In Edinburgh, there are loads of local spirits. Know the most famous ones? Catch them all!
Today on Sto Gran Tour, we’ve got a spine-chilling article: like something straight out of the creepiest episodes of a paranormal TV show, we’re taking a little trip around Edinburgh to get to know the ghosts of the famous castle and beyond! As you’ll discover, the city is absolutely packed with spirits, from the calmer ones to those that completely lose it if you so much as dare walk past them.
Get ready for a journey through the capital’s creepiest legends and tales that will make your hair stand on end.
Turn off the light, get under the blanket, and start reading!
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The ghostly musicians of Edinburgh Castle
The bagpiper 😨
Let’s start right away with a classic: the bagpiper.
Apparently, centuries ago, tunnels leading out from the castle’s underground chambers were discovered. But where did they go?
No one could figure it out. The only solution was to explore them in person. The problem, though, was that the tunnel passage was so narrow that adults couldn’t fit through, not even the skinniest ones.
Children could, though, so they chose one and basically told him, “Trust us, it’s nothing. Take this bagpipe and go into those tunnels while keeping on playing, so we can follow the sound and figure out where the passage leads. Come on, when you get back, we’ll buy you an ice cream.”
The boy sets off and starts playing, but at a certain point, the music suddenly stops.
What happened?
No one knows: the boy vanished into thin air, like your house keys right when you’re about to leave and can’t remember where you put them. They tried again and again to find him, but nothing. In the end, they decided to seal the tunnel entrance forever.
Ever since then, some people swear they can hear the sound of bagpipes drifting from the castle’s underground chambers, especially on the darkest nights.
The headless drummer 😱
Now let’s move on to another ghostly musician: the headless drummer.
This young drummer first appeared in 1650, on the eve of an attack on the castle by Oliver Cromwell, a perfectly respectable gentleman who simply wanted to enter the fortress and slaughter the Scottish troops for fear they might support his political rivals.
In short, typical English behavior.
Anyway, it seems that during the siege, a headless drummer appeared, marching while beating his drum. Since then, people have said that his appearance is an omen of misfortune, both for the castle and for anyone who sees him.
Don’t worry, though: luckily, sightings of the drummer are quite rare.
Ghosts all over the city
The great thing about Edinburgh is that it’s not only the castle that’s haunted. There are loads of other places where terrifying spirits are said to roam!
The annoying Mr. Boots and the kindly shoemaker 💀
The underground vaults of South Bridge, for example, are among the most haunted and fascinating places in Scotland. Built at the end of the 18th century as part of South Bridge, one of the many bridges designed to connect the Old Town with other parts of the expanding city, these spaces were originally used as warehouses by local merchants. But the lack of ventilation and growing dampness soon made them unsuitable for storing goods.
Over time, legal businesses abandoned the vaults, making way for homeless people and criminal gangs, and things stayed that way until the vaults were closed and forgotten, only to be rediscovered in the 1980s.
There are many unsettling ghost stories linked to this underground area of Edinburgh.
One of the most famous spirits is Mr. Boots, an entity described as especially malevolent. It’s said that Mr. Boots likes to yank at visitors and make his presence known through heavy, threatening footsteps. Some visitors have even reported being pushed or scratched during tours of the underground vaults.
To be fair, Mr. Boots doesn’t sound all that terrifying. Annoying, yes, but not much more than that.
Another well-known presence is a kindly shoemaker, often seen absorbed in his work. Unlike Mr. Boots, this ghost seems harmless, and many visitors describe him as a calm, almost comforting presence.
There’s also the story of a child ghost named Jack, who is associated with the sound of a bouncing ball. One of those classic horror-movie things that would absolutely terrify you if it happened in real life. Still, people say his presence feels positive, and many visitors have reported hearing the ball while exploring the vaults.
Greyfriars Kirkyard and the angriest spirit ever 👿
Greyfriars Kirkyard is known for being home to the ghost of George MacKenzie, nicknamed “The Mackenzie Poltergeist.”
George MacKenzie, known as “Bluidy MacKenzie,” was a lawyer who persecuted the Covenanters, a group of Scottish Presbyterians, with such ferocity that his reputation became legendary.
After his death, he was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard, but it seems not even the grave could contain his thirst for revenge. It is said that his spirit, as restless and violent as in life, attacks visitors who dare get too close to his tomb. Many tourists have reported scratches, bruises, and even feelings of suffocation after visiting it.
In fact, reports of sightings and paranormal attacks became so frequent that MacKenzie’s tomb was closed to the public!
Scary, right?
Besides the infamous MacKenzie, Greyfriars is also home to other restless spirits. Among them, the most famous is little Bobby, a dog who watched over his owner’s grave for 14 years. His statue, located at the entrance to the cemetery, is one of Edinburgh’s most beloved attractions. Though Bobby’s story is definitely more touching than frightening.
Mary King’s Close and the psychic who felt cold 👻
Mary King’s Close is one of Edinburgh’s most famous and haunted underground alleys, and it takes its name from Mary King, a wealthy 17th-century woman who lived there. During the plague outbreak of 1645, many of the families living here were walled up alive in their homes to prevent the disease from spreading. Since then, it is said that their ghosts still wander the underground streets.
One of the best-known stories linked to Mary King’s Close is that of Annie’s ghost, a little girl who died of plague during those years.
Her spirit’s presence was first felt in 1992, when a Japanese psychic visited the alley, felt cold, and sensed the sadness of a little girl searching for her lost toy. The woman left a doll for Annie and, ever since then, visitors from all over the world have brought toys and sweets to soothe her spirit.
Besides Annie, there are other unsettling presences at Mary King’s Close.
Some visitors have reported seeing ghostly figures dressed in period clothing, while others have heard whispering voices and strange noises coming from the empty rooms. Another legend tells of an elderly man who died of plague and whose spirit still haunts the alley, seeking revenge for having been abandoned and walled up alive.
So yes, plenty of ghosts here too.
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In conclusion
That wraps up our fear-filled tour of Edinburgh, a place rich in legends and ghost stories that capture the imagination of anyone who sets foot there.
There’s something for everyone: bagpipers, headless youngsters, angry lawyers, and friendly shoemakers. Every corner of this city has a ghost—you just need to know where to look, and now you do.
If you want to meet them in person and enjoy an unforgettable experience not only in the Scottish capital but across the whole land of kilts, we’ve got an amazing option for you: we’ve organized an 8-day tour of Scotland during which we’ll see the wildest things the country has to offer, including Edinburgh Castle with all its ghosts!
Shall we count you in for the next departure?
Awesome, see you soon!
