10 Most Haunted Places In Scotland

  • By Sam Ashford
  • First Published: September 23, 2024
  • Last Updated: September 14, 2025

Haunted places in Scotland

Ah, Scotland. Known for castles, bagpipes, whiskey and… ghosts!

Yep, you read that right.

Real ghosts.

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This shouldn’t sound surprising though, seeing the country was established in the early 9th century.

From the restless spirit of the Green Lady in Banchory to the brutal massacre on Culloden Moor, many tormented spirits are lurking in the Scottish shadows.

Whether you’re a ghost-hunting enthusiast or a side-stepping sceptic, the locations mentioned in this guide sure do pack a creepy punch.

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So, without further ado, let’s skip to the best (haunted) part.

Scotland’s 10 Most Haunted Places

The most haunted locations in Scotland include:

1. Crathes Castle

  • Location: Banchory, west of Aberdeen

Ghost stories of the mysterious Green Lady of Crathes Castle have been around for as long as we can remember. Visitors have reported seeing a young woman rocking a baby in front of a fireplace in the 16th-century tower house. She’s believed to be the ghost of an unmarried servant girl who became pregnant out of wedlock and disappeared soon after having the child.

We suspect the young woman’s death may have been the result of either murder or suicide, likely stemming from the societal intolerance towards illegitimate pregnancies during that era.

2. Edinburgh Castle

  • Location: Edinburgh, southeast Scotland

Edinburgh, Auld Reekie’s capital, is home to one of the country’s most haunted castles. Perched atop Castle Rock, its walls are etched with decades-long pain and misery.

Former prisoners are said to roam the castle walls and a headless drummer can sometimes be seen. You can even still hear the sounds of distant drums across its 912-year-old grounds.

Additionally, over 300 perished souls, primarily women accused of witchcraft, were tragically executed by burning at the stake at Edinburgh Castle. We wonder if their souls haven’t crossed over to the other side…

3. Greyfriars Kirkyard

  • Location: Edinburgh, southeast Scotland

Another haunted location in Edinburgh is Greyfriars Kirkyard. Greyfriars is the graveyard surrounding Greyfriars Kirk church on Old Town’s southern side. It’s often referred to as “one of the scariest places on earth.”

Inside, you’ll come across the Black Mausoleum, where ‘Bluidy’ (bloody) Sir George Mackenzie is laid to rest. Mackenzie, a 16th-century lawyer notorious for condemning numerous Covenanters to death, is said to haunt the eerie grounds with his malevolent spirit.

Fun fact: Scottish author J.K. Rowling took inspiration from Mackenzie’s vicious poltergeist for Harry Potter villain Lord Voldemort.

4. Mary King’s Close

  • Location: Edinburgh, southeast Scotland

Auld Reekie is overflowing with spooky ghost stories, including one that belongs to the eerie tale of Mary King’s Close.

It’s not surprising that many ghosts wander Edinburgh’s underground city along the Royal Mile, as this is where victims of the Black Death plague were sealed up alive to meet their grim fate…

5. Inveraray Castle

  • Location: Argyll, west Scotland

This 281-year ancient castle is akin to paranormal activity and is one of the most haunted places in Scotland.

A few bloody legends include:

  • During the Scottish Civil War uprisings in 1644, a young Irish harpist hired by the Duke of Argyll met a tragic end. The Duke, forced to abandon the old Inveraray Castle stronghold, left the boy behind, where he was brutally murdered and dismembered by the Duke of Montrose’s men.
    The harpist’s bed was relocated to what is now known as Inverary Castle and faint harp melodies can still be heard through the castle walls.
  • The Grey Lady is the castle’s most famous apparition.
  • Inveraray Jail, down the road from Inveraray Castle, housed around 4,000 prisoners between 1820 and 1890. Common punishments for prisoners included being branded with hot irons or nailing their ears to a post. Ghost hunters have heard rattling keys, silent sobs and blood-curdling screams echo through its halls…

6. Culloden Moor Battlefield

  • Location: Inverness, northeast coast of Scotland

In 1746, Culloden Moor witnessed a brief yet gruesome battle that demolished Prince Charlie’s entire army in around 40 minutes.

A lone Jacobite soldier, decked in his clan tartan, is said to haunt the grim moorland – particularly around the battle’s anniversary. Cries, sword clashes and gunfire are also commonly heard.

7. Eilean Donan Castle

  • Location: Near Kyle of Lochalsh, west Scotland

Eilean Donan Castle, nestled at the meeting point of three lochs, boasts a romantic setting.

But don’t be fooled by appearances – it now boasts a few eerie visitors…

  1. A resident ghost from Spain, known to frequent what is now known as the gift shop. Witnesses have reported sightings of the Spanish soldier holding his head beneath his arm.
  2. Lady Mary is often seen in many of the castle’s bedrooms.

8. St Andrews Cathedral

  • Location: Fife, east Scotland

St Andrews Cathedral, Scotland’s largest Catholic cathedral, is a (ghostly) sight to behold! Eerie sightings include a friendly monk greeting guests at the steps of St Rule’s 33 m tower. If this isn’t creepy enough, the White Lady has been seen for over 200 years flitting around the ancient ruins and vanishing into thin air.

Legend has it that a coffin, with a perfectly preserved body of a woman wearing white gloves, was discovered in the haunted tower by stonemasons back in the day.

9. Skaill House

  • Location: Orkney Islands

Skaill House is notorious for odd occurrences. Sounds of Ubby’s distant footsteps late at night, the smell of cigarette smoke in the attic (when no one is there) and the banging of doors opening and slamming are just a few eerie events.

These strange occurrences could be attributed to the fact the house was built upon ancient burial grounds and the restless souls are tired of being six feet under…

10. Stirling Castle

  • Location: Stirling, central Scotland

Stirling Castle is a haunted castle with a turbulent history. Its grand walls have featured the likes of Scottish legends such as William Wallace, Bonnie Prince Charlie, Robert The Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots.

The Green Lady, the ghost of a chambermaid who saved Mary Queen of Scots from a raging fire, is said to haunt the colliders of this ancient castle.

Also, a Highland clansman apparition (possibly William Wallace) has often been mistaken as a tour guide by numerous visitors.

Don’t believe us? Opt for one of Stirling Castle’s ghost tours. If you dare…

FAQs

What happened at Cawdor Castle?

Cawdor Castle’s most famous ghost story is attributed to the Earl of Cawdor’s daughter plummeting to her death from one of the castle windows. It’s said the Earl became infuriated when he found out she was in a relationship with a man from a rival family.

Upon discovering them together in their secret hiding place, the Earl cornered her in one of the castle’s bedrooms where she tried to climb out the window but slipped and fell to her death.

Since then, numerous accounts of a mysterious lady dressed in a blue velvet dress have been seen in the castle’s drawing room.

Where are some of Scotland’s haunted castles?

Other haunted ancient castles in Scotland, not featured on our list, are located at:

  • Glamis Castle – Angus, east Scotland
  • Fyvie Castle – Fyvie, near Turriff in Aberdeenshire northeast Scotland
  • Dunrobin Castle – Sutherland, Scottish Highlands
  • Culzean Castle – Maybole, Carrick in South Ayrshire, west Scotland
  • Balmoral Castle – Aberdeenshire, west of Aberdeen

Are the South Bridge Vaults haunted?

Yes, Edinburgh’s South Bridge Vaults are rife with paranormal activity. Visitors have reported physical contact with ghosts, often leaving the vaults with scratch marks or bruises.

Final Thoughts

Auld Reekie’s rich history is shrouded with spooky tales of the unknown.

From creepy servant girls in Crathes Castle, malicious entities in Greyfriars Kirkyard and spooky stories of Edinburgh Castle to the Spanish rebellion near Kyle of Lochalsh – the ghost-honest truth is that these apparitions have caused quite a stir.

Whether you’re a believer or a sceptic, you cannot deny these wee spooky stories have piqued your interest. Get ready to explore the ancient walls of Scotland’s most haunted places (with ghost-hunting gear in hand) and lay these myths and legends to rest…

References

Sam Ashford
Sam Ashford - Author

Hey, I'm Sam Ashford! I'm a ghost-hunting expert, writer and founder of SpiritShack. My mission is to help people like yourself learn about spirituality and how to hunt ghosts!