With centuries of history to drawn on, many of them turbulent and marked by battles and bloody attacks, Scotland has more than its fair share of spectres and spooky stories, but Edinburgh has to be ghost central when it comes to Scottish hauntings. Read on for the most frightful places to visit in and around the city.
Edinburgh Castle
Any castle with more than nine centuries of history is bound to have a phantom or two tucked away within its walls, and Edinburgh Castle does not disappoint. In fact, it is considered by many to be Scotland’s most haunted site. Surprise attacks, seizure by the English, and an execution or two are just some of the events that have left this military fortress with some unhappy spectral presences. As you might expect, the dungeons are considered the most haunted part of the castle, and you can enjoy (if that is the right word) a guided tour that will inform you about their most famous ghostly residents. One of the biggest paranormal investigations ever conducted took place in Edinburgh Castle in 2001, when nine researchers and more than 200 other people scoured the castle’s overlooked rooms and hidden passageways for evidence of ghostly possession. Image source: http://bundlr.com/b/going-the-extra-mile-in-edinburgh
Mary King’s Close
Mary King’s Close vies with Edinburgh Castle for the title of Scotland’s most haunted site. Named after the daughter of 17th-century advocate Alexander King, Mary King’s Close is an old close under buildings in the Old Town area, and an entire community of ghosts is said to wander its cobbled streets. As far back as the late 17th century, a few decades after the last outbreak of plague in the city, people were already claiming to have witnessed phantom presences in the Close. Some people report hearing scratching coming from within a chimney, where a child sweep is reputed to have died, whereas others hear sounds of revelry. An agitated-looking man reported pacing the Close is believed to be one of the Chesneys who operated a saw-making business here until 1892. Many visitors leave toys for the Close’s most famous ghost, little Annie.
The Ragged School, Edinburgh
Preacher Thomas Guthrie set up the Ragged School in Edinburgh in 1847 to house desperately poor children, with the aim of providing food, shelter, and education for those whose only former source of income was begging. A forbidding building beside Edinburgh Castle, the Ragged School has been investigated by such paranormal-focused groups as Ghost Hunters International, who claim to have recorded several paranormal incidents there. The building has been empty for years, but some visitors claim to have heard the sounds of children running and giggling.
Rosslyn Chapel.
If you’ve read or seen The Da Vinci Code, you’ll know you’ve heard of Rosslyn Chapel before. Built a few kilometres southeast of Edinburgh for the Sinclair family in the 15th century, this church is not the sole preserve of holy spirits. People claim to have seen spectral flames burning in the burial vault immediately prior to the demise of a Sinclair family member. Others report seeing and hearing the ghost of the apprentice who sculpted the renowned Apprentice Pillar and was then killed by his teacher.
Greyfriar’s Cemetery
Right in the heart of the old town, just a short walk down George IV Bridge from the Royal Mile, you’ll find Greyfriar’s Cemetery, home of the famously loyal dog Greyfriar’s Bobby, as well as a host of ghosts. These are alleged to be the spirits of some of the 1,200 Presbyterian Covenanters the aptly-named Sir George “Bloody” Mackenzie persecuted in the Covenanters’ Prison here after the Battle of Bothwell Bridge in 1679. Some were hanged, but still others perished from ill-treatment. Since that time, Greyfriar’s has become famous for hauntings and unexplained happenings, including sightings of the notorious Mackenzie poltergeist, which is said to be the ghost of Mackenzie himself.
Aoife O’Carroll is a staff writer for Nova Car Hire, a convenient website for arranging car rental in 26,000 locations worldwide, including car hire in Edinburgh.
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