If you’re looking to book a haunted hotel in Edinburgh then you’re in for a treat. Read on below to see what haunted hotels in Edinburgh we, at Haunted Rooms recommend to give you a truly ghostly experience.
Here are the four most haunted hotels in Edinburgh.
Borthwick Castle was built almost 600 years ago and has a gruesome history with some interesting resident ghosts. It has 12 large bed chambers and three grand reception rooms, so it is popular for weddings.
With so much history, it is hard to avoid a supernatural connection. There have been several famous guests, including Mary Queen of Scots. She sought sanctuary there in 1567, and although she and her husband were found out, they escaped through a window with her dressed as a page boy. Many people believe she comes back to visit and has been seen walking through the halls. A boyish spectre who walks between the churchyard and castle is believed to be her ghost.
People have also experienced voices, noises, apparitions, light anomalies and waves of nausea. The Red Room is of special note because according to legend, a servant or peasant girl, Ann Grant, gave birth to an illegitimate Borthwick lord’s son in that room and both were killed after being held in the room for months. It is also said that their remains were put into the walls and covered up. Some women who stay in the room have been awakened by the feeling of being pulled out of bed while the men sleep through the night. This may be Ann trying to communicate with those who may sympathize with her lost child.
A Borthwick family chancellor, who was discovered to be embezzling money, also used this room and when found out, he was burned to death. The ghosts of both of these people are believed to haunt the spiral staircases.
Some visitors have also felt the presence of spirits in the Great Hall, including a red-bearded Scotsman waving a sword. Hopefully, he is not too concentrated on any of the guests! This castle is one of the best-preserved and largest castles that you will find in Edinburgh.
While not a castle itself, The Witchery By The Castle is literally by Edinburgh Castle. The Witchery is a restaurant that also provides accommodations as a bed and breakfast. Even though the restaurant did not open until 1979, the building itself is from the 16th century and believed to be haunted by some old ghosts. In the 15th and 16th century, about 1000 people were burned on Castlehill for witchcraft. It is believed that at least one of these victims haunts The Witchery.
It is also believed that more witches were killed during James VI’s reign than anywhere else in Scotland. The Witchery occupies Boswell’s Court, a sixteenth-century building. There are nine luxurious and theatrical suites for those looking to stay. These rooms have gothic character and come with a four-poster bed and velvet sheets.
The Secret Garden Restaurant was built on an abandoned schoolyard. If you eat there at night, you will eat by candlelight, which adds to the spooky ambience while eating your fancy food.
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This hotel is luxurious and traditional but has many period features. There are 29 luxury bedrooms with period furniture and antique rugs. There are an additional 9 standard bedrooms also. It dates back to the 13th century and has been rumoured to be haunted by many ghosts.
Being one of the most haunted places in Scotland, ghost tours at Dalhousie castle are regularly given. People have experienced unexplained noises, footsteps and objects being moved around.
The most famous spirit is Sir Alexander Ramsay, who was starved to death in Hermitage Castle. His spirit has been seen walking the grounds and hall of the hotel. There is also 16-year-old Lady Catherine, known as the “Grey Lady,” who you may see in the dungeon or by the turrets. She died in the castle in 1720 of a broken heart. Her father would not let her marry the stable hand she was discovered with and was banished to the castle tower. She tends to appear at weddings, so you may have a surprise guest if you are interested in getting married in this castle. Try not to get too frightened when she walks through walls.
Edinburgh has much to offer when it comes to some of Scotland’s most haunted castles and hotels. The castles above are a great way to get your supernatural experience fix. Enjoy the beautiful architecture, delicious food and rooms decorated in period furniture. You may even see a ghost or two wondering about these old castles and hotels!
The Scotsman Hotel is a stunning 5 star hotel in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town on North Bridge. It once served as the city’s newspaper headquarters, for the Scotsman (hence the name), and Edinburgh Evening News.
Some of the buildings’ past employees are still believed to haunt the builiding to this day, going about their daily work life.
The apparition of a phantom printer, who fell to his death has been seen walking the corridors and the halls, and there’s been several occurrences of disembodied footsteps, and phantom voices heard thorughout.
Book a RoomEdinburgh, Scotland’s capital is home to a rich array of ghostly goings-on. Paupers, peasants and nobility rub paranormal shoulders with each other on these intriguing streets.
South Bridge Vaults which are hidden under the city’s bustling streets were originally storage areas for local businesses but following a series of floods, the vaults were taken over by some of the area’s poorest residents as pubs, brothels and even slum housing. The vaults became synonymous with some of the city’s worst crimes, including murder. The famous bodysnatchers, Burke and Hare are said to have trawled the vaults for victims of these crimes and would sell the bodies to schools of medicine.
There is said to be a demon trapped within one of the chambers and this eerie destination is one of the most popular spots for ghost hunting in Edinburgh.
Edinburgh Castle does not escape ghostly phenomenon either. Ghostly bagpipes have been reported by visitors and one prisoner, who escaped in a wheelbarrow of dung, is sniffed out by many of those who venture down to the dungeons.
Mary King’s Close, situated just off of the Royal Mile, was used as a quarantine area for plague victims. At some point, the street was built over, but when residents eventually returned to the close, many incidents of paranormal activity was reported and still is today by those who visit, including ghostly sightings and voices.
One of Edinburgh’s best-known hauntings is that of Greyfriars Bobby, the dog that is said to have never left his masters’ side and following his owner’s death, the dog remained by his graveside until Bobby, himself passed away. There is a monument to Bobby but some visitors claim to see his ghost in Greyfriars Kirkyard to this day.
The Banshee Labyrinth claims to be Edinburgh’s most haunted pub where workman heard a woman screaming and drinkers have reported their glasses flying off the tables, hurtling through the air and hitting the wall.
Once you’ve located your ideal haunted hotel, Edinburgh offers a wealth of fantastic museums, monuments and experiences to make your stay one that you’ll never forget.
In addition, Edinburgh offers wonderful eateries, the most ancient and quirky of pubs – check out The Devil’s Advocate, situated down an ancient medieval close opposite St. Giles Church or the jaw-dropping grandeur of The Dome.
Easily accessible by major motorways and rail links Edinburgh should be on every ghost hunter’s bucket list.
We feature just some of the most haunted hotels in Edinburgh. If you know of a haunted hotel in Edinburgh that we’ve missed, we’d welcome your suggestion. Just click on the ‘Contact Us’ link in the footer at the bottom of the website.
