Gore And Goosebumps: Experiencing Haunted Places In Edinburgh

The South Bridge Vaults are 19 chambers beneath Edinburgh's Old Town that were once underground streets home to local taverns, cobblers and shops, before being left to ruin and becoming a hotspot for illegal activity, and if you believe the rumours, bodysnatching. While many of the former vaults are closed in, you can venture down to a particularly spooky section with a guide skilled in storytelling who will bring chilling tales of mischief-makers, murderers and vagrants to life during a spine-tingling walk through time and some very haunted places.

As haunted locations go, this one's a scream. Edinburgh Castle has seen its fair share of surprise attacks, executions, battles and torture in its 600-year history, so there are more than a few (literal and figurative) skeletons in its closets. In fact, a scientist-led investigation into paranormal activity in 2001 – one of the largest in history – all but confirmed supernatural instances in reportedly haunted places of the castle. Locals have long been leery of this landmark as one of the most haunted locations in Scotland, if not the world.

One of the castle's more notable ghost stories is about a young bagpiper who was sent to investigate some underground tunnels. He played his pipes loudly as he walked through so those waiting above ground could map out the network, but halfway through, the music suddenly stopped and the boy was never seen again. Today, people still report the feint sound of bagpipes during their visit to Edinburgh Castle.

By day, Greyfriars Kirkyard is as idyllic as graveyards come, its interred residents having inspired the names of some of Harry Potter's greatest characters.

But when night falls, a darker side takes form.

Found in a (now) locked section at the back of the cemetery is Covenanters' Prison, a former 17th-century jail that housed 1,200 anti-government revolutionaries held by depraved oppressor and draconian lawyer, George MacKenzie. He was entombed in the Black Mausoleum here and all was well until a homeless man seeking shelter disturbed his final resting place in the 1990s. Since then, many visitors who've joined the only ghost tour that is allowed behind the locked gates have emerged with scratches and bruises allegedly from the MacKenzie Poltergeist. Fact or fiction, you decide.

Looking for a way to kill 1.5 hours in Edinburgh? You'll be in for a bloody good time at Edinburgh Dungeon. From bad witches to a murderous bodysnatching duo who made a living out of the dead, you'll see, hear, touch, smell and even feel centuries of the dark history that shaped the city. Abandon all hope as you take a guided tour of torture chambers, explore dank caverns and get lost in a mirrored labyrinth during your gruesome, irreverent and kitschy history lesson. But be vigilant – you never know what devilish delight is waiting around the corner.

Sometimes stars of the stage can't take a hint even at curtain call. While the Edinburgh Festival Theatre is the home of sidesplitting laughs most of the year, there's a tall, dark and shadowy figure often identified in the auditorium and on stage even after his death in 1911. The apparition, rumoured to be German illusionist Sigmund Neuberger, also known as the Great Lafayette, perished in a fire when his signature stunt went wrong.

What was once a busy strip of merchants in the 17th century was buried to make way for the Royal Exchange some 100 years later. It's been said that Mary Kings Close was unceremoniously sealed off to victims of the bubonic plague around this time, though the reality was a lot more compassionate – and doesn't make for a good ghost story. Nevertheless, when the close was eventually rediscovered, it became a popular tourist site due to its intriguing history. Today, the attraction is more history lesson than horror movie, and a suitable experience for the whole family.

Forget your average sticky-floored local, this paranormal pub will have you on the edge of your barstool if you’re really looking to discover some terrifying tales. Tucked away beneath the Old Town, The Banshee Labyrinth is more than a subterranean spot for live gigs and a cinema. It's another contender for one of the most haunted places in Scotland. Think you're brave enough to grab a pint? You might just be drinking with a ghost or two.

This infamous watering hole proudly claims the title of Scotland’s most haunted pub, and the stories are legendary. Patrons and staff regularly report unsettling paranormal activity. Some have heard the disembodied cries of a weeping female spirit, believed to be a heartbroken girl. Others have seen objects move or felt an icy touch. There are reputedly several ghosts inhabiting the labyrinthine corridors, including that mischievous spirit of the weeping woman, giving the place a seriously creepy vibe that rivals any dedicated haunted house.

It’s the perfect spot to try and escape the mundane, but you might find yourself wishing you could escape with your nerves intact! Will you manage to get out alive without encountering a spooky presence? Head to the Banshee Labyrinth, order a dram, and see if you can add your own sighting to the city's chilling collection of ghosts.