As we prepare for the festive season, ready to soak in the holiday spirit, have you ever wondered about a different kind of Christmas spirit? The kind that lingers in the shadows, beyond the physical world? I’m talking about the spirits of those who have departed the physical, yet still make themselves known in Scotland during this special time of year.
There’s no particular time of day or year when spooky activity is guaranteed to happen. Paranormal activity, if it happens, happens on its own terms. It's a point I always make sure to emphasize when folks join me for any public event or paranormal gathering. Ghosts don't run on a schedule. But something about the holidays—maybe the emotions, the nostalgia, the energy—seems to stir up a kind of magic. And that magic, sometimes, makes the veil feel just a little thinner.
So, I want to share with you instances of festive spirits that still seem to make themselves known around Christmas time. Grab a cozy drink, and let’s take a walk into the past, where tales of haunting merge with history with three Scottish Christmas ghost stories.
Leith Hall – Aberdeenshire
Leith Hall, built in 1650 on the site of the medieval Peill Castle, was the home of the Leith-Hay family for nearly four centuries. Among its many stories is one that stands out, particularly because it happened on Christmas Day.
The spirit in question is that of John Leith III, who met a tragic end on Christmas Day in 1763 during a drunken brawl at Archie Campbell’s tavern in Aberdeen. The Laird was shot in the head, and since that fateful day, his spirit seems to have lingered.
Elizabeth Byrd, a well-known author and historian who wrote extensively about Leith Hall, reported seeing a large, moaning apparition on July 16, 1968. She described a man with a dirty bandage over his head, covering one eye, dressed in dark trousers and a shirt, seemingly carrying a weapon. Byrd claimed that the figure looked as solid as any living person. She even shouted at him to go away, and he vanished towards a window behind a dressing table. Byrd felt she wasn't alone, sensing other presences in the room.
Was it John Leith III, returning from beyond the grave to make his presence known? It certainly sounds like it.
The Tay Bridge Train
On December 28, 1879, a violent storm caused the Tay Bridge to collapse, taking with it a train and six carriages into the icy River Tay. It was a horrid night—just after Christmas, and just before the new year. Seventy-five passengers, crew, and the train driver lost their lives in the tragedy.
There’s a tale that, on the anniversary of the Tay Bridge disaster, a ghostly train can be seen traveling where the tracks used to be. Witnesses say the air grows eerily still, with only the howling wind echoing through the night, and some even claim to see the faint outline of the carriages shrouded in mist, accompanied by the distant clatter of wheels and the faint, haunting cries of passengers. I’ve visited the site myself, watching and waiting for signs of the phantom train. So far, no luck—but that doesn't mean it isn't there, lingering in that space between past and present, waiting for someone with just the right set of eyes.
Dalarossie – Inverness
In the Highlands of Scotland, by the River Findhorn, there’s a small place called Dalarossie with its own unique festive ghost story. It’s said that on Christmas Day, a family named the Shaws can be seen continuing a game of Shinty that they started long ago—a game they played on the Sabbath, no less. Legend has it that each family member mysteriously passed away within the following year, one by one, as if cursed for having broken Church law on such a sacred day.
Were they truly condemned for playing on the Christmas Sabbath? Or did guilt and superstition take hold of their minds and bodies, creating a tragic self-fulfilling prophecy? Either way, there are those who swear they’ve seen the Shaws, locked in that ghostly game—a replay of history, etched into the fabric of Dalarossie itself.
Closing Thoughts
Christmas in Scotland isn’t just about warmth, family, and the festive glow. It’s also a time when the boundary between the present and the past feels thinner—when memories, traditions, and the spirits of those who came before us seem closer than ever. During this festive season, as we honor old customs and create new ones, we may feel the presence of those who have gone before us. As we gather around fireplaces and share stories, it’s worth remembering that sometimes, the spirits of Christmas aren’t just in our memories. Sometimes, they’re still here, closer than we think.
Whether you're a seasoned ghost hunter, serious investigator, or a curious traveler, your adventure awaits! Here’s how you can start your own search with us, for the spirits said to wander Scotland’s locations...
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