Scotland is famous for its castles. There were once over 3,000 scattered throughout the country, and many have creepy stories and mysterious tales to tell. We’ve studied hundreds of gruesome tales to bring you our top 9 haunted castles in Scotland for you to investigate.
So draw the curtains and dim the lights, let’s go in search of creepy haunted castles!
Fyvie Castle Ghost
Edinburgh Castle Piper
One of Scotland’s most important historical monuments, Edinburgh Castle is on the to-do list for most visitors to Scotland’s Capital City.
Eilean Donan Castle
Could this be the most attractive castle in the World? It certainly has a fantastic location, sitting on a little island where three sea lochs come together. The castle was blown up by a Royal Navy warship during the 1719 Jacobite Uprising, which involved both Scottish and Spanish fighters.
The castle has paranormal activity with a Spanish soldier, who was killed during the attack in 1719, haunting. He is kept company by an apparition called “Lady Mary”, who makes occasional visits to one of the castle’s bedrooms.
Craigievar Castle Ghost Stories
This elegant castle is the very essence of a baronial home. Complete with turrets, towers and cupolas and surrounded by beautiful grounds, it is said to be the inspiration for Walt Disney’s Cinderella Castle.
The extensive grounds are home to Pine Martens, one of Scotland's most reclusive animals and Red Squirrels.
Although it enjoys a peaceful existence today, it has had a turbulent history and was the subject of ancient clan feuds. Within the pink walls of Craigievar lives the ghost of a fiddler who fell into the castle well many years ago and was drowned.
Several guests of the castle claim to have been awoken to the sounds of a violin being played. Despite extensive searches by castle staff over the years, the fiddler has never been found.
Haunted Stirling Castle
This mighty fortress stands on a volcanic core and looks out over the City of Stirling. Although it was built to protect the River Forth from invading armies, it was also the favourite home of the Stuart Kings and Queens.
In the heart of the castle lies the Royal apartments, Chapel Royal and the Great Hall, where magnificent celebrations were held.
As you walk around Stirling Castle, you might come across a ghostly Highlander, dressed in the full regalia and wearing a kilt. Many visitors mistake him for a tourist guide, but when they approach him for directions, he just turns away and vanishes before them.
Dunrobin Castle Ghost
The largest house in the Northern Highlands boasts no less than 189 rooms. The apartments on the upper floors are haunted by Margaret, who was the daughter of the castle’s owner, the 14th Earl of Sutherland.
Margret had fallen in love with Jamie, a groom in the castle stables. Her father disapproved of the relationship, and while he sought someone more suitable, the Earl had her imprisoned the castle attic.
The lovers planned to elope, and a maid agreed to bring Margaret a rope so she could escape from her makeshift prison.
With Jamie waiting below on his horse, Margaret climbed out of the window. As she was about to start her descent, her father entered the room. Margaret realised then that she and Jamie could never be together and let go of the rope.
The ghost of Margaret haunts Dunrobin Castle to this day, crying out in pain for her lost love.
Dunottar Castle
You will never forget your first glimpse of Dunottar Castle. This dramatic cliff-top fortress has had a turbulent 1,300-year history and even in its current ruined state remains impressive and imposing.
In 1698, 180 people were imprisoned at Dunottar for refusing to recognise the legitimacy of the King. They were detained in a windowless cellar with little food and water for nearly two months.
Ackergill Tower haunted
In the very north of Scotland, overlooking Sinclair’s Bay, sits Ackergill Tower. When Ackergill was a deluxe hotel, it was one of the favourite haunted castles in Scotland to stay in. It’s now a private residence.
The story involves a local girl, Helen Gunn, who was known as the “Beauty of Braemore”. She had come to the attention of a clansman of a rival clan called Dugald Keith.
He was so besotted with her that he kidnapped her and imprisoned her at Acklergill. To escape his unwelcome attention, she climbed to the top of the highest tower and jumped, killing herself.
Ever since, her ghost has been a permanent resident at Ackergill. She is often seen wearing a long red gown and with flowing black hair, moving from room to room.
The tragic story of Helen’s death was only one chapter in a 500-year-old feud between the Gunn and Keith Clans, which came to an end in 1978 when the two Clan Chiefs met to sign a Treaty of Friendship.
Brodick Castle
As the ferry sails into Brodick Bay, one of the first sights you will see of the Isle of Arran is Brodick Castle sitting in the shadow of Goat Fell, the island’s highest peak. Built as the seat of the Dukes of Hamilton in 1844, the site dates back to Viking times.
There have been reports of all sorts of spooky activity here. The oldest part of the castle is said to be haunted by a grey lady. The story goes that when a local woman was diagnosed with “the plague”, she was incarcerated in the castle dungeon, and as no one was brave enough to feed her, she starved to death.
Arran is famed for its wild deer population, and legend has it that when the Clan Chief is close to death, a white deer will make an appearance in the grounds of the castle. Thankfully for the head of the Clan Douglas, this is a relatively rare occurrence.
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Photo credits: Abhishek Banik, Nick From, Wee Fee and Deehar (Pixaby)