Glamis Castle, located near Forfar in Angus, Scotland, is a striking and historically significant site. Built in the 14th century, it has served as the home to the Bowes-Lyon family since 1372, a lineage that includes Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, who was born at the castle. This royal connection adds to its fame, but Glamis is equally known for its architectural splendor and centuries-old history of intrigue, tragedy, and legend.
The castle’s history includes moments of great political importance. It was associated with the murder of King Malcolm II in 1034 and featured in Shakespeare’s Macbeth. Over the centuries, it has been expanded, incorporating elements of medieval and baronial architecture. Today, the castle is open to visitors, offering tours that delve into both its royal past and its ghostly lore.
Glamis Castle is considered one of Scotland’s most haunted locations, with numerous ghostly figures and eerie occurrences reported over the years. Among the most famous spirits is that of Lady Janet Douglas, known as the Grey Lady. Lady Janet was falsely accused of witchcraft and conspiracy to murder King James V. After enduring years of imprisonment, she was burned at the stake in 1537. Her tragic death left a lasting imprint, and her apparition has been frequently seen in the chapel of Glamis Castle, often described as a benevolent yet sorrowful presence.
Another spirit known to haunt the castle is the Earl Beardie, a figure whose legend dates back to the 15th century. The Earl is said to have been a man so obsessed with gambling that one night, when he couldn’t find anyone to play with, he declared he would play with the devil himself. According to the tale, the devil appeared, and the Earl is condemned to play cards for eternity in a hidden room of the castle. Visitors and residents have reported hearing the sounds of dice rolling and ghostly voices coming from the walls, adding to the castle’s fearsome reputation.
In addition to these well-known entities, the castle is also haunted by a spectral woman, covered in blood, who is believed to have had her tongue cut out. She has been seen stumbling around the castle’s grounds, signalling toward her mouth in a ghastly re-enactment of her suffering.
A phantom boy, thought to have been a servant, whose presence has been felt in some of the castle’s upper rooms. The chilling cold spots, flickering lights, and objects moving on their own have been experienced by staff and visitors alike. Mysterious footsteps can be heard roaming the empty halls, doors that open and close on their own, and disembodied voices have been reported. Rooms near the Earl’s chamber are said to be particularly prone to sudden temperature drops and unsettling noises.
Perhaps the most unnerving ghost tale is that of a secret room hidden somewhere in the castle, where a deformed child of the Bowes-Lyon family is said to have been kept hidden for his entire life. Although the existence of such a room has never been definitively proven, the legend persists, and many believe the spirit of the child still roams the castle.
