Stirling Castle has a haunted history unrivalled throughout Scotland, says CALLUM CAMPBELL
Stirling Castle has a brutal and bloody history. Originating in 1110, the fortress has seen many wars, sieges and executions. Anywhere that there is violent death, there is sure to be some phantoms around and Stirling Castle is no exception with four separate spooky spirits.
Hauntings in Stirling Castle
The first of Stirling Castle’s ghosts is often referred to as the Highland Warrior, on account of his vibrant kilt. This apparition is said to be so convincing that many sightseers mistake him as a tour guide and approach him only to be shocked when he disappears in front of their eyes.
The wraith is often spotted walking through a doorway in the dungeons, the chilling part is that the doorway was bricked up years ago.
Our second spectre is the Pink Lady, a mysterious figure. She is commonly seen leaving the castle and heading towards the Church of the Holy Rude on Ladies Rock, where the wives of knights used to watch their husbands joust.
It is speculated that she was a survivor of Edward I’s siege on the castle in 1304. She is perpetually searching for her husband who was killed during the battle.
Other folk say that she was a woman called Mary Witherspoon and was killed by bodysnatchers. Now she roams the grounds, giving off an aroma of rose blossom.
Stirling Castle’s third spirit is unnamed, however, it is said that he was a guardsman in 1820.
He was patrolling the roof when he was killed by an unknown force.
When his comrades found him he had a look of horror and fear etched onto his face. Now footsteps are heard pacing up and down the roof when it is known no one is up there.
The Green Lady, Stirling Castle’s most morbid ghost
Our final spirit is likely the most morbid of the lot, the Green Lady.
There are two possible explanations for who she was in life, each tragic and sad.
First, it is speculated she was the daughter of one of the castle’s commanders and had a romance with one of the soldiers in her fathers command.
When her overbearing father found out about this he had a teensy weensy bit of an overreaction and shot the soldier. Heartbroken, she threw herself off the battlements.
Our other explanation is that she was one of Mary, Queen of Scots’s serving girls.
She had a premonition that if Mary were to sleep at Stirling Castle she would die.
Mary was kind to her serving girls and listened to her but did not want to offend the inhabitants of the castle by refusing their hospitality. In order to please both parties she allowed the girl to guard over her while she slept. As the night wore on the girl gradually felt herself at sleep’s edge and lit a candle in order to snap her out of it.
She allowed herself to close her eyes for just one second but when she opened them the candle had been knocked over and fire began to consume the room.
Thankfully soldiers outside were able to drag both women out of the burning room, however, the serving girl succumbed to her grievous wounds.
Now she haunts the castle and although we do not know for sure who she was it is said that if you look in her eyes you will meet your maker soon.
In conclusion, Stirling Castle sure has some spooky sights. From dead guards to heartbroken women, it is a vortex of horror and death.
Have you seen a ghost in Stirling Castle? Tell us about it in the comments section below!
CALLUM CAMPBELL is a determined writer who lives in Blantyre, Scotland, and enjoys reading, writing about the supernatural, weightlifting and cycling.
