hauntedrooms.co.uk/edinburgh-castle
Author: 2023 Haunted Rooms
Known as the most haunted place in Scotland, Edinburgh Castle has had reports of ghosts and paranormal activity going back hundreds of years.
There have been thousands of claims by visitors and staff members, including apparitions, being touched and pulled, the feeling of being watched, shadowy figures, mists, green lights, sudden temperature drops, and people suddenly becoming over-run by emotions.
The most common experience is the sighting of apparitions. The sighting of an older man in a leather apron has been seen, as well as a little headless drummer boy and the Gray Lady (Janet Douglas, Lady of Glamis).
Other reports include a poltergeist in the castle dungeon and a regular sighting of ghost dogs in the castle's dog cemetery, the most notable being "Greyfriars Bobby".
1. The Little Drummer Boy
The legend of The Little Drummer Boy goes back to 1650 when his headless ghost was spotted playing an old Scottish war tune along the battlements. His spirit appeared when Oliver Cromwell's men were laying siege to the castle, therefore giving credence to the belief the boy appears when the castle is under attack.
Nobody knows who this apparition could be, but anyone living today hasn't witnessed this phenomenon as Edinburgh hasn't been under threat since the Jacobite in 1745.
2. The Piper Ghost
Several centuries ago, a secret network of tunnels was discovered underneath Royal Mile that went from the castle towards Holyrood Place. To find out where they lead, the brave souls of the time sent a young piper boy to search the tunnels for them.
He set about playing his bagpipes, and the people above followed the sound. The sound was clear for
a time until the bagpipes stopped abruptly near Tron Kirk on Royal Mile.
Several search parties were sent down to locate the boy, but the poor piper was nowhere to be found. Disturbed by the boys disappearance, the city council ordered that the tunnels be sealed, never to be reopened.
Since his disappearance, the little boy playing his bagpipes can be heard from underneath the Royal Mile. Visitors still report this phenomenon to this day.
3. The Gray Lady- Janet Douglas, Lady of Glamis
The story of Janet is a tragic one. Caught in the middle of a family feud, she would ultimately be executed by King James V of Scotland.
She was brother to Archibald Douglas, 6th Earl of Angus, who was the King's stepfather and very much hated by James, and with good reason, he imprisoned him as a young boy.
James held a grudge against Archibald and all the Douglas family, and in 1537 Janet was convicted of trying to poison James and witchcraft. However, such evidence was proving difficult to obtain, so James had her servants and friends tortured until they gave him the "evidence" he required.
Janet was subsequently convicted and burned at the stake outside Edinburg Castle on 17 July 1537, with her young son forced to watch.
Shortly after her gruesome death, people witnessed the Gray Lady walking throughout the castle, weeping.
Article Source: hauntedrooms.co.uk/edinburgh-castle
Author: 2023 Haunted Rooms
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