Spooky places to live in Edinburgh, the Lothians and the Scottish Borders
Are you looking for somewhere a little spooky to live?
This Halloween, we’re taking a look around some local areas that are home to some seasonal scares from supernatural sightings to frightening fables, these locations are perfect for any budding ghost hunters!
Rosslyn Chapel, Roslin
At over 500 years old, it’s unsurprising that Rosslyn Chapel is rumoured to be home to a few ghosts. Many tourists have apparently been left stunned when encountering two of them – one a black knight on horseback and the other, a mysterious lady in white.
While the village of Roslin is just as ancient as the chapel, it’s not as spooky! Life in Roslin is quaint, quiet and just 8 miles from Edinburgh city centre. You can browse homes in Roslin here.
The White Hart Inn, Grassmarket
Edinburgh city centre is full of rich history, something that goes hand in hand with haunted houses! Down on the Grassmarket is Edinburgh’s oldest and most haunted pub – the White Hart Inn. The pub is said to have welcomed Robert Burns as a patron, but also murderous duo Burke and Hare. The two killers were said to have lured their victims from the pub into the dark nearby closes.
Nowadays, the Grassmarket is a hubbub of activity with many great eateries and bars nearby, a great place for any social butterflies. And the only thing that’s scary there now is the price of a pint! Find your home in the Grassmarket here.
Dryburgh Abbey, Melrose
A little further South in the Scottish Borders is Dryburgh Abbey. It was founded almost a thousand years ago in 1150 by an order of monks but is now home to a four-star hotel. Visitors of Dryburgh Abbey Hotel have reported witnessing “The Grey Lady”, thought to be the ghost of a young woman who was in a forbidden relationship with one of the monks. There have also been sightings of a terrifying apparition of a group of monks conducting a religious chant – spooky!
However, Melrose is mostly known for its peaceful countryside location with tranquil views of the River Tweed. Melrose is situated around 30 miles from the border to England and just a 90 minute train journey into Edinburgh from Tweedbank station. You can find your next home in Melrose here.
Newhailes House, Musselburgh
Over in East Lothian, tour guides at Newhailes House have reported many spooky encounters in the 18th century villa. It’s currently under the care of the National Trust for Scotland after Lady Antonia Dalrymple donated Newhailes in 1997. Many of the staff have spoken of hearing knocks at the door and hearing piano music but no pianist to be found, as well as footsteps and doors slamming – not something we’d want to experience on a dark night!
Life in Musselburgh is a lot less scary though – situated on the coast means that residents can enjoy the seaside. It’s also home to one of Scotland’s oldest golf courses and the popular Musselburgh racecourse. Find your home in Musselburgh here.
Edinburgh’s Old Town
Last but not least, you can’t talk about scary tales without mentioning Edinburgh’s Old Town! As you would expect, the most historic part of the city comes with many stories of ghosts and spooky goings ons. Most notably, Mary King’s Close, the underground neighbourhood where the city’s poorest and most nefarious inhabitants used to reside and it is said that the spirits of these poor souls still haunt the dwellings and dark corners of the underground labyrinth to this day.
Elsewhere, the Old Town is Edinburgh’s tourism hub with thousands of visitors heading to Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. It’s also the epicenter of the famous Edinburgh Fringe every August. You can find properties for sale in Edinburgh’s Old Town here.
