Fyvie Castle and the Haunted Heart of Aberdeenshire

Introduction

Fyvie Castle dominates the Aberdeenshire landscape with five great towers, each built by a different family across eight centuries of Scottish history. The castle holds an unusual concentration of documented hauntings: the Green Lady who carved her name into stone, a phantom trumpeter, spectral children, and at least one murderer whose presence still affects visitors in the library. Archaeological discoveries of human remains within the walls have repeatedly triggered surges in paranormal activity. A curse attributed to the 13th-century prophet Thomas the Rhymer binds three mysterious “weeping stones” to the castle’s fate. Visitors report temperature drops, the scent of roses in empty corridors, and electrical equipment failing without explanation. The Preston Tower apartment, available as holiday accommodation through the National Trust for Scotland, places guests directly within one of the castle’s most active areas.

Nearby Haunted Sites

Delgatie Castle

Eight miles northeast of Fyvie, Delgatie Castle has welcomed visitors since the 11th century. The castle’s most famous ghost is Rohaise, a red-haired apparition who appears in the main bedroom. She moves through the chamber and has been photographed by guests. Delgatie operates as a bed and breakfast, offering the rare opportunity to sleep in an authentically haunted Scottish castle. The Clan Hay Centre occupies the grounds, and the building retains original painted ceilings from the 16th century.

Tolquhon Castle

This ruined Preston family stronghold sits twelve miles southeast of Fyvie. The castle dates from the 15th century, with major additions in the 1580s. Visitors report unexplained sounds in the courtyard and cold spots in the roofless great hall. The elaborately carved gatehouse and tomb recesses in the castle chapel create a genuinely atmospheric site. Historic Environment Scotland manages the property, and admission is affordable. Evening visits in summer allow extended exploration as daylight fades.

Haddo House

Fourteen miles east of Fyvie, this Georgian mansion served as home to the Gordon family for over three centuries. Staff and visitors have encountered a Grey Lady on the main staircase and in the library. Unexplained footsteps follow people through the upper corridors. The National Trust for Scotland maintains extensive grounds and gardens. The contrast between Haddo’s elegant 18th-century design and the medieval towers of Fyvie illustrates the range of Scottish haunted architecture within a compact geographical area.

Paranormal Walking Route

Begin at Fyvie Castle, allowing three hours for a thorough exploration of the interior. The library, associated with the murderer John Pollock, produces the strongest reactions in sensitive visitors. His death mask remains on display. Proceed to the Charter Room area and locate the windowsill where Lilias Drummond’s name appears carved into the stone. Exit via the great wheel staircase, where the child ghost Annie plays, and walk down to the loch and boat house. The Grey Lady of Lady Meldrum appears along the waterside and near the castle’s medieval fishponds.

Drive eight miles to Delgatie Castle for an afternoon visit. The journey follows rural Aberdeenshire roads through farmland and small villages. Delgatie’s painted ceiling in the main hall dates from 1592 and rewards careful study. Continue twelve miles south to Tolquhon Castle. The ruins close at dusk, but the approach through the estate grounds extends walking opportunities. Return to Fyvie via the B9005, a journey of approximately twenty minutes.

Visitor Information

The National Trust for Scotland operates Fyvie Castle seasonally, typically April through October. Check current opening hours before visiting. The Preston Tower apartment within the castle accommodates overnight guests and must be booked well in advance. Bring warm layers regardless of season - temperature drops feature prominently in paranormal reports, and the castle’s stone construction maintains cool interior temperatures.

No official ghost tours operate at Fyvie, but castle staff are knowledgeable about the hauntings and will discuss specific locations and experiences. Photography is permitted in most areas. The Morning Room, where a child’s skeleton was discovered in a bricked-up chimney, sits above ground-floor visitor spaces. Audio recorders have captured unexplained voices in this area.

Historical Context

Aberdeenshire’s concentration of paranormal activity connects directly to its violent medieval history. The region saw continuous conflict between powerful families, English invasions, and clan warfare. Fyvie alone passed through five different family ownerships, each leaving architectural and spiritual marks on the structure. The practice of immuring - sealing objects or occasionally human remains within walls for protection or punishment - explains multiple skeleton discoveries at Fyvie. When builders disturbed a female skeleton in the early 20th century and removed it for proper burial, activity throughout the castle intensified dramatically. The bones were eventually returned to a sealed chamber beneath the Charter Room. Thomas the Rhymer’s curse, which states that Fyvie will never pass through three generations of the same family until three specific stones are found, adds a layer of prophetic doom that has proven remarkably accurate across eight centuries of ownership changes.

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Use Fyvie Castle as your base for exploring the haunted heritage of Turriff and Aberdeenshire.