Credit VisitScotland/Mark Ferguson. The fabled Green Lady, who is said to haunt Stirling Castle, features on the new Scotland’s Ghost Trail from VisitScotland.
Scotland’s bloody past has left its mark on the country in the form of a new Ghost Trail created by VisitScotland.
From ghostly graveyards to creepy castles there are plenty of places spirits may lurk in the shadows and visitors now have a handy map to get ghost hunting.
With Halloween around the corner, myth, legend, landscape and history have combined to create this route, taking in landmarks and lesser-known spots – including Crathes Castle near Banchory - throughout the country.
Scotland is arguably the home of Halloween – or Samhain as it was originally known. The celebration of all things spooky originates from the ancient Celts' celebrations and is based on their Feast of Samhain. The eve became known as All Saints' Eve, All Hallows' Eve, or Hallowe'en.
Scotland’s Ghost Trail features a collection of places believed to be haunted by soldiers, sailors, pipers, dogs and even trains so visitors can enjoy some fright-seeing on their next trip to Scotland.
The macabre map will be available to download at www.visitscotland.com/ghosttrail and launches in time for the fearsome festivities.
Malcolm Roughead, VisitScotland chief executive, said: "Scotland is the place to be at Halloween with our atmospheric landscape, creepy castles, haunted historic houses, superstitions and bloody history. This time of year brings a huge tourism potential.
“But ghosts are not just for Halloween – spirits are said to haunt these locations year-round so it is important for us to extend these festivities from one night only and capitalise on the public’s fascination with things that go bump in the night.”
Director of customer & cause at the National Trust for Scotland, Mark Bishop said: “Scotland’s history and heritage provides plenty of stories that make the hairs on the back of your neck stand up and we know that visitors love hearing about the darker side. Our Halloween events, like the Stoats Creepy Crawl, are inspired by the stories of the places we protect and are all the more powerful for that.”
Explore castles, battlefields, graveyards and more and stay on the lookout for any unexplained goings on. Scottish spectres include: The Green Lady of Crathes Castle, Aberdeenshire.
Step inside the Green Lady’s room at Crathes Castle and feel the chill run down your spine. Said to be the ghost of a servant who fell pregnant out of wedlock, the Green Lady has been seen pacing back and forth from the fireplace, sometimes cradling an infant in her arms. A grisly discovery in the 1800s adds a sinister twist – the remains of a woman and child were uncovered beneath the hearthstone of the very same fireplace.
Click here to learn more about Scotland’s Ghost Trail.