Edinburgh's Haunted Castle

Ghosts, Dungeons and Other Tourist Attractions

Edinburgh castle, situated on the site of an ancient volcano, is one of the most famous of all Edinburgh landmarks. Thousands of tourists visit every year. As well as the historic and cultural appeal of Edinburgh castle, it is also one of the most haunted places in Scotland.

Pipe & Drum

The Tunnel Piper

Edinburgh has a hidden underworld to which the castle is strongly connected - including a series of secret tunnels leading from Edinburgh castle down the Royal Mile. One of these is rumoured to lead to Holyrood.

When these tunnels were first discovered several hundred years ago, a piper was sent to explore. He kept playing so that his progress could be tracked by those above. About half way down the Royal Mile the piping suddenly stopped. When a rescue party was sent, there was no trace of the piper. He had simply vanished.

The piper's ghost still haunts Edinburgh today, walking endlessly along the underground tunnel beneath the Royal Mile. His music can sometimes be heard from within the castle.

The Ghost of the Headless Drummer

Many people have heard the sound of ghostly drums within Edinburgh castle, however few have seen the drummer. The reason for this is that the drummer ghost only appears when the castle is about to be attacked, something that hasn't happened for some time (unless you include the tourist invasion!).

Engraving of Scotland: Edinburgh, Part of the North Bridge and Castle
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The ghost drummer was first seen before Cromwell's attack on the castle in 1650 and is reported to take the form of a headless boy. Who the boy was and why he now haunts and protects Edinburgh castle is not known.

Ghost Dog

Edinburgh has many associations with dogs, including the famous "Greyfriars Bobby". In Edinburgh castle there is a dogs' cemetery. The cemetry is reportedly haunted by at least one phantom dog that has been heard and occasionally seen in the vicinity.

The Dungeons

Like all good castles, Edinburgh has its dungeons were prisoners were incarcerated, tortured and often perished. Like many castles these dungeons are haunted by the ghosts of their victims.

What makes the Edinburgh castle dungeons special is that the presence of ghosts - or at least the presence of something - has been proven scientifically. In 2001 a research project studied the reactions of people to various parts of the dungeons and surrounding areas. These visitors - who had no previous knowledge of the castle - "felt" something far more often in the areas with a reputation for being haunted than anywhere else.

Dr. Richard Wiseman who ran the project does not think this is evidence of ghosts. He believes it is evidence of some perceptual phenomena, possibly a result of lighting, that could be connected with many ghost sightings.

Whatever the cause it does mean that Edinburgh castle dungeon is one of the best places in Scotland for a wyrd experience.