The Courier & Advertiser (Fife Edition)

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If you’re in search of a fright night to remember this Halloween, Angus has an abundance of ghoulish goings-on, haunted houses and mysterious apparition­s to choose from.

Glamis Castle is renowned as being one the most haunted landmarks in Scotland.

A mischievou­s servant boy tripping up guests, a gambler playing cards for all eternity, a tongue-less woman and a Grey Lady are all rumoured to among the long-term residents of the venue, which will be holding Haunted Tours on October 29-30.

There are several accounts of a ghostly pilot being seen at the original First World War barracks at Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre, while Edzell Castle is said to be haunted by the wife of a 15th Century earl, David Ogilvy. Apparently, Lady Ogilvy was mistakenly buried alive but somehow escaped her early grave, only to perish at the gate of the castle while waiting for someone to answer her calls for help – and she’s still waiting…

Half way between Arbroath and Auchmithie, in the aptly-named Forbidden Cave, where a ghostly piper can sometimes be heard playing his last song. The story goes that the piper sought shelter on his way back from playing at a wedding – never to be seen again. Unless of course, you’re brave enough to enter the Forbidden Cave.

On the roads around Brechin, where Halloween in the City will take place on October 29, ghost hunters should look out a black coach drawn by black horses.

According to local legend, a former laird of Kinnaird Castle was condemned to ride in this coach for all eternity as a punishment for his evil ways and dastardly deeds.

Surprising­ly, there are no reports of witches haunting Forfar, the Angus town where, in the 17th Century, a terrible witch hunt resulted in the torture and execution of several local women.

“It’s quite strange that there are no ghost stories linked to the Forfar Witches,” says Fiona Scharlau, senior archivist at the Angus of for Archives and host of ANGUSalive’s highlypopu­lar Witches Walks through the streets Forfar.

“The witches were executed in the Victoria Street area, near to where the old windmill was situated.

“During my time at Angus Archives, I’ve been told many local ghost stories, including quite a few about Restenneth Priory, which lies behind the modern Angus Archives building on the outskirts of Forfar.

“I’ve never seen anything untoward there but I’ve noticed that when I go to the priory of on my own, even on a warm and sunny day, it’s cold and unwelcomin­g, while if I’m with a group, the atmosphere is completely different.”

Fiona says Angus spine-chilling tales.

“Many of these ghost stories have been passed from generation to generation of local families, ensuring they continue to add to the rich heritage of the fascinatin­g – if sometimes slightly spooky – county of Angus,” she adds.

For more informatio­n about activities in Angus, visit www.visitangus.com is home to a host of

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