Built in the 14th century and the ancestral home to the Lords of Glamis, and the current home to the Earl and Countess of Strathmore and Kinghorne, Glamis Castle of Angus, Scotland, has a long tradition of ghostly tales and other weirdness. Common stories include visions of the Grey Lady, who supposedly haunts the castle's chapel, and the White Lady, thought to be the spirit of Janet Douglas, a woman who was a widow of the Sixth Lord of Glamis and who was burnt at the stake on charges of witchcraft and conspiracy to poison King James the Fifth.
Then there is the odd, historical tale of the Monster of Glamis, who was a real, historical person. This poor figure was Thomas Bowes-Lyon, who would have been the next Lord of Glamis, but according to records he died the day he was born on October 21, 1821. A village rumor soon spread that Thomas was still alive though deformed and was raised and eventually died in a secret chamber within the castle. To this day, rumors abound that only members of the nobility know the real truth behind this tale.
And lastly, there is the legend of one Earl Beardie, who was a guest in Glamis Castle hundreds of years ago. As the tale goes, it was a Sabbath night when the Earl was looking to play cards but could find no one who would play with him. Supposedly the Earl swore that he would play cards with the devil himself if the devil would only appear and play the game. The story continues that a mysterious, cloaked figure soon appeared at the castle in the middle of the night and this person agreed to play cards with the Earl. Supposedly the Earl lost his soul to the devil in a bet during the game. And to this day, the Earl's ghost is said to haunt the castle, screaming and yelling. Sometimes the sounds of dice rolling are said to be heard.
The first parts of this castle in Banffshire, Scotland, were built in 1546, though many additions have been made to it throughout the centuries. Probably the best-known ghost tale of this castle is that of the Green Lady, who is said to haunt the dining room.
Ballindalloch Castle is also known for several more sightings of female ghosts, though there are no strong records of who these could have been, though one is suspected to have been a rejected lover who still pines away for her beau.
Also, the ghost of a certain General James Grant is said to occasionally appear riding a white horse on the grounds around the castle. The general is supposedly buried nearby and there is some speculation his spirit lives on to watch over the castle.
Dunstaffnage Castle is one of Scotland's oldest stone castle, having been originally built in the 13th century five miles north of Oban, Scotland. This castle is in a remote location along the coast and is surrounded by water on three of its sides.
Only one ghost is usually named with this castle, a ghost called the Ell-maid of Dunstaffnage. Who she was, no one knows, but her appearance is rumored to herald major events in the lives of the castle's owners.
Portions of the castle are nearly 800 years old, and it is still lived-in to this day.
This castle has a unique ghost who has been called the Piper of Duntrune. According to old tales, a piper was sent by the MacDonald clan to spy upon the Campbell clan, who then were keepers of Duntrune Castle. The piper was discovered as a spy and then imprisoned within a tower of the castle. The MacDonald clan decided to attack the castle, but the piper realized the MacDonald's were outnumbered. He then tried to alert the approaching MacDonalds by playing a warning song on his pipes. The MacDonalds, fortunately for them, heard the pipes and backed off. The piper's fate was not so fortunate. The Campbells too had heard the music playing; they pulled the piper from the tower and cut off his hands (or fingers, according to some versions of the tale). The piper is said to still haunt the tower, with pipe music sometimes being heard there. Also, poltergeist-type activity has been reported in some parts of the castle. Interestingly enough, at one point during renovations of Duntrune Castle, a hand-less skeleton was discovered. The poor soul was then laid to rest nearby.
Another ghost called the Green Lady is said to haunt Muchalls Castle in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. Apparently there is a tunnel beneath the castle and this tunnel runs to the near sea. Years ago, a young lady ventured into the tunnel to meet your lover out by the waters, but she drowned when the tide came in and filled the tunnel. She is said to haunt, and sometimes even appear, in one of the rooms of the castle.
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