A new study by Verdant Leisure has revealed Scotland’s most haunted places, known for their ancient castles, eerie ruins, and ghostly tales.
A study by Verdant Leisure names Lothian as Scotland’s most haunted region, highlighting the country’s castles, ruins, and ghostly legends.(Image: Real Mary King’s Close)
Scotland is famed for its ancient castles, eerie ruins, and paranormal legends, making it a prime destination for horror enthusiasts. With Halloween approaching, the country’s spookiest locations are coming into focus, as a new study by holiday park provider Verdant Leisure reveals.
Analysing over 6,000 datapoints, Verdant Leisure identified Scotland’s most haunted regions, with Lothian topping the list.
Mary, Queen of Scots famously fled Borthwick Castle in Midlothian in 1567, disguised as a boy, and legend holds that her spirit still roams the castle corridors. Visitors and staff have reported shadowy figures, sudden cold drafts, and the unsettling sensation of being watched.
After a day of ghost hunting, Thurston Manor Leisure Park in Dunbar offers family-friendly entertainment and access to other nearby castles. Spooky attractions in Lothian include Mary King’s Close, Yester Castle and the Goblin Ha’, and Edinburgh Castle.
Explore Edinburgh’s historic streets and uncover the dark past of the people who lived and died on the Close.(Image: Real Mary King’s Close)
Glasgow ranks second. The city’s Langside Queen’s Park is said to be haunted by soldiers who fell during the Battle of Langside. Witnesses describe apparitions, echoing footsteps, and sudden chills, particularly around the anniversary of the battle in May.
Visitors can explore the Glasgow Necropolis, Provan Hall, and guided tours such as Glasgow’s Ghouls, Ghosts and Gruesome Tales.
Fife comes third, with haunted venues such as Carnegie Hall, reportedly home to four spirits, and the Alhambra Theatre, where a mysterious woman in black has been spotted.
Fife attractions include the Galaween Ghostal Path, the Haunted Tower of St Andrews Cathedral, and Culross Palace.
Next to Glasgow Cathedral, the Necropolis is a vast Victorian cemetery filled with old tombs and eerie tales of the 50,000 buried there.(Image: Getty Images)
Aberdeenshire ranks fourth, featuring Dunnottar Castle, said to be haunted by a Woman in Green, and Ma Cameron’s pub, where beer taps have turned on by themselves and glasses have moved without explanation.
Visitors can also explore Haddo House and Peterhead Prison Museum.
The Highlands claim fifth place, with their misty glens, windswept moors, and ruins providing the perfect backdrop for tales of tragic castle dramas and historic witchcraft trials.
Glen Affric also featured in the 2002 film Dog Soldiers. Key sites include the Cursed Grave of Seath Mor Sgorfhiaclach, Culloden Battlefield, and Blackness Castle.
Perth and Kinross are sixth, with reports of brownies, urisks, and phantom dogs alongside haunted castles and forested glens. Attractions include Castle Menzies, History and Horror tours, and Folk Horror storytelling.
The Scottish Borders rank seventh, with haunted castles, battlefields, and misty valleys said to host spirits such as William of Soulis, Sir Alexander Ramsay, and Mary, Queen of Scots. Key sites are Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum, Traquair House, and Neidpath Castle.
South Lanarkshire is eighth, with Birkwood Castle in Lesmahagow haunted by spirits including a cigar-smoking man. Visitors can also explore East Kilbride Pumpkin Trail, Castlebank – Tunnel of Terror, and Ghost Hunts at New Lanark.
Dumfries and Galloway ranks ninth, noted for its connection to the 1973 film The Wicker Man. Local attractions include Castle Douglas Halloween Circus Carnival, Drumlanrig Castle, and the Mostly Ghostly tour.
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North Lanarkshire comes tenth, with Craignethan Castle haunted by Mary, Queen of Scots, and Cambusnethan House drawing ghost hunters to its derelict corridors.
Activities include Scotland’s SCREAM Park: Zombie Checkpoint, pumpkin picking at Craigend Nursery & Coffee Shop, and Dalzell Estate.
Verdant Leisure CEO Mike Wilmot said: “Autumn’s a wonderful time to get away. Quieter than summer, and you get to enjoy the coziness of the weather starting to change.
“And if you’re into the spooky side of things, our long and rich history of folklore in the UK offers up some amazing locations up and down the country to choose from.”
The most haunted region in Scotland:
Rank
Location
Overall spooky score
1
Lothian
497,640
2
Glasgow
278,066
3
Fife
227,658
4
Aberdeenshire
174,451
5
The Highlands
126,172
6
Perth and Kinross
44,242
7
Scottish Borders
43,153
8
South Lanarkshire
42,936
9
Dumfries and Galloway
42,299
10
North Lanarkshire
34,189