There are no shortage of supernatural stories in Scotland, from the Headless Horseman who is said to roam the lanes around the House of Dun, to the ghost of Mary, Queen of Scots, who legend says haunts Falkland Palace.
With centuries of history, and no shortage of violence in its past, it’s often claimed that Scotland is one of the most haunted countries in the world.
Of course, there’s very little chance of being able to spend a night in a suite at spectre-infested Edinburgh Castle, or an evening alone in St Mary’s Close, to try to spot a spook.
Luckily for wannabe ghost hunters, there are also plenty of hotels that are rumoured to have a variety of ghostly residents.
Here are 10 you can book for a memorable Halloween weekend.
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5. The Scotsman Hotel
The former offices of the Scotsman newspaper occupies a prime spot on the Capital's North Bridge and was turned into a luxury hotel in 2001. The ghostly presence of a former print worker has been seen wandering the corriders, perhaps unaware that it's no longer his place of work and that there's no longer a deadline to be met. Photo: www.booking.com
6. The Drovers Inn
The Drovers Inn offers a traditional getaway in the heart of the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, and is also reputedly one of the most haunted hotels in the UK. There's a whole cast of ghouls, including the family of 18th century crofters who froze to death after being thrown off their land, a ghostly child in a pink dress, and a man whose entire family were slaughtered by a Highland chieftan. Photo: Google Maps
7. Cathedral House Hotel
When Glasgow's Cathedral House Hotel was first built in 1877 it was used to hold prisoners who had recently been released from the infamous Duke Street Prison. It's reputed that the spirits of some of the criminals executed in the prison, which was demolished but whose boundary wall still runs behind the hotel, still haunt Cathedral House. The hotel, often said to be Glasgow's 'most haunted', also looks over the Necropolis which has its own share of spooky stories. Photo: www.booking.com
8. Norwood House Hotel
Featuring log fires, wooded grounds and secluded gardens just 10 minutes from Aberdeen, the Norwood House Hotel also has some more spectral attractions. There are reputed to be three ghosts - James Ogston, who used to own the hotel, his wife and the mistress he refused to leave her for. His mistress is said to appear on the main staircase, eternally looking for her lover. Photo: www.booking.com