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Hallgreen Castle, Inverbervie
Hallgreen Castle stands on the rugged Aberdeenshire coast near Inverbervie, its stone walls weathered by centuries of North Sea storms. Within these ancient walls dwells an entity known only as The Watcher. This spectral presence has made itself known to countless visitors and residents throughout the castles long history. The figure never speaks. It never approaches. It simply observes from the shadows.
The Watcher manifests primarily as a feeling rather than a clear visual apparition. Those who encounter it describe an overwhelming sensation of being observed. The presence seems to favor the castles corridors and tower rooms, particularly during evening hours. Some visitors have glimpsed a dark figure standing in doorways or at the end of hallways that vanishes when looked at directly.
Fyvie Castle, Fyvie, Turriff, Aberdeenshire, AB53 8JS
Historic castle property with self-catering holiday accommodation in Preston Tower
Fyvie Castle harbours one of Scotland's most extensive collections of spectral residents, with documented encounters spanning centuries. The Green Lady - identified as Lilias Drummond - dominates the castle's supernatural reputation. Lilias was the first wife of Alexander Seton, Lord Fyvie, and her story forms the tragic centrepiece of Fyvie's haunting. Lilias died around 1601 under circumstances that remain disputed. Some accounts state she starved to death after being imprisoned by her husband, who grew impatient for a male heir she could not provide. Others suggest she died of a broken heart after Alexander began pursuing Grizel Leslie, whom he married shortly after Lilias's death. The wedding night brought the first manifestation - Seton and his new bride woke to find Lilias's name carved into the stone windowsill of their bedchamber from the outside. The inscription "D. LILIAS DRUMMOND" remains visible today on the Charter Room's window ledge, positioned high on the castle wall where no living person could have reached it. The Green Lady appears in shimmering green satin, accompanied by the unmistakable scent of roses. Staff and visitors report her presence throughout the castle, particularly near the Charter Room. Temperature drops precede her appearances, and howling sounds echo through the night when she walks. Lady Meldrum, the Grey Lady, predates the Green Lady by several centuries. This 13th-century apparition frequents the castle grounds and the shores of the loch, where she has been observed near the boat house. Her identity remains less documented than Lilias's, though her presence has been reported consistently over generations. A child ghost named Annie plays on the main staircase, her laughter and footsteps heard by visitors ascending to the upper floors. Another infant spirit makes itself known through crying that emanates from within the walls of the Morning Room - explained by the discovery of a child's skeleton bricked up in a chimney during renovation work. The circumstances surrounding this hidden burial remain unknown. The library holds a particularly oppressive atmosphere, attributed to John Pollock. Pollock was a murderer who was hanged for his crime, and his death mask remains on display within the room. Sensitive visitors report overwhelming nausea and dread when entering this space. A phantom trumpeter provides musical accompaniment to the castle's hauntings, with trumpet music heard despite no visible musician. Visitors have also encountered a cigar-smoking male figure whose identity has never been established.
Lilias Drummond (the Green Lady), Lady Meldrum (the Grey Lady), Annie (child ghost), John Pollock (library spirit), phantom trumpeter, cigar-smoking apparition, ghost cat, unnamed infant spirit
Rating: Historic castle property with self-catering holiday accommodation in Preston Tower
Price Range: Mid-range self-catering accommodation in Preston Tower apartment; castle admission separate for day visitors
Spirits: Lilias Drummond (the Green Lady), Lady Meldrum (the Grey Lady)...
Inverbervie, DD10 0PE
Historic Castle - Private accommodation available for exclusive hire
Hallgreen Castle has earned a formidable reputation in Scottish supernatural circles, primarily due to one persistent and disturbing phenomenon - The Watcher. This spectral figure appears at the castle's upper windows, gazing outward across the North Sea with an intensity that unnerves all who witness it. The Watcher manifests as a dark, indistinct shape, human in form but lacking clear features. Those who have seen it report an overwhelming sense of being observed, even when no figure is visible. The phantom maintains its vigil regardless of season or weather. Fishermen returning to Inverbervie harbour have reported seeing the figure silhouetted against lit windows on nights when the castle stood empty and dark. Local residents walking the coastal path after sunset have quickened their pace upon noticing the motionless shape tracking their progress. The Watcher never moves from its position, never acknowledges observers - it simply watches, hour after hour, with apparent infinite patience. Beyond this primary haunting, Hallgreen plays host to a range of supernatural occurrences. The sound of phantom bagpipes has been heard on multiple occasions, the music seeming to emanate from within the castle walls themselves. The pipes play traditional Scottish laments, the mournful notes carrying across the grounds on still nights. No source for this music has ever been discovered, despite thorough searches. A White Lady has been observed walking the castle grounds, particularly near the cliff edge overlooking the sea. This female apparition wears flowing garments that billow despite the absence of wind. She walks a set route from the castle toward the cliff before vanishing at the precipice. Her identity remains unknown, though local tradition connects her to a tragic love story involving a young woman who threw herself from the cliffs after learning of her lover's death at sea. Phantom dogs have also been reported within the castle grounds - large, dark hounds that appear suddenly and vanish just as quickly. These spectral animals make no sound and leave no tracks, even in fresh snow or soft earth.
The Watcher of Hallgreen Castle, The Ghostly Pipers, The White Lady, Phantom Dogs
Rating: Historic Castle - Private accommodation available for exclusive hire
Price Range: Luxury - Exclusive hire rates apply for private events and accommodation
Spirits: The Watcher of Hallgreen Castle, The Ghostly Pipers...
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