Halloween is almost upon us, and to celebrate the spookiest month on the calendar, what else could we focus our attention on other than the Old Town of Edinburgh, where the paranormal seems to be lurking around every corner? This blog is not for the fainthearted…
You need to visit the Old Town to understand how this part of Edinburgh has become synonymous with ghosts, ghouls and haunted graveyards. You’ll be greeted by alleyways, wynds and a plethora of buildings that have been standing for centuries.
Old Town Origins
The Old Town of Edinburgh is said to date back to the 12th century, so it’s no surprise that there is a long (sometimes grisly, always fascinating) history with this part of the city.
A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the different centuries brought something different to the Old Town. The 16th century saw iconic individuals such as Sir Walter Scott and Robert Burns walk through the town, whilst the 18th century played host to people such as David Hume, as well as the creation and publication of the very first Encyclopaedia Britannica.
The Old Town is also associated with some rather unsavoury characters, including the dangerous duo of Burke and Hare.
Burke and Hare
William Burke and William Hare didn’t just share the same first name – they also shared a penchant for killing in pursuit of money. Well, we did say they were unsavoury!
Cast your mind back to 1827, when these two men came across what they considered a rather clever plan to earn themselves some money. They would sell bodies to the medical school, which may have been beneficial for research purposes, but not so much for those who were being sold – especially chilling when you realise that these bodies were killed for this express purpose (and we imagine not with the blessing of their prey either)!
After they were found out in 1828, a twist in the tale saw Hare turn on Burke – he gave evidence to save himself, and a year later, Burke was hung for his crimes.
The most disturbing part of this tale, though? The skeleton of Burke can now be seen at the Anatomical Museum belonging to the University of Edinburgh, and a “death mask” and book made with his skin (!) is on display at the Surgeons’ Halls Museums.
This is one tale belonging to the Old Town of Edinburgh that will live on for many years to come!
Deacon Brodie
From Burke and Hare to Deacon Brodie (this was his title; his name was actually William Brodie – another William to feature here!), Deacon Brodie was an upstanding member of the community… or so it was thought.
A Deacon of the Guild of Wrights and Masons, an Edinburgh City Councillor and a locksmith - a locksmith who would take advantage and make copies of keys that would allow him to go back and rob, that is! His evil deeds were eventually found out, and he was executed via gallows as his punishment.
If you think this tale sounds familiar, that is, Deacon Brodie was a model citizen by day and adopted an alter ego by night (not so dissimilar to the story of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde), then we applaud you. This is because Deacon Brodie was said to have inspired this famous tale.
The Vaults of Edinburgh
One of the most fascinating things about the city of Edinburgh is that what you see isn’t necessarily what you get. If you are looking for spooky things to do in Edinburgh, a visit should be on your list.
Under Edinburgh, you’ll find relics from times past, including vaults that were initially used for taverns and certain other businesses when they were opened during the 18th century. However, disaster struck when flooding forced people to leave, and in their place were altogether “seedier” enterprises – they were even said to become the haunting grounds for serial killers, including Burke and Hare.
And talking of haunting, reports of supernatural activity have also been linked to the vaults. One such example is a room where there is a problem with exploding lightbulbs despite no electrical faults being found. Perhaps the spirits who live there prefer the dark?!
Real Mary King’s Close
From the vaults of Edinburgh, we will now take you to another location under the Old Town – Mary King’s Close, one of the most popular attractions in Edinburgh. Below the Royal Mile, you’ll find a street in Edinburgh that hails from the 17th century.
Just by virtue of being underground is enough to make Mary King’s Close a rather spooky location, but even more so if you know about the legend of “Annie’s Doll”.
Following a visit by a Japanese psychic called Aiko Gibb, a doll was bought for the spirit of a little girl. The psychic reported being able to communicate with Aiko Gibb, who said her name was Annie.
Ever since and after the tale of Annie spread, visitors to Mary King’s Close adopted the habit of buying toys for the little ghost girl, and Annie became somewhat of a legend. However, just a few years ago, in 2019, Annie’s Doll vanished… and hasn’t been found since.
Where did it go? And what does this mean for Annie? The legend lives on…
Edinburgh Castle
It won’t surprise you to see Edinburgh Castle featured here—with a history that goes back several centuries. As one of the city's most haunted locations, it's said that many spirits call the castle their home, and sightings have been reported up to the present day, too!
Whether it’s the headless drummer who warns of an impending battle or the piper who descended into the tunnels of Edinburgh Castle playing his bagpipes before the sound stopped and the piper disappeared, you won’t be short of ghost tales at this Scottish landmark.
And if you’re planning on visiting the castle for yourself soon (and we would always advise you to book a seat on one of our tours to make the most of your trip), who knows, you may even spot a spirit when you’re there…
This is what happened to construction workers who were at the castle in 2003. They reported harassment by ghosts, which they said dated back to the Napoleonic Wars. We imagine that was one case their HR department wasn’t keen to take on!
Greyfriars Kirkyard
Sometimes thought to be the most haunted place in Edinburgh, Greyfriars Kirkyard was founded in 1620 and hosts many well-known graves… and maybe even some ghosts too!
Greyfriars Bobby
One of the most famous graves is that of Greyfriars Bobby, a loyal Skye Terrier who, after his owner John Gray died in 1858, spent 14 years guarding his grave at Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh.
Bobby's unwavering loyalty touched the hearts of locals, earning him fame.
However, some say Greyfriars Bobby lives on to this day in a somewhat more ghostly guise – barking, and even a sighting of him at the grave has been reported!
George Mackenzie
Another ghost associated with Greyfriars Kirkyard is George MacKenzie,
aka The Mackenzie Poltergeist, who would act against Covenanters, mistreating them and giving him the delightful nickname of “Bloody Mackenzie.” Charming!
After he died in 1691, his final resting place was seemingly in a mausoleum at Greyfriars Kirkyard… although the word final may not be quite so fitting.
Why? His spirit appears to live on, with one particular homeless man feeling his full wrath – it has been said he approached the coffin of George Mackenzie before falling prey (literally) to a mysterious sinkhole that had opened up. We get chills just thinking about that!
The Grassmarket
The Grassmarket in Edinburgh, was a historic marketplace, is infamous for its role as a site of public executions between the 17th and 18th centuries. Crowds gathered to witness hangings, particularly of notorious criminals and political dissenters.
One of the most famous executions was of "Half Hangit Maggie", who was sentenced to death by hanging in 1724 for concealing her pregnancy. Remarkably, after being hanged in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, she revived on the way to her burial. Since her execution had been carried out, Maggie was legally freed and lived the rest of her life, becoming a local legend.
Today, the Grassmarket is a lively place with cafes, shops, and historic pubs. However, its dark past is still a fascinating part of Edinburgh’s rich history.
Discover Edinburgh with Scottish Tours
Although we would always encourage you to visit various locations here in Scotland, if you love Halloween and all things ghostly, we think a trip to Edinburgh is necessary.
Our Edinburgh, Scotland’s Capital tour is a 2-day tour that includes a visit to the Old Town. In contrast, our Edinburgh, Glasgow and the Highlands tour will take you to see Edinburgh and other iconic Scottish locations you won’t want to miss. For a complete list of all the tours we offer, please feel free to browse our website. And we hope you have a spooktacular Halloween when it comes!
Book your Scotland Tour today
Picture credits: Real King Mary's Close, VisitScotland and Wikimedia