Castle joins `spook’ list
Stirling Castle has been included on a new and macabre map of the most ghostly places in Scotland.
The map details Scotland’s `ghost trail’and has been compiled, in time for Hallowe’en, by Visit Scotland.
It tells of Stirling Castle’s most famous ghostly resident, the Green Lady, who is thought to have been a serving girl to Mary Queen of Scots.
According to the spooky story, the girl was watching over her mistress one night when a fire caught hold in the Queen’s room.
She managed to save her Queen but lost her own life to the flames. Her ghost is said to have haunted the castle ever since.
Other ghosts mentioned include the Phantom Harpist of Inveraray Castle, Argyll; Ghosts of Clan Macdonald, Glen Coe; Dead Sailors of Sandwood Bay, Sutherland, and Ghost Dog of Rosslyn, Midlothian.
VisitScotland chief executive Malcolm Roughead said:“Scotland is the place to be at Hallowe’en with our atmospheric landscape, creepy castles, haunted historic houses, superstitions and bloody history. This time of year brings a huge tourism potential.”
He explained Scotland was the home of Hallowe’en – 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.
The ghosts map will be available to download at www.visitscotland.com/ ghosttrail and launches in time for the festivities. Picture by Charles McGuigan