When you are in Scotland and want to know more about the history of Scotland, you shouldn’t forget to visit Stirling Castle, one of the most historically important landmarks in Scotland. This stunningly beautiful castle is located around 250ft on top of Castle Hill, which is an extinct volcano.

Once a favoured residence of the Stewart kings and queens, the castle has now become a popular tourist destination for visitors. The castle is surrounded by steep cliffs, offering it a good defensive position. The castle is also famous for its beautiful garden and impressive sculptures. Its stunning architecture and imposing position have made it the grandest castle in Scotland.

The Castle’s Strategic Location

One of the major factors that make this castle popular and attract tourists is its location.  Located atop the top of an old volcano, it creates an impressive sight and an intense stronghold, surrounded by cliffs. Speaking more about this, the castle is situated at a prominent strategic point at the centre of different routes of Scotland.

Architecture Of Stirling Castle

Some reports suggest the castle has been fortified since ancient times, but there is no proof of this. Stirling Castle’s grand incarnation dates from the 14^th and 16^th centuries. A few structures of the castle remain from the 13^th century. On the other hand, the outer defence of the castle dates from the 18^th century.

Speaking about some of the major highlights of the castle, you should visit the King’s Old Building. James IV constructed this building in 1496. And there is the Great Hall. This is the largest banqueting hall during the time of medieval Scotland. It was constructed in 1503 for James IV.  Another beautiful highlight of the castle is The Royal Palace, which was constructed in 1540 for James V.

One of the most famous parts of the castle is its Firework Gate. This is a turreted stone fortification created for King James IV during the 16^th century. Some other highlights that you should not miss to see are Chapel Royal, Great Kitchens, Regimental Museum, Castle Exhibition, and Tapestry Studio. Well, you should also visit Argyll’s Lodging located near the castle. This is a 17th-century townhouse that is famous for its mesmerizing appearance.

Stirling Castle Present Day

This scheduled ancient monument in Scotland has now become a world-famous tourist attraction, and it is being managed by Historic Environment Scotland. You can book guided tours to explore the castle’s buildings. There you can also go for an audio guide. Besides, there are different types of exhibitions to see.

What’s more? You can visit the Regimental Museum, one of the best military museums in the world, and it is dedicated to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Visitors can meet the costumed characters in different roles like maids of honour, court officials, and bodyguards who will take you into 16th-century life.

There is the Unicorn Café, where you can try out different types of cold and hot drinks as well as authentic Scottish food items. The award-winning Stirling Castle is a must-see place in Scotland.

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Places with rich history are also places that have a dark and haunted past. Through the halls of history have walked many souls who left their imprints forever. It is, therefore, unsurprising that Scotland has some famous haunted spaces. These spaces have garnered the reputation of being home to troubled souls and interesting stories. From castles to cemeteries, there are numerous places in Scotland that have a haunted history.

The landscape of Scotland is dotted with many medieval castles and fortresses. These castles have been the silent watchers of history unfolding itself. Not every page of history is beautiful, and some pages have blood spilled on them. The spirits of many have stayed back in these castles and continue to haunt the corridors even today. People interested in history and the supernatural find their way to the castles mentioned below.

Goblin Ha, East Lothian

Goblin Ha, in the Scottish language, is a shortened form of Goblin Hall. The place is also called the Yester Castle. The place is situated near Gifford, East Lothian. The Castle is an underground system of corridors and gothic vaults that have sunk in under ruins. The story of these ancient ruins traces back to the 13^th century when Sir Hugo de Gifford struck a deal with the devil.

The local warlock asked for a goblin army and asked them to build him the Goblin Ha. After the completion of the Hall, the warlock spent many years practicing magic and sorcery. Even today, the sunk-in underground vaults have a foreboding look.

Stirling Castle

The Stirling Castle is a famous haunted spot in Scotland, with many ghost sightings reported. One of the most famous ghosts of the Stirling Castle is Highland Ghost. The ghost has appeared to visitors and staff in the full traditional attire of the Scots.

Many of the visitors have even mistaken this ghost as a tour guide and approached him. To their shock and surprise, the ghost suddenly vanishes in front of their eyes. The famous ghost was also captured on camera in 1935, solidifying our belief in the paranormal.

Another popular ghost of the Stirling Castle is the Green Lady, who is believed to be a maidservant to Mary, Queen of Scots. Some visitors to the Castle also believe that the Queen of Scots herself haunts the royal corridors as Pink Lady.

Inveraray Castle

The Inveraray Castle is also among the top three haunted places in Scotland. The Castle has been the seat of Clan Campbell since the 18^th century. Its roots in the Gothic Revival architecture make it a perfect setting for filming a spooky period drama. There are many ghosts in the Castle, but one Grey Lady is the most popular and prominent. Apart from this, a ghost boat and a ghost harpist is also the highlight of the haunted Castle.

Apart from these three haunted places, there are many more haunted castles and places in Scotland. These places are infamous for ghost apparitions and spiritual experiences. Tourists with a knack for adventure and exploration will love a visit to such places.

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ABERGELDIE CASTLE

Albergeldie Castle has a dark history that still haunts it today. A former French maid would have decided never to leave the place. She died a long time ago and her ghost still roams the castle’s rooms. Catherine Rankie, also known as French Kate, was accused of witchcraft, imprisoned and burned at the stake not far from the castle. Since then, she would never leave the castle…

BRODICK CASTLE ON THE ISLAND OF ARRAN

Located on the Isle of Arran, this castle is as frightening as it is fascinating. Once besieged by the Vikings, then home to the Dukes of Hamilton, this castle is the subject of many legends. It is said that a Grey Lady haunts the oldest part of the house. Sick of the plague, she died of hunger in the dungeons. It is also said that a white stag appears in the vicinity of the castle each time a member of the Hamilton family dies, or that a man in a costume lives in the castle’s library…

BALLINDALLOCH CASTLE

Called “the Pearl of the North” this castle is famous for the legend of three women who would haunt the place, one in the Pink Tower, one in the dining room and the last one on the Avon bridge near the castle. It is said that James Grant, who died in 1806, is sometimes seen riding his white horse in the park.

CAWDOR CASTLE

In the heart of the Highlands, Cawdor Castle is known thanks to Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth, so it has always been the subject of legends and superstitions. Among the myths surrounding this haunted castle, there is the ghost of the Earl of Cawdor’s daughter, who jumped from the ramparts. Because she had a secret relationship with a member of a rival family, her father cut off her hands… Some witnesses also affirm that a woman dressed in a blue velvet dress would haunt the place… The castle is a few miles from the site of the bloody battle of Culloden, no wonder there are so many horror stories!

THE FYVIE CASTLE

This castle is known to be one of the most haunted castles in Scotland. It is said that in 1920, renovation work led to a macabre discovery. The skeleton of a woman was found behind the wall of one of the rooms… Some say they found an indelible bloodstain, and others say that ghosts roam the castle’s rooms.

One of them is said to be Lillias Drummond, wife of Sir Alexander Seton who starved her to death before remarrying. The ghost of the deceased would have engraved her name on the windowsill of the marital room, perched 15 meters above the ground. The engraving is still readable today.

So, will you be bold enough to go and meet these supernatural creatures and scary legends. Ready to dive into the Scottish myths?

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What would you do if you suddenly received a gift of gold from a stranger? 

Many years ago, there was an old couple that lived in a small cottage in the glens.  Things were not going well for them.  They had one cow which had not been giving much milk lately, a couple of chickens, which had not been laying many eggs lately, a small, shabby cottage, and a bit of land with an old broken fence.

One day a traveler came to the door.  He was welcomed in, as was the custom at that time.  He sat down at the table and was given a portion of what little they had –just potatoes and buttermilk.  As they talked, the man and woman told the traveler of their troubles. 

The traveler said, “I have something that might help you, give you a bit of a lift.”  He reached into the pocket of his tattered jacket and pulled out a bar of solid gold.  He handed it to the astonished man. 

“Yes, indeed, this will surely help,” said the man.  “Thank you.”  They looked at the gold, and when they looked up, the traveler was gone.  They buried the gold under the floor while they decided what to do with it. 

The next day, the man said, “I think we could get you a few more chickens,” but the wife replied, “No.  The chickens are fine.  They’ll be laying well again.  But maybe we could buy another cow,” to which the man replied, “No.  The cow is a good milker.  She’ll come back to giving good milk.” 

They thought some more.  “I know,” said the wife, “We could fix the fence, get some new fence posts, paint the whole thing and the house, too.”  The man said, “Haven’t I already got the posts and the paint?  I just haven’t gotten around to doing the work.”

A year later, the same traveler came back by.  What a difference!  He was greeted by the crowing of a rooster.  There was a large flock of chickens in the yard.  The cow was no longer scrawny, and there was a calf next to her.  The house had a new coat of paint and there was a fine fence, also painted.

 The traveler was welcomed warmly – like an old friend.  He sat down to a plate of roasted meat, just-baked bread, and fresh vegetables.  He said, “What a difference I see!  You have done well since I was here last.” 

“Yes, and we owe it all to you,” they said.  “Ah, well, tell me, what did you spend the gold on?”  The man and woman looked at each other.  “To tell you the truth, we never spent the gold at all.   It’s still buried under the floor.  It seems that all we needed was a wee lift.  You gave that to us.”  The traveler said, “If you still have the gold and don’t really need it, perhaps I could take it with me.  It may be that the next people I meet could use a wee lift.”

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The origins of Halloween can be traced back to the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain (summer’s end). The Celtic year was determined by the growing seasons and Samhain marked the end of summer and the harvest, and the beginning of the dark cold winter. The festival symbolised the boundary between the world of the living and the world of the dead.

It was believed by the Celts that on the night of 31st October, ghosts of the dead would walk again amongst them, and large bonfires were lit in each village in order to ward off any evil spirits. All house fires were put out and new fires lit from these great bonfires.

Whilst bonfires to scare away the undead are still lit in some areas of Scotland, more usually “neep lanterns” (turnip lanterns) are made by scooping out a turnip and cutting through the skin to create eyes, nose and mouth. A candle is then placed inside to make the lantern. These lanterns are also supposed to ward off evil spirits. Nowadays thanks to the influence of American culture, pumpkins are as common as turnips for lanterns.

Many of the traditions Burns mentions in his poem ‘Halloween’ still persist in Scotland to this day. From the second verse:

Some merry, friendly, country-folks
Together did convene,
To burn their nits, an’ pou their stocks,
An’ haud their Hallowe’en
Fu’ blythe that night…..

(Translation: Some merry, friendly, country people
Together did convene,
To burn their nuts, and pull their plants,
And keep their Halloween
Full blythe that night.)

As mentioned in the lines above, a common Halloween tradition was for an engaged couple to each put a nut on the fire. If the nuts burned quietly then the marriage would be happy, however if the nuts spat and hissed then the marriage would be stormy. Similarly, if a girl put two nuts on the fire, one for her lover and one for herself, and the nuts spat and hissed, then this was a bad omen for their future together.

The plants mentioned in the poem above were the stalks of the kale plant or ‘castocks’. The stalks were pulled out of the ground after dark with one’s eyes shut. The idea was that the length and straightness of the stalk would indicate a future partner’s height and figure. Any soil on the stalk would indicate wealth.

Until recently, ‘trick or treat’ was unknown in Scotland. Instead children dressed up and pretended to be evil spirits and went ‘guising’ (or “galoshin”). The custom traces back to a time when it was thought that by disguising children in this way they would blend in with the spirits that were abroad that night. Children arriving at a house so ‘disguised’ would receive an offering to ward off evil. Today it is expected that the children, as well as dressing up, also perform a party trick – a song or a dance, or recite a poem, for example – before they are offered a treat which could be fruit, nuts or more commonly nowadays, money or sweets.

The Witchcraft Act of 1735 contained a clause preventing the consumption of pork and pastry comestibles on Halloween. The act was however repealed in the 1950s so it is now legal to also offer pork pies or sausage rolls to children as treats!

“Dookin’ for apples” is a Halloween party game which involves taking an apple floating in a basin of water without using your hands, either by spearing it with a fork held in your teeth or by biting it. This is another Halloween tradition with its roots in pagan times. The origin of bobbing for apples stems back to the ancient Celts who held apples as sacred.

In fact you could say that the modern-day Halloween traditions of pumpkin lanterns, bobbing for apples and trick-or-treating have their origins in the ancient Celtic traditions.

The Samhuinn Festival in Edinburgh is an annual event marking the Celtic New Year. Presented by the Beltane Society, the event features a spectacular procession of fire, music, dancing, theatre and fireworks and takes place along Edinburgh‘s famous Royal Mile.

From:https://www.historic-uk.com/CultureUK/Halloween-in-Scotland/

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Multi-platinum international music sensation, CELTIC WOMAN returns with their brand new live CD and DVD: ‘Homecoming – Live From Ireland’.  Recorded live in Dublin, Ireland, in September 2017, Homecoming features singers Susan McFadden, Mairéad Carlin, Éabha McMahon and the group‘s new violinist, Tara McNeill.

Since its debut, global musical sensation Celtic Woman’s concerts continue to touch the hearts of a huge audience that spans the globe. Both an accomplished recording ensemble and a world-class performing collective, Celtic Woman celebrates Ireland’s rich musical and cultural heritage, while continuing its remarkable legacy of introducing some of Ireland’s most talented singers and musicians onto the world stage.  Celtic Woman successfully melds the traditional and contemporary.

Following its debut on PBS in 2005, the group has achieved massive success encompassing twelve chart-topping albums, eight DVDs and nine public television specials leading to sales of over ten million albums, with platinum success in nine countries. Each of its CDs – including 2016’s Destiny, which was nominated for a Grammy in the World Music category,  has debuted at #1 on Billboard‘s World Albums chart. The group has been named Billboard Magazine’s #1 World Albums’ Artist six times.

Celtic Woman continues to transcend national and cultural boundaries to celebrate the timeless emotion of Ireland’s centuries-old heritage. A one-of-a-kind live act, Celtic Woman combines the country’s finest musical talents with an epic stage production to present a uniquely inspiring live experience. As a touring powerhouse, the group has performed for over four million fans across 23 countries and six continents, with an especially devoted following in America. The show is renowned for its high-quality entertainment, exceptional musical performances and stunning visual productions, enthralling audiences of all ages.  Homecoming captures this chapter of their extraordinary musical journey in this stunning live CD and DVD.

Celtic Woman will be on tour in the US to support this new recording nationally from March – June 2018. Check out their full tour schedule at www.Celticwoman.com; please contact us for interview opportunities all the ladies are available to talk about the tour and album.

For more information, visit www.CelticWoman.com        Facebook.com/Celticwoman               Twitter.com/Celtic Woman

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She knocked on the door of his cottage the next day and asked permission to stay for a while.  He granted it gladly, for the farmer was taken with not only her beauty, but also her gentle ways and her kind manner.  In fact, the farmer began to find reasons to visit her camp, taking her things he thought she might need and finally inviting her to supper with him in his cottage.

Soon after the young woman appeared the farmer noticed that she was expecting a child, although she had arrived alone and had no visitors.  And it was also not long before he realized that, in spite of this complication, he was falling in love with her.

Finally, he gathered his courage and asked her to marry him, adding that he did not mind that she was with child.  He promised that the child would be raised as if it were his own.

And so they were married, and the farmer was as good as his word.  The child was born several months later.  A girl.  She was a beautiful baby, with pale skin and coal black hair.  This is what people noticed first — the hair.  It was thick and black and shiny, but it had a white streak in the middle, zig-zag, like a bolt of lightning.  She was named Aspen, after her mother’s favorite tree.

Two years after the girl was born, the farmer and his wife had their own child, a boy they named Robert.

Robert and Aspen grew up together and got along unusually well for siblings.  They worked together on the farm with their parents.  Life was good, and the family was happy.

By the time Aspen was fifteen, she was a great beauty.  But it was not only her beauty that people noticed.  She was kind and intelligent, with a fine mind and a quick wit.  She did have one unusual habit, though. Every evening she would brush her hair, now down to her waist, but still with the white lightning streak.  As she brushed, she would sway back and forth and sing a song, always the same, with words in a language no one had taught her.

One afternoon, a man came riding up to the farmhouse.  He was a stranger, but he was obviously rich.  He was tall and handsome in an exotic way.  He rode a fine horse, with a beautiful and expensive saddle of tooled Spanish leather, and dangling from the saddle was a leather pouch that jingled as though it was filled with much money.

The stranger rode up to the farmhouse, knocked on the door and announced his intentions.  “I have heard that you have a beautiful daughter.  I have come to make her my bride.”

The farmer told him only, “I cannot speak for my daughter.  Knock on her door, tell her why you have come, and she will make up her own mind.”

This the stranger did, but hearing his proposal Aspen blushed and said, “I am only fifteen.  Too young to marry.  Return in a year, good sir, and I will give you my answer.”  Disappointed, he left vowing to return in one year.  But as he left, Robert followed him, having an uneasy feeling about the man.  He followed for several hours, and finally the stranger stopped by a loch, dismounted and bent down to drink the water.  As he brought cupped handfuls of water to his mouth, there was a terrifying transformation.  Paws.  Claws. Teeth.  And finally, the transformation was complete.  He was a werewolf, large and menacing and terrifying to behold.  Hiding in the shadows, Robert shuddered with horror.  He was glad that Aspen had not agreed to marry the creature, and Robert returned home, telling no one what he had seen.

Life went on as usual, and it seemed that everyone had forgotten about the stranger.  However, one year to the day, the dark man appeared at the farmhouse door.  This time, Aspen said that she would marry him.  Pleased, the stranger immediately led her to his horse and lifted her up behind him in the saddle.  When Aspen’s mother protested, the stranger assured her that he was a rich man and the girl would be entering a life full of comforts and delights.  Without pausing for more discussion, the man spurred his horse and they galloped away.  At the time, Robert was working in the fields, but when he returned, he was horrified to learn that his sister had gone with the man he knew to be a werewolf.

Robert immediately saddled his own horse and followed in the direction they had gone, hoping to overtake them and persuade Aspen to return.  But one day turned to two and then three, and he had still not caught up with them.  At dusk on the third day he came upon a castle. There he gained admittance, and when the servants he encountered asked who he was and why he was there, he explained that he had brought wedding presents for his sister and wanted to give them to her.  The servant told him that the master had said that they were preparing for the next day’s wedding festivities and were not to be disturbed, but just then there was a blood-curdling scream coming from an upstairs room.  Robert took the stairs two at a time and burst into the room, but stopped, frozen at the sight that greeted him.  In the center of the room was a snake, a large adder, as long as the room was tall and all black, but for a white zig-zag streak that ran the length of its body.  And in the corner was a dark and bloody heap of fur, all that was left of the werewolf.

As Robert stood there, not knowing what to think, the adder was enveloped in a thick mist, and when it cleared, there was his sister, Aspen, in her accustomed form.  Seeing his astonished face, she explained that she had come to know that her father was the king of the adders.  He had seen the love and kindness the farmer showed to her mother, and so had been content to see them married.  But Aspen had gradually become aware that she had inherited some of her father’s powers, including a kind of second sight.  She had immediately recognized the suiter as a werewolf, and thinking that if she refused him, the creature would surely harm her family, she decided to agree to marry him, feeling certain that she could overcome and kill the beast.

So Aspen returned home with her half-brother, and they were greeted with joy and relief by the farmer and his wife, who shuddered at the tale they told.  Life returned to its usual pattern, though they all knew that they could call upon Aspen to protect and defend them should the need ever again arise.

Story provided by Marilyn McPhie

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