Craigmillar Castle

Craigmillar Castle sits on a hill overlooking Edinburgh, its remarkably complete medieval fortifications offering one of the finest examples of a Scottish castle’s evolution from simple tower house to complex defensive palace. Built by the Preston family in the late 14th century, the castle served as a comfortable residence and occasional refuge from plague-ridden Edinburgh for Scotland’s nobility. Its most historically significant period was in the 1560s when Mary, Queen of Scots used it as a retreat from court life—and where, in 1566, her advisors allegedly conspired to murder her husband, Lord Darnley. Two distinct hauntings manifest at Craigmillar: the ghost of Mary herself, forever connected to the place where murder was plotted, and a mysterious Green Lady whose origins remain unknown.

In November 1566, Mary came to Craigmillar to recover from illness and escape the increasingly violent and erratic behavior of her second husband, Lord Darnley. During this stay, several of her closest advisors—including the Earl of Bothwell, the Earl of Huntly, and her secretary Maitland—allegedly met with her to discuss the “Darnley problem.” Historical evidence suggests that some form of plot was discussed, though whether Mary gave explicit consent to murder remains one of history’s unanswered questions. Three months later, in February 1567, Darnley’s house at Kirk o’ Field in Edinburgh exploded, and he was found strangled in the garden—the beginning of the scandal that would ultimately destroy Mary’s reign.

Mary’s ghost appears most frequently in the rooms she occupied during her 1566 stay, particularly in the great hall and the private chambers of the tower house. She manifests as a young woman in elaborate 16th-century dress, sometimes appearing distressed or agitated, other times seeming lost in thought as if contemplating a difficult decision. Witnesses describe seeing her standing near windows looking toward Edinburgh, sitting near the fireplace appearing deep in melancholy thought, or walking slowly through the chambers as if pacing while troubled. The apparition is detailed enough that some observers have commented on the richness of her clothing and the sorrow in her expression.

The paranormal activity intensifies around the anniversaries of her November 1566 stay and Darnley’s murder in February 1567. During these periods, staff and visitors report increased phenomena: the sound of intense conversation coming from empty rooms, particularly voices that seem to be arguing or plotting in low, urgent tones. Some witnesses have described hearing a woman weeping in the private chambers—possibly Mary mourning her difficult situation, trapped between her violent husband and the ambitious lords who sought to control her. The great hall occasionally emanates the sounds of a medieval gathering—conversation, footsteps, the scrape of furniture—as if the castle is replaying the conspiracy meetings of 1566.

The Green Lady of Craigmillar is a separate and older haunting, unconnected to Mary’s troubled history. She appears as a woman in a green gown, most frequently seen in the eastern tower and on the ramparts. Her identity is unknown—theories suggest she may be a Preston family member who died tragically, or possibly connected to the castle’s earlier history. The Green Lady appears less frequently than Mary’s ghost but is equally well-documented. She manifests as a sad, ethereal figure, often seen gazing from tower windows or walking the wall-walks at dusk. Some witnesses describe her as appearing to search for something or someone, her actions suggesting she is looking for something lost.

Additional paranormal phenomena include phantom footsteps on the stone staircases, particularly the spiral stair in the tower house, as if someone is climbing rapidly while wearing period shoes. Cold spots manifest throughout the castle, especially in the chambers Mary occupied and near the tower’s upper levels where the Green Lady appears. Electronic devices frequently malfunction in certain areas, batteries draining rapidly and cameras producing strange light anomalies. Some visitors have reported feeling touched by invisible hands on the shoulders or arms, gentle but unmistakable contact.

The castle’s chapel, now largely ruined, occasionally echoes with the sound of hymns or prayers sung in voices that seem to come from another century. The courtyard between the castle’s multiple defensive walls sometimes hosts the apparition of a solitary figure in Renaissance-era clothing walking slowly, head bowed, as if deep in troubled thought or prayer. Dogs brought to the castle often behave strangely in certain areas, barking at empty doorways or refusing to enter specific chambers. Craigmillar’s hauntings are notable for their historical specificity and the genuine atmosphere of melancholy that pervades the ruins—a sense that this beautiful fortress witnessed decisions and events that brought tragedy to all involved, creating echoes that persist through the centuries.