Inside the 'most haunted castle in Scotland' with a dark past

Glamis Castle, the childhood abode of Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon, the Queen Mother, is reputed to be Scotland's most haunted castle, with no less than nine spectres said to roam its corridors.

The majority of the current structure dates back to the 14th century, but the castle's history extends much further. In 1034, King Malcolm II met his end at Glamis and was succeeded by King Duncan I on the Scottish throne, then known as Alba.

The connection between the two monarchs remains a mystery, though some suggest Duncan may have been Malcolm's grandson.

Duncan's reign ended in battle, losing his life to Macbeth who subsequently ascended the throne. These historical events inspired Shakespeare's renowned play Macbeth, with the titular character residing in Glamis Castle within the narrative.

Whether the real Macbeth had any ties to Glamis Castle is uncertain, but some believe his ghost, along with those of King Malcolm and King Duncan, haunt the castle grounds.

Another eerie tale linked to Glamis involves a 'sleeping vampire'. According to legend, a female servant was discovered attacking a male guest and consuming his blood.

This horrifying act led to her being pursued by other guests until she was eventually captured. The story takes an even more sinister turn as it's claimed she was subsequently sealed within a room where she continues to slumber to this day.

Similarly, the enigmatic tale of the Monster of Glamis tells the story of a severely deformed child born to the Lyon family in the 19th century, who was allegedly kept hidden within the castle walls for his entire life.

Despite being the eldest son, he never inherited the castle or the accompanying Earldom, and after his passing, the room where he resided was reportedly bricked up and concealed from visitors.

Glamis Castle is also said to have been visited by the devil himself, according to a 15th-century legend. The story revolves around "Earl Beardie", believed to be either Alexander Lyon, 2nd Lord Glamis, or Alexander Lindsay, 4th Earl of Crawford, who invited his guests to play cards on the Sabbath.

When they declined, the Earl vowed to play cards until doomsday or with the devil himself. A mysterious stranger then appeared, agreeing to play cards, only to reveal that he was indeed the devil. The Earl's soul was subsequently taken, condemning him to play cards until the end of time.

The castle is also said to be haunted by the ghost of a tongueless woman who supposedly uncovered a dark secret about the Lyon family. As a result, her tongue was cut out to silence her.

Visitors have reported seeing this ghostly figure running through the castle grounds, blood dripping from her face as she gestures to her missing tongue. The chapel at Glamis is also believed to be haunted by a 'Grey Lady', thought by some to be the ghost of Janet Douglas, Lady Glamis.

In 1537, she was accused of trying to poison King James V of Scotland and was subsequently executed by burning at Edinburgh Castle.

For details on admission and guided tours, visit their website .