Some Spooky Places to Visit this Halloween in the Scottish Borders and Beyond

Looking out of the window this morning at 6am it was pitch black, and as the light began to creep into the sky, the field was filled with an eerie mist, which got me thinking to the 31st October, and all things a little bit ghostly.  Are you looking for somewhere authentic and atmospheric to visit this Halloween? A place with a genuine spine-tingling haunted history to give you goosebumps? Or for somewhere inspiring to get you in the spooky spirit?

I've listed some of my top haunted places here, some based in the Scottish Borders, and some a short drive away.  Why not make a weekend of it, check out my website rulewater.co.uk to look for somewhere to stay while you explore them?
Why not also dress up in costume when you visit and get some truly memorable photographs?  I'd love to see some of them!  Etsy has a great range of authentic looking costumes to choose from, click here for more info.

Red Riding Hood Halloween Costume

1.  Jedburgh Castle Jail

A Jail Cell in Jedburgh Castle Jail by Jason Moyes, Filmmaker

Jedburgh Castle Jail is built on the foundations of the original Jethart Castle, which was destroyed in the 1400's by its own rulers to avoid it falling into the hands of the English.  Back in those days, places in the Scottish Borders were frequently being destroyed and rebuilt.  It would have been an awesome imposing castle, one of the first to be seen on crossing the Border, rising triumphantly high above the dense dark Forest of Jed.  It was a favourite place for the Kings of Scotland to reside, and it was here in 1286 that one particular King, Alexander III saw his harbinger of doom.  Or death.  During his wedding celebrations, of all times to see such things.  A skeleton or spectre appeared amidst the jollies, and only months later, on a particularly dark and stormy night, the King rode to his death over a cliff. No one will ever know if the spectre reappeared that evening before him?

Things were pretty tough when it became a prison.  People were executed up there, hung for their crimes.  The cells blocks are creepy places to walk through, the smell of damp sandstone walls permeates the air, and the sight of the mannequins in the cells makes you jump as you peer into the peep holes!

It is said that the ghosts who frequent Jedburgh Castle Jail include a lone piper on the battlements, strange lights, and getting touched by ghostly forces.

You can visit Jedburgh Castle Jail and Museum for free until 3rd November, check here for opening times and details.  With free entry, its not a budget breaker, and you get a lot to look at for free.  The jail buildings are enclosed making it a good place to visit if its a bleak rainy day, and has dressing up for children.  The jail does host occasional ghost nights too, I've taken part in them, where my friends reported feeling strange, feeling a ghostly presence and hearing spooky sounds.

2.  Fatlips Castle

Fatlips Castle, photographed by Andy Laing

While Fatlips does not feature highly as a place of hauntings, it does have a wooded walk to inspire you this Halloween.  There are murmours of a ghostly hound roaming the hill, and strange lights have reportedly been seen by a few sources.  Fatlips and its neighbouring Barnhills tower were home to the Border Reivers, and have a colourful history, for more info click here.  Fatlips inspires many people. To get you in the spirit before your walk, why not watch a black and white movie by filmmaker Jason Moyes about the Red Caps who are said to haunt the towers of the Borders, click here.  This one time, when I camped out there on my own with my Labrador, a bottle of wine and a brand new copy of the (then) newly released Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to read, as the light was dimming on the dying out camp fire, and strange echoing noises were beginning to echo down the empty staircase through the open doorway, my Labrador ran off barking into the night. She returned, thankfully, but that was the call to retreat to the tent for the evening! That night there were snuffles round the tent, the sound of paw steps pacing round, and we were relieved when the sun began to rise again and we were still in the right realm.

3.  Hermitage Castle

Hermitage Castle

Hermitage has a dark reputation, an ominous castle that dominates the Liddesdale landscape, linked with the Dark Lord De Soulis, who practised black magic and was feared by the local populace. Nearby is Nine Stane Rig is a set of Standing Stones nearby where William II De Soulis was encased in lead and burned in a cauldron by the locals.  This tale inspired me so much that it featured in my book Dancing in the Mists of Time, click here for more info.  If its been a particularly rainy few days, the walls in Hermitage Castle literally ooze with slimy damp droplets, giving it a really creepy interior! Just watch your footing on the uneven stone flooring.  It's history includes prisoners who starved to death within its walls.  It is said that you can hear children's voices on the wind, people have been pushed by unseen forces while within the walls, and faces have been photographed in windows where there are no floors left to stand.  Open till the end of October, Hermitage is looked after by Historic Scotland, click here for the opening times.  I have myself heard voices outside when standing inside the castle and there being no one there when I step out of the doorway.

4.  Tantallon Castle

Outside Tantallon Castle

Tantallon is another of my high-ranking haunted favourites, because it is an awe-inspiring structure standing on a dramatic drop off a cliff edge.  It's about an hour and a half from the Borders, but worth a visit, I'd tie it in with a visit to Dirleton Castle too if you're travelling up there for the day.
Be sure to take in the cavernous dungeon, which gives off an eerie atmosphere, I always feel like I'm being chased out of there!  Why not see if you can capture a ghostly image on your photographs. Tantallon is looked after by Historic Scotland, click here for opening times.

5.  Kirk yards

Greyfriar's Kirk Yard, Edinburgh

While the Borders has many little graveyards to explore and take inspiration from, the one I have most recently visited and for the first time too is Greyfriar's Kirk yard situated in Edinburgh, within walking distance of the Waverley Railway Station, so good to visit on a day out in Edinburgh, and entry is free. Many of the stones look in a dilapidated condition, covered in fallen branches and debris, which one the one hand is sad to see, it does have a Gothic atmosphere and is utterly filled with historical tales.   While we were there we saw three small group tours taking people round, but no ghostly spectres.

On my list of local places I haven't yet visited is Ancrum Old Church and Kirk yard, which features on Mark Nicol's video discovering the caves around Ancrum and Jedburgh, click here to watch his video. While those caves look pretty creepy, they're another place I've never ventured to.  I grew up with an old graveyard in my back garden, though the church was destroyed in the Rough Wooing in the 1500s, and there have been some strange sights there over the years.  One of the most creepy is that of the spectre of the shadow man, who thankfully hasn't been seen for a number of years, but has been seen by others all over the globe. The carvings on the headstones of this period are interesting and add to walks round these smaller graveyards.

Where are your favourite spooky places?  Do you have a creepy tale to share?  Please add your comments below!

Don't forget I would love to see your photos if you do decide to dress up and visit one of these places or the many others for Halloween!  Amazon have a great selection of costumes to suit any budget, I found this one for £14.99 Halloween Graveyard Bride Corpse Ladies Fancy Dress Black Lace Dress Cosplay Party Costume (XL)