Raehills House

Raehills
St Anns
Lockerbie
DG11 1HL
Scotland

History

One of the most atmospheric buildings in Southern Scotland, this historic home of the earls of Annandale was built in the late 1700s as a large red sandstone Italianate mansion with terrace and balustrade sitting magnificently overlooking a large pond.

Paranormal Activity

A Green Lady is said to stalk the upstairs corridors of this old mansion as well as the spirits of two women, 3 men and even a mischievous child. Even the spirit of a much older male ghost is said to haunt the great house with a darker and more sinister attitude. Tapping sounds have often been heard as well as other strange knocks and bumps. Cold spots, strong smells of pipe smoke and lavender in various rooms and light anomalies have also been recorded.

Mary King’s Close

2 Warriston Close
Writers Court
Edinburgh
EH1 1PG
Scotland

History

The close was named after a Mary King who actually lived at the top of one of the narrow closes that ran off the Royal Mile after her death in 1644. The 500 or so citizens living and working inside Mary King’s Close had to face a great hardship in 1645 as the outbreak of the plague killed off roughly half of the residents living there, with the other half quarantined into their homes, left to die off as well. The decision was made to preserve the Close in 1853 when the City Chambers was constructed over the site and the Close still remains today as a strange, underground time capsule of original small town houses, streets and rooms.

Paranormal Activity

Is has long been thought that the Close is haunted and it has become one of the most famous paranormal locations in Scotland today. Steep in history, horror and legends the Real Mary King’s Close has reported very recent activity since its opening in 2003. Perhaps one of the most famous ghost stories is that of a little girl called Annie who has often been seen by visitors and staff over the centuries. It is believed that she was unfortunate enough to have been walking down the streets when the Close was shut off from the rest of Edinburgh and she in fact didn’t even live there. It is said she haunts the area as a lonely ghost and it has become tradition almost for visitors to leave dolls, toys and sweets as a way for her to feel happier.

Other reported activity has included the sound of footsteps being heard down empty streets and the figure of a Black Lady has been seen by quite a few staff members to the extent now that when work needs to be done in the streets they go in twos!

Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh

History

Perhaps the most haunted place in Scotland the castle is connected to the Royal Mile by a network of underground tunnels. (See Edinburgh Vaults)

Many years ago a piper was sent to explore the tunnels and was told to keep playing so his progress could be tracked. However halfway down the Royal Mile the music suddenly stopped and the piper was never found.

Paranormal Activity

It is said the piper still walks the Royal Mile and sometimes the faint sound of music can often be heard from within the castle.