Halloween Haunts
Pictured above: The Paisley Halloween Festival
Scotland is a land of fascinating and rich history. With that history naturally comes dark tales of ghosts and ghouls. Venture anywhere in the country and visitors are more than likely to find a creepy story to chill the spine.
Stories
Edinburgh
Probably one of the most haunted cities in the world, Scotland’s capital has more than its fair share of phantoms. The city’s Old Town is said to be frequented by a multitude of spirits, from ‘Annie’ of Mary King’s Close (now a visitor attraction offering daily tours), or the ‘Mackenzie Poltergeist’ of Greyfriar’s Kirkyard. Mercat Tours offers daily tours to various spots in the Old Town, covering history and spooky tales. In addition, Edinburgh Castle is said to be home to many ghosts. It has been said a lone bagpiper disappeared in an underground tunnel under the castle many moons ago. Rumour has it his bagpipes can still be heard coming from the underground on a dark and rainy night…
Dumfries and Galloway
One of Scotland’s border regions, Dumfries and Galloway has plenty to entice a chill-seeker all year round. From ‘haunted’ castles such as Closeburn Castle and Auchen Castle, to the rumoured ghosts of the Theatre Royal, Dumfries. Local storytellers Mostly Ghostly are on hand to guide visitors through the region’s history and spooky tales. The Mostly Ghostly team has celebrated more than ten years in the business and have been shortlisted in the Scottish Thistle Awards many times for their ever-popular tours. One event in their calendar for this year’s Halloween celebrations is their Gretna Green tour on 17 October 2025 at 9pm. For more information, see the website.
Glasgow
Known as a modern metropolis, the city is also home to a Necropolis, or Victorian garden cemetery full of wonderful architecture, sculpture and fascinating stories. About 50,000 people are buried there, but not all have a tombstone (which was quite common a couple of hundred years ago). The cemetery is said to be haunted by a lady in white. There is also the story of the Gorbals Vampire. So it goes, back in 1954, a local police constable discovered 200 young children wandering the cemetery grounds. They were all armed with stakes, knives and some even brought dogs. According to the children, two boys had been brutally murdered by the “vampire with the iron teeth”.
There are organised tours of the Necropolis. Alternatively, find out more about the city’s darker past with tours from Gothic Glasgow.
Shetland
With a rich history of folklore, hauntings and tales of witchcraft and magic, Shetland has its own share of ghoulish yarns. Windhouse, pronounced ‘windhoose’, is reportedly the most haunted house in Shetland if not the entire country. It is said that the ruins on the hillside in Mid Yell now were originally built in 1707 right on top of an ancient burial ground. Abandoned since the 1920s the inhabitants now include the Lady in silk, a man in a top hat, the spectre of a dog and the ghost of a servant girl.
Events and tours
Tour: Stirling Ghostwalk, 830pm, Fridays to Saturdays from September through to June (Tuesdays to Saturdays in July & August) Price: £8 (adult), £6 (child/ concession). The Stirling Ghostwalk has been a popular tourist attraction in the Royal Burgh’s Old Town area for 25 years, offering a distinctive mix of comedy, drama and storytelling to thousands of visitors to Stirling.
Tour: History and Horror Tours, Perthshire; various tours available throughout the year. See website for further details.
Dunkeld is a picturesque town in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, known for its rich history and stunning scenery. It also holds a reputation for being haunted, with numerous reports of supernatural encounters and paranormal activity. The town’s ancient streets, historic buildings, and scenic surroundings create an eerie atmosphere perfect for ghost stories and tales. From the unnatural apparitions at the cathedral to the creepy halls of historic buildings, Dunkeld is a town steeped in ghostly lore.
Paisley Halloween Festival, Friday, 24 – Saturday, 25 October 2025 Price: Free to attend (additional cost for Grandstand seating, available to buy soon). The centre point of the celebration will be a town centre-wide parade at 7pm each evening, featuring professional artists, costumed and choreographed community groups, large puppets, sound and light. The festival will also offer family friendly entertainment, a live stage, street performances, lighting and projection displays and street food traders.
Halloween Fun Day, Traquair House, Sunday, 26 October 2025 Price: TBC, tickets available soon from website. An afternoon of spooky fun at Traquair House in the Scottish Borders with magic shows, tarot card reading, Halloween games, as well as Halloween-themed lunches in the Old Walled Garden Café.
Legends of the Castle, Blair Castle and Gardens, Thursday, 30 October 2025 (30-minute tours from 5.30pm; last time slot 7pm) Price: £8 (child), £5 (adult) Suitable for families, story fans can come along and discover Blair Castle after dark, through spooky tales told by characters from the past. There will be a firepit and marshmallow toasting, pizza and drinks in the restaurant and fancy dress is encouraged.
Fever Presents: Candlelight, The Merchants House of Glasgow, Various dates until December Prices: From £24.50 per person. Candlelight concerts bring the magic of a live, multi-sensory musical experience to awe-inspiring locations like never seen before in Glasgow. Get tickets now to discover the music at Merchants House of Glasgow under the gentle glow of candlelight. Music featured in the series across different dates including film composer Hans Zimmer, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Queen vs. Abba, and also The Best of Joe Hisaishi.
Check out the many myths, legends and chilling tales when exploring Scotland’s Castle Trail. And check out Scotland’s Witch Trail when planning a visit.