Scotland's most haunted castle

The castle is often described as one of the most haunted in Scotland. Dunnottar, magnificently perched on a cliff, is an extensive ruin of the stronghold of the Keith Earls Marischal. Dunnottar has played a prominent role in the history of Scotland from the time of the Picts through the 18th-century Jacobite risings because of its strategic . Many ghostly claims have been made at the site.

The apparition of a girl dressed in a dull green tartan dress, nicknamed the Green Lady, is said to have been witnessed in the brewery. Theories abound as to who she is but no one really knows. Also, the specter of a young deer hound has been seen on the grounds, perhaps a favorite hunting dog of one the the castle’s long dead occupants.

A tall Scandinavian-looking man has been reported going into the guardroom at the main entrance and  upon investigation, the man always vanishes. The castle was indeed besieged by Vikings in the the 9th century at which time King Donald II was killed defending Dunnottar.  Sometimes, a ghostly soldier can be seen watching over the sea. Perhaps he is still looking out for Vikings or some of the other nefarious attackers of the past.

Strange noises of an apparently clandestine meeting come from the Benholm’s Lodging area at the castle when no living person is present. In addition, disturbing sounds of ghostly crying and screams of agony come from the castle ruins at night. 

The surviving buildings are largely of the 15th and 16th centuries, but the site is believed to have been fortified in the Early Middle Ages. Dunnottar Castle is located near Stonehaven, Aberdeenshire, Scotland.