Haunted Hotels in Scotland
Scotland is one of the most haunted countries on the planet, home to eerie underground vaults, an unnerving possessed cemetery, spine-chilling cursed castles and bloody tormented battlefields that changed Scotland’s history forever. Why not also spend the night at one of the haunted hotels in Scotland.
There are so many haunted places in Scotland. It’s almost as if no part of the country has been left untouched by the paranormal — not even the hotels.
Whether you’re searching for somewhere to stay in Glasgow or you’re looking for haunted hotels in Edinburgh, Scotland has an abundance of haunted places you can stay at. From hotels in large, bustling cities to hotels in the peaceful historic highlands, here’s my list of the most haunted hotels in Scotland.
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Cathedral House Hotel – Glasgow
Cathedral House Hotel is one of the most haunted places in Glasgow. Located directly across the street from the Glasgow Necropolis or the “City of The Dead” (the name given to the nearby Victorian cemetery) and just a 2-minute walk from the medieval Glasgow Cathedral. Built in 1877, the hotel was used as housing prisoners from Duke Street Prison.
Many of the prisoners accused of murder were executed by hanging inside the building. The prison was turned into a women-only institute in 1882 and the final execution was carried out in 1923. The macabre hangings, combined with terribly gruesome conditions for the prisoners resulted in a heavy hostility that still lingers in the atmosphere today.
The Scottish ghost apparition of a woman is spotted close to the former prison. Those who’ve seen her claim the vision quickly vanishes into thin air once she realizes she’s been spotted.
Duke Street Prison was fully demolished, apart from a section of the boundary wall which still stands next to the hotel. With its dark connections to the former prison and close proximity to the Glasgow Necropolis, it’s not surprising Cathedral House Hotel in Glasgow is haunted.
Cathedral House Hotel is the most haunted hotel in Scotland
As one of the most haunted hotels in Scotland, Cathedral House Hotel has experienced more than its fair share of paranormal activity. Because the building is quite antique, you need to climb up a spiral staircase to reach your room. It’s during this initial journey that you’re most likely to come into contact with the first spirit.
Patrons in this part of the hotel have reported feeling someone brush up against them before hearing the sound of children’s laughter echoing from the top floor. Thankfully, when I stayed on the top floor, all I heard was the jangling keys of another guest as they opened their door.
Address: 28-32 Cathedral Square, Glasgow G4 0XA, United Kingdom
Book here: Cathedral House Hotel
Related Post: Glasgow Necropolis – Exploring the City of the Dead
Drovers Inn – Loch Lomond
With hundreds of years of history, Drovers Inn has rightfully earned its reputation as one of the most haunted inns in Scotland. Located in Inverarnan, The Drovers Inn and the attached pub have fully embraced their Scottish paranormal ties.
The hotel is usually the resting place of people who’ve been hiking in the nearby Munros or as a comfortable haven for those who’ve been walking along the West Highland Way. It’s also one of the best haunted hotels in Scotland for people who love a good fright.
Although there are several ghost stories about the haunted hotel in Loch Lomond (such as the tale of Angus, a cattle drover who perished during an altercation with cattle-stealing thieves) most activity surrounds room 6.
Guests who stayed in this room reported being woken up by bright flashing lights and feeling icy drops of water falling on their faces. Many say the water wake-up call is connected to the story of a little girl who drowned nearby.
Whether you visit The Drovers Inn to do some ghost hunting or to rest your feet before your next hike, be sure to try some of the delightful Scottish cuisines the pub has to offer — especially the sticky toffee pudding.
Address: North Loch Lomond, Inverarnan, Arrochar G83 7DX, United Kingdom
Book here: Drovers Inn
Ord House Hotel – Inverness
The historic Ord House Hotel is one of the most haunted places to stay in Scotland. The land that the hotel occupies was once owned by the Clan Mackenzie. There is a stone embedded into the hotel’s façade dating back to 1637 with the initials of John Mackenzie engraved into it.
The Ord House Hotel is linked to Brahan Seer, known as “The Scottish Nostradamus”. Brahan also went by the name Kenneth Mackenzie and was possibly the brother of John Mackenzie who built Ord House. He was able to predict several historic tragedies, such as the Battle of Culloden.
Kenneth lived in the Ross & Cromarty area. Although there are no records of him being accused of witchcraft, many agreed his “gift of sight” was more of a curse than a real gift.
The ghost that haunted the Ord House Hotel
The real reason The Ord House Hotel is one of the most haunted hotels in Scotland is because of its ties to World War II. During the war, the hotel was used as an army base for British Troops.
Today, the spirit of a lady is often seen and heard throughout the halls of the hotel, where she roams, waiting for her husband to return from the war. Reports abound of her removing pictures she dislikes from guests’ rooms and gently placing them on the floor for staff to deal with later.
People also claim to have seen an apparition in a white Victorian-style nightgown sitting at the edge of their beds in the night. Did women in World War II actually wear Victorian-style nightgowns? Or is that piece of clothing just associated with ghosts? If you want to stay in a haunted hotel in the UK, The Ord House Hotel is the place for you!
Address: Ord House Dr, Muir of Ord IV6 7UH, United Kingdom
Book: Ord House Hotel
Related Post: The Top 10 Spooky Sites to Visit in Scotland
Bunchrew House Hotel – Inverness
Bunchrew House Hotel in Inverness offers stunning views of the Beauly Firth. Built in the 1500s by Alexander of Lovat, it operated as a “black house” — a small home occupied by an entire family and their farm animals. It was expanded in 1621 by Simon of Lovat for his wife Jane before it landed into the hands of the Clan Mackenzie.
The connection to the Clan Mackenzie is what turns Bunchrew House Hotel into one of best haunted places to stay in Scotland. The paranormal activity recorded in the house is said to be caused by Isobel Mackenzie, spouse of the Chief of the Clan Mackenzie in the 1600s, Kenneth Mackenzie. She is most often spotted at her favourite table in the restaurant, but her spirit can also be found wandering the hallways.
Unlike other haunted hotels in Scotland, Isobel is a gentle and non-threatening elderly woman who can be heard walking over creaky floorboards, seen casting shadows and creating the smell of burning firewood throughout the hotel. She has to be one of the friendliest apparitions who stays in one of the several haunted accommodations in the UK.
Address: Inverness IV3 8TA, United Kingdom
Book here: Bunchrew House Hotel
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Salutation Hotel – Perth
One of the haunted places in Perth, Scotland, The Salutation Hotel originally operated as a private house in the early 1600s and there are rumours tying the house to Conventual Franciscans (otherwise known as Greyfriars) and the buildings associated with the order, such as the Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh.
If you’re a history lover (especially if you’re fascinated about the end of the clan system in Scotland during the rising of the Jacobites) you’ll be excited to hear that Bonnie Prince Charlie hosted several meetings in room 20 after he demanded £500 from Perth for his rebellion!
Nowadays, The Salutation Hotel is one of the most haunted hotels in Scotland, home to the ghost of Bonnie Prince Charlie himself! One former guest claims to have been woken up by the prince’s spirit pacing at the end of his bed. Whether or not this is true, The Salutation Hotel in Perth is one of Scotland’s oldest hotels with hundreds of years of history just waiting to be uncovered.
Address: 30-34 South St, Perth PH2 8PH, United Kingdom
Book Here: Salutation Hotel
The Witchery by The Castle – Edinburgh
Witchery by The Castle has a dark past associated with the history of witchcraft in Scotland. Sitting on Castle Hill, Witchery was named after the witches who were burned at the stake in the 16th and 17th centuries. The site the hotel sits on is reportedly where most witches in Scotland were executed.
The restaurant at Witchery by The Castle is said to be one of the many haunted places in Edinburgh. But the spirits are said to appear in the hotel on occasion, too. With all of the horrific history surrounding the site, many assume the Scottish hauntings that occur here are the doings of those of the innocent men and women who lost their lives during the Great Scottish Witch Hunt.
I highly recommend spending the night here when you are looking for things to do during Halloween in Edinburgh.
Address: 352 Castlehill, Edinburgh EH1 2NF, United Kingdom
Book Here: The Witchery by the Castle
Related Post: Witches in Scotland – Sites to visit in Scotland from the Scottish Witch Trials
Macdonald Norwood Hall Hotel – Aberdeen
The Macdonald Norwood Hall Hotel was built in 1881 by Colonel James Ogston as a place to spend time with his mistress. Previously, the site was originally home to the 15th century medieval Pitfoddel’s Castle which belonged to the Clan Menzies who were avid supporters of the Jacobite rising.
The hotel is said to be one of the many haunted places in Aberdeen and is rumoured to be haunted by the Colonel, his mistress and his wife. Guests and staff have reported seeing apparitions of the two women by the stairs, dining room and kitchen. The ghostly spirit of the Colonel has been spotted in the dining room, standing near the fireplace in the haunted Norwood Hotel in Aberdeen.
There’s no word on ghosts lingering in hotel rooms. But this story just goes to show that cheating is never the answer. Your infidelity could follow you into the afterlife!
Address: Garthdee Rd, Aberdeen AB15 9FX, United Kingdom
Book here: Macdonald Norwood Hall Hotel
The Scotsman Hotel – Edinburgh
Sitting atop the North Bridge in Edinburgh, the historic Scotsman Hotel was once used as editorial offices for the successful Scotsman newspaper in the 1900s. Back then, the Edwardian-style building was located next to the merchants in Old Town and close to the trains at Waverley Station. Today, The Scotsman Hotel is one of the many haunted hotels in Edinburgh, Scotland, with paranormal activity connected to the printing press.
Although the hotel is rumoured to be haunted by several ghosts, the one people see most often is a former printer. He’s regularly seen walking around the basement of the hotel wearing an early 20th-century printer uniform. There aren’t any reports on if any newspaper employees died onsite to confirm his existence.
Address: 20 North Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1TR, United Kingdom
Book here: The Scotsman Hotel
Related Post: The Ultimate List of Spooky Scary and Haunted Attractions in Edinburgh Scotland
The Winnock Hotel – Drymen (Loch Lomond)
Unlike the other haunted places in Scotland, genuine historical facts about The Winnock Hotel were hard to find. Located in Loch Lomond, the oldest parts of the Winnock Hotel were built as thatched cottages in the 1700s when they were used as a tavern. During World War II, Canadian soldiers spent time there dancing, drinking and singing.
Paranormal investigators were called in and determined that The Winnock was one of the most haunted hotels in Scotland. Rooms 38 and 39 contain the most supernatural activity. Haunted by victims of the witch trials back in the 16th century.
Address: The Square, Drymen, Glasgow G63 0BL, United Kingdom
Book here: The Winnock Hotel
The Grand Central Hotel – Glasgow
The Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow was built as part of the British railway and was often used by Sir Winston Churchill during his stays in Glasgow. The hotel is haunted by several of the guests who stayed there, but there’s no solid information connecting the site to paranormal goings-on. However, the land where the hotel now sits was once home to the forgotten village of Grahamston.
Rumour has it that underneath the hotel sit Victorian streets, tunnels and other signs of a village lost long ago, similar to the vaults under the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Glasgow could dig below the hotel and possibly uncover one of Scotland’s most haunted places.
Prior to the most recent refurbishment efforts to turn the hotel back into the incredible Grant Hotel, the building was abandoned and neglected.
Whether or not the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow is one of the most haunted hotels in Scotland, it has a cool history and is once again a lively and beautiful hotel to stay in.
Address: 99 Gordon St, Glasgow G1 3SF, United Kingdom
Book here: The Grand Central Hotel
Related: Haunted Castles to Stay in Scotland
Traquair House – Innerleithen
Traquair House in Innerleithen, located near the Scottish Borders, boasts a wealth of history and is known for being Scotland’s oldest inhabited house. The noteworthy building has been visited by several notable Scots over the centuries, including Mary Queen of Scots in the 1500s. How cool is that?!
If you follow the history of the Battle of Culloden, you’ll know Traquair House is tied to Bonnie Prince Charlie, who’s said to have visited his family there during the Jacobite rising in 1745.
During his visit, the Bear Gates entrance gates were closed and remained shut until the monarchy was returned to the Stuarts. This is where the seemingly ordinary history of the area transforms into a ghostly tale that revolves around Lady Louisa Stuart.
Sister of the Earl of Traquair, Lady Louisa Stuart’s spirit was spotted by a farmer named Andrew. Andrew claimed he spotted the ghostly figure of a woman and kept his eye on her as she passed straight through a closed gate located on the farm, as though it wasn’t even there.
Traquair House has such a rich, varied past that it’s easy to tie it in with spooky stories that make history come alive at Halloween. Although you won’t come face-to-face with a real ghost, you will feel like you’ve stepped back in time as you’re greeted by staff members dressed up as historical figures from Traquair House’s history. During October, the house hosts a series of ghost tours, providing evenings filled with great entertainment for people of all ages!
Address: Traquair House, Traquair, Innerleithen EH44 6PW, United Kingdom
Book here: Traquair House Bed & Breakfast
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More Information about Spooky & Haunted Things to do in Scotland
- Haunted Castles to Stay Overnight in Scotland
- The Ultimate List of Spooky and Haunted Things to do in Edinburgh
- Spending the night inside the Edinburgh Vaults
- Top 10 Seriously Spooky Things to do in Scotland