Halloween activities at Lauriston Castle

Just three miles from the centre of Edinburgh near Cramond lies the idyllic mansion, Lauriston Castle. A home to William and Margaret Reid in the early 1900s, this 16th century tower house contains several ghost sightings from across the years. One such sighting comes from a former colleague and building manager, who shared their story with the Scotsman in 2010:

"I had gone into one of the bathrooms, when someone walked out of the bedroom through an adjacent door. "They went into the sitting room and I heard a door close behind them."

But when they went to check, there was no-one there. "Three or four years later I was moving some of our costume collection, including a ribbed silk dress, and the slippery material made this swishing sound, and it just came back to me. That was it, that was the sound I had heard."

Has your curiosity piqued yet? Have a peek below at our spooky events taking place at Lauriston Castle all throughout October, suitable for the whole family.

Séances at Usher Hall

The wake of World War I marked a time for ghosts in Britain, and séances were particularly popular among the upper classes. It was common for a grieving family to sit in their home with a medium and chant, hoping their deceased loved ones might appear from the dead. A small bump, a light odour, or even a minimal change in temperature was enough to convince families that they had been visited by a spirit. One of the most notorious mediums was Helen Duncan, or 'Hellish Nell', who also happened to be the last woman convicted of witchcraft in Britain.

Prior to the erection of the Usher Hall in-between Cambridge Street and Grindlay Street, there was a boarding school. Built in 1881, Lothian Road School occupied the space for over 30 years before its demolition in 1914. It was during this time that around 12 pupils died, with their cause of death linked to natural causes like tuberculosis, while the cause of others remained a mystery. Rumours circulated that the children might have died in an "unexpected accident". This tragedy became a point of interest during a time when people were increasingly fascinated by occultism and the supernatural.

In October 2011, Edinburgh-based magician Scott Smith held a séance at Usher Hall, claiming he could summon one of the deceased children using a ouija board. At the time, staff members of the venue claimed they felt the presence of a little girl, thought to be one of the children who had died.

A haunting stroll up the Royal Mile

Museum of Edinburgh

The Museum of Edinburgh exists in one of the oldest buildings in Edinburgh's Old Town. Originally built in the 16th century and known then as Huntly House, the museum-complex is full of fascinating and beautiful objects, as well as some great and gruesome stories.

The museum was the subject of a Haunted History YouTube video, where a previous member of staff recalled seeing a spectral woman and felt the insidious presence of a shadowy figure. If you're still not convinced after watching the video, why not come and see for yourself?

Watch Haunting History: Ghostly Encounters in The Museum of Edinburgh

The Writers' Museum

Down the claustrophobic Lady Stair's Close, inside a 17th townhouse century townhouse, sits Edinburgh's Writers' Museum. Visitors here are drawn in by its haunting atmosphere where tourists will often stop by on ghost tours. Step inside and peruse the history and belongings of celebrated Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson, author of the classic Gothic novella, Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.

Witches Well

On the Castlehill Esplanade below Edinburgh Castle, the Witches' Well serves as a haunting memorial to thousands of accused witches executed in Scotland. Commissioned by Sir Patrick Geddes in 1894 and designed by artist John Duncan, this cast iron drinking fountain marks a site near where many accused of witchcraft met their fate.