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SCOTLAND'S CASTLES
France is well known for all the great castles of Loire but Scotland compete well. Actually, there are 200 castles all over Scotland, although many of them do not exist anymore. Every castle has its own part in the Scottishs history. They even have their folklore with some ghost stories. Apparently, Scotland is a country with many reports about paranormal events. Indeed, every castle has its own French White Lady or Hogwart's Nearly Headless Nick. Maybe by visiting one of those you will meet a haunted spirit ?
EDINBURGH CASTLE
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Built in the Iron Age on a hill to be military fortress, which switched to be a royal residence and a prison of war. Many prisoners have been tortured and killed there. Therefore, it is said that a bunch of ghosts still wander in the place like a headless drummer, French and colonial prisoners and even a dog.
CAWDOR CASTLE
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Built in the late 14th Century, this castle is still the Cawdor's family residence. It is also the place of the famous Shakespeare play: MacBeth. Furthermore, there is the story of Muriel Wawdor, who was ,as a baby, kidnapped by the clan Campbell for her inheritance, and later became the wife of a Campbell. Two legends of her haunting the castle persist : In one, Muriel dressed in blue velvet, is wandering around alone, and in the other one (still dressed in blue velvet) she is with her husband, looking at the portrait of the first Baron Cawdor.
STIRLING CASTLE
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Nowadays, on of the must-see visitor attractions, before both a royal palace and a military stronghold. It carries a huge part of Scottish history by having often been the center of the government when Scotland was a kingdom .
Visitors keep saying that some have mistaken a ghost in a traditional costume and a kilt for a guide. Apparently he vanished when they approached him.
BORTHWICK CASTLE
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Sir William de Borthwick built this fortress in 1430 and today this castle is still one of the best preserved keeps in Scotland. Scene of dramatic events, it sits strategically at the center of a small valley guarding the south of Edinburgh's border. This place is also said to be haunted. At one point, th owner organized an exorcism. Apparently, ghosts of a servant - killed for carrying an illegitimate Borthwick son - and a chancellor fired for stealing Borthwick's family money are still wandering in the castle.
