the Killing Times.
After the Battle of Bothwell Brig in 1679, Mackenzie had 1,200 Covenanter prisoners incarcerated in a section of Greyfriars Kirkyard known as the Covenanters’ Prison. The conditions were appalling – the prisoners were held in an open-air enclosure with no shelter, subjected to torture, starvation, and eventually execution. It’s been described as one of the world’s first concentration camps.
Mackenzie was buried just yards from the very spot where so many suffered under his orders. For centuries, he rested undisturbed. But in 1999, a homeless man broke into the mausoleum seeking shelter. He fell through the floor into the burial vault, disturbing Mackenzie’s coffin in the darkness. What happened next has become legend.
Shortly after this incident, people visiting the mausoleum began reporting violent attacks. Since then, there have been over 500 documented cases of people being physically assaulted by an unseen force. Visitors have emerged with scratches, bruises, burns, and bite marks – often hidden beneath their clothing. Over 180 people have been knocked unconscious near the mausoleum.
People report being pushed, grabbed, having their hair pulled, and feeling invisible hands around their throats. The attacks are so frequent and so severe that the City of Edinburgh Council sealed the area, and access is now only permitted through organised ghost tours.
Two exorcisms have been attempted, both unsuccessful. One exorcist, Colin Grant, fled the mausoleum after only a short time, claiming he felt the presence of pure evil and feared for his life. He died of a heart attack a few weeks later – though whether this was connected to his experience in the mausoleum remains a matter of speculation.
Ghost tours are run by the City of the Dead Tours, who have exclusive access to the Covenanters’ Prison. They keep meticulous records of all reported incidents, making this the most thoroughly documented paranormal case in history.
Whether the Mackenzie Poltergeist is the vengeful spirit of Bluidy Mackenzie himself, the tortured souls of his victims, or something else entirely, there’s no denying something very strange happens in that corner of Greyfriars Kirkyard.
St Andrews Cathedral
Location: St Andrews, Fife
Built in 1160, St Andrews Cathedral was once the largest and most magnificent church in Scotland. Today, only ruins remain, overlooking the North Sea. The shattered walls and towers are all that hint at the glorious structure that once dominated the town’s skyline.
The cathedral ruins are haunted by the White Lady, who appears on stormy winter nights, gliding silently through the ruins before vanishing without a trace. The cathedral’s wall tower became known as the “haunted tower,” and locals once refused to pass it after nightfall.
Although there have been many sightings of the White Lady over the past 200 years, no interactions have been recorded – she seems content to drift through the ruins, perhaps mourning the cathedral’s lost grandeur.
Glamis Castle
Location: Near Forfar, Angus
Could Glamis Castle be Scotland’s most haunted castle? With over 650 years of history and countless ghost stories attached to it, there’s certainly a strong case to be made. This magnificent castle was the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, and the birthplace of Princess Margaret.
Members of the Bowes-Lyon family, including the Queen Mother’s brother Sir David Bowes-Lyon, have reported seeing ghosts at Glamis. The castle is said to harbour several spirits:
The Grey Lady of Glamis Chapel is the ghost of Lady Janet Douglas, who was Lady of Glamis in 1537. A member of the Douglas family, she was seen as an enemy of King James V. In a politically motivated attack, she was accused of witchcraft and burned at the stake in front of her young son. The castle chapel has a seat reserved for the Grey Lady, who appears to warn the Bowes-Lyon family of impending trouble. Her remains were discovered centuries later, encased in the castle walls.
Jack the Runner is another ghostly inhabitant, said to sprint across the castle grounds on clear moonlit nights.
Earl Beardie’s Card Game is perhaps the most entertaining ghost story at Glamis. Legend tells of Earl Beardie (possibly Alexander Lindsay, 4th Earl of Crawford) who loved drinking and gambling so much that he refused to stop playing cards even on the Sabbath. When his companions retired to bed at midnight on Saturday, he declared he would play cards with the Devil himself if necessary.
Sure enough, the Devil appeared at his door. The Earl was stripped of his soul and condemned to play an endless card game until the end of time. If you listen carefully in the vaulted lower hall, you can supposedly still hear the sound of shuffling cards and dice rolling.
The Monster of Glamis is the castle’s darkest and most disturbing legend. In 1821, Lady Charlotte, wife of Lord Glamis, gave birth to the couple’s first son. The child was horrifically deformed, and whilst his death was officially announced, a baptism was recorded but no grave appeared in the cemetery.
Rumours persisted that the child, named Thomas, had not died but was kept hidden in a secret room. Said to possess immense strength and monstrous appearance, he allegedly lived for over 100 years in isolation. Upon his death, he was sealed in a coffin and walled up within his secret prison.
His ghost is said to walk the castle rooftops along “Mad Earl’s Walk,” the only place he was ever allowed outside during his lifetime.
Glamis Castle is open to visitors, and whether you encounter any of its numerous ghosts or not, it’s one of Scotland’s most impressive castles and well worth a visit.
Where is the Most Haunted Place in Scotland?
If I had to choose just one location as Scotland’s most haunted place, I would have to say The Black Mausoleum in Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh. The sheer number of documented attacks, the severity of the incidents, and the meticulous records kept by tour operators make this the most compelling paranormal case in Scotland – perhaps in the entire world.
With over 500 recorded attacks, 180 people knocked unconscious, and countless reports of scratches, bruises, burns, and bite marks, the Mackenzie Poltergeist stands apart from other Scottish hauntings. Whether you believe in the supernatural or not, something undeniably strange happens in that corner of Greyfriars Kirkyard.
Other Haunted Locations
This article only scratches the surface of Scotland’s haunted places. Many other castles and historic sites have their own ghostly tales, including:
- Dunrobin Castle
- Crathes Castle
- Fyvie Castle
- Haddo House
- Rait Castle
- Craigievar Castle
- Castle Fraser
- Brodie Castle
- House of Dun
- Drum Castle
- Inveraray Castle
The list of haunted locations across Scotland is seemingly endless. From the Highlands to the Borders, from ancient castles to Victorian mansions, Scotland’s turbulent and often tragic history has left its mark on the landscape – and perhaps on the veil between this world and the next.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a firm believer in the supernatural or a complete sceptic, there’s no denying that Scotland’s haunted places offer a unique and atmospheric way to experience our nation’s history. These tales of ghosts and spectres are woven into the very fabric of Scottish culture, passed down through generations and attracting visitors from around the world.
I’ve visited many of these locations over the years, and whilst I can’t claim to have seen any ghosts myself, I can certainly attest to the eerie atmosphere that pervades many of Scotland’s most historic sites. Whether that’s the product of our imagination, the power of suggestion, or something genuinely supernatural, I’ll leave you to decide.
If you’re interested in more spooky Scottish tales, why not check out my article on Scottish Mythical Beasts & Monsters?
Have you experienced anything paranormal at any of Scotland’s haunted locations? I’d love to hear your stories in the comments below.
All information was correct at the time of writing, please check things like entry costs and opening times before you arrive.
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Comments:
I'm very sceptical when it comes to 'spooky things' but just because I've never seen a ghost, doesn't mean they don't exist. I like to think I keep an open mind on things I don't fully understand though.