With a rich tapestry of joyous and tragic history, the Kingdom of Scotland was officially founded in 843 CE when the Picts and Scots united under one crown. Scotland is famous for its beautiful rural landscapes, and it is dotted with cities that were infamous for poverty and overcrowding. Generations of people have lived and died in the mystical landscapes of Scotland, so it may be no surprise that some of them chose not to pass over and linger on, haunting the living. Read on for four of Scotlands most terrifying ghost stories, sure to keep you up at night.The Ghosts of Drum CastleDrum Castle, Aberdeenshire, originally 12th century. Source: Visit ScotlandThe original Drum Castle was built in the 12th century and given to Clan Irvine in 1323 by Robert the Bruce. Additions were made to Drum Castle in Aberdeenshire until the Victorian era, and it remained in the Irvine family until 1975, when it was taken over by the National Trust of Scotland. As one of the oldest castles in Scotland, Drum Castle has become known for an array of hauntings.Two of the most prolific ghosts seen or heard at the castle are Anna Forbes Irvine and her son, Alexander. Anna married into Clan Irvine when she married Alexander Forbes Irvine, 20th Laird of Drum, in 1848. Anna was a brilliant watercolor painter who captured Drum Castle from a variety of unique angles, but her work was overlooked as there were male artists in the family. Alexander was the couples first son, but tragically died at age six in 1856.Watercolor painting Drum Rooftops, by Anna Forbes Irvine, c. 1828-1900. Source: National Trust of ScotlandAnnas footsteps can be heard in the corridors of the castle, and objects, especially in the bedrooms, are moved around, with the rooms feeling noticeably cold afterward. The ghost was recognized as Anna when the staff realized the spectral woman was identical to the grand portrait of her that still remains in the castle.Portrait of Anna Forbes Irvine, c. 1829-1982. Source: Art UKChildlike laughter is often heard around the building and the grounds, which have been attributed to Alexander. Some have reported seeing a small boy running in the gardens who seems to be looking for other children to play with. Alexanders cause of death is not known, but supposedly, his untimely death devastated his mother, who is now unable to rest until she finds him. The two spirits have never been seen together.The Mackenzie PoltergeistPortrait of Sir George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh, by Sir Godfrey Kneller, c. 1680s. Source: National Library of ScotlandGeorge Mackenzie of Rosehaugh, or Bloody Mackenzie as he was known to his contemporaries, was a Scottish legal advisor to the crown and government in the 17th century. Mackenzie made his name in law by defending Covenanters and achieving an acquittal for the Marquis of Argyll on treason charges. However, once he rose to a prominent position in the field of law, Mackenzie switched allegiances.Mackenzie took the lead in fighting against the Presbyterian Covenanters, a religious and political faction who wanted to resist changes issued by the crown, notably under James IV and I (of Scotland and England respectively), Charles I, and Charles II. Mackenzie detained 1,200 Covenanters in a field next to Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh after their failed rebellion culminated in the Battle of Bothwell Brig in 1679. Many of the men were executed swiftly after arriving by being beheaded or hanged.Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh. Source: Wikimedia CommonsAt the time, this space was an open area at the southern edge of the kirkyard, enclosed by the town wall. The prisoners were abandoned there without access to food, water, or shelter, leading to the deaths of hundreds. They were subjected to mistreatment by guards, and many were executed, their heads displayed on spikes at the gate. By the end of 1679, sources differ, but only between 48 to 200 Covenanters had survived. The remaining men were sent on boats to Australia.When William of Orange ascended to the throne, Mackenzie again switched his loyalties and gave religious power back to those who had fought against him and the crown. Bloody Mackenzie escaped to England, but when he died, he was buried in a mausoleum in Greyfriars adjacent to his infamous prison.Painting of the Black Mausoleum titled Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh, showing the Black Mausoleum, with figures gathered nearby, by Paul Sandby, 1750. Source: National Galleries of ScotlandToday, Mackenzies resting place, dubbed the Black Mausoleum, is responsible for over 450 paranormal reports. This began when a homeless man disturbed the crypt. Seeking shelter on a dark, stormy night in 1999, the unknowing vagrant broke the lock and entered the mausoleum. The individual was curious and lifted the iron grate on the floor and followed the stairs down. In the lower vault were 4 coffins, and hoping to find valuables, the man opened the coffins.As he did so, the floor beneath him fell through and sent him falling into an unknown plague pit. The pit had been so well sealed and completely undisturbed since its construction that the bodies had not fully decomposed. The story goes that the hysterical man fled the crypt and ran into either a dog walker or a security guard.Even before this story, the Black Mausoleum was a common feature on the many ghost tours in Edinburgh, and many reported feeling cold or being touched nearby. But the presence has since intensified significantly, and the accounts have changed from feeling a touch to being pulled and grabbed. Tour guides claim that large welts sometimes appear on visitors as well as bite marks and scratches.Many visitors have even lost consciousness at the scene, with one woman collapsing and showing overt bruising on her neck. Another woman was almost blown over by an incredibly strong icy wind blowing directly from the doorway. A medium, Colin Grant, attempted to perform an exorcism on the mausoleum and was quoted as saying, The exorcism will be the death of me. In what was perhaps a cruel irony or the doing of the poltergeist, Colin Grant died of a heart attack just a few weeks later.Wee Hughie, the Sauchie PoltergeistPhotograph of Virginia Campbell aged 11, 1960-1961. Source: Sunday PostIn the 1960s, Sauchie, a small town in the central lowlands of Scotland, was the site of an infamous haunting that was witnessed by priests, doctors, and multiple other residents. Virginia Campbell was 11 years old when she and her mother, Annie, moved from Ireland to Sauchie and moved in with Virginias aunt and uncle. Virginia was distressed by the move; all her elder siblings had moved out, her father James had remained in Donegal to sell the family farm, and she had to leave her beloved pet dog behind.To add to Virginias discomfort about the move, she had to share a bed with her younger cousin Margaret. Her mother found work in a neighboring town where she decided to stay, leaving her daughter alone with her aunt and uncle. Despite the difficult start, Virginia appeared to settle in well at her new school.However, on November 22nd, 1960, the calm was interrupted when Virginia and Margaret heard a strange knocking coming from behind their headboard. Frightened, the two girls went downstairs. The adults clearly heard a thudding following them downstairs. At first, Thomas and Isabella Campbell thought the girls were playing a trick, but the strange noises continued. The knocking got so loud that the neighbors began to hear it.Increasingly strange activity began to happen all over the house. Objects would mysteriously disappear, only to reappear weeks later. The lid of a linen basket lifted on its own, and ornaments shifted positions without anyone nearby. Even furniture began to move inexplicably. Thomas and Isabella witnessed their sideboard slide several inches away from the wall, seemingly pushed by an unseen force, only to be gently moved back into place moments later with no one nearby.Photograph of the Campbell residence in Park Crescent, Sauchie, c. 1960s. Source: Daily RecordThe Campbells brought in a local minister, TW Lund, who witnessed the laundry basket glide across the floor and then back to its original location all on its own. Soon after, it was discovered that the supernatural action was following Virginia. At school, Virginia was observed by her teacher, Margaret Stewart, struggling with the lid of her desk. When instructed to remove her hands, the lid abruptly flew open and slammed shut three times. This was followed by another desk lifting a few inches off the ground.Another unusual event occurred on Monday, November 28, when, at school, both the pointer and the table began to vibrate. Miss Stewart felt the vibrations, though Virginia was nearby, she wasnt in contact with either object. During a visit, the local doctor brought his dog, which Virginia immediately adored, noting its resemblance to her own dog, Toby, whom she dearly missed. After spending some time playing with the dog, Dr. Logan departed. That night, Virginia fell into a trance-like state and began speaking in her sleep, repeatedly calling out for Toby.Virginia remained frantic throughout the occurrences, prompting Dr. Nesbit of the Tillicoultry medical practice to sedate her, yet the poltergeist activity persisted. Both Dr. Nesbit and a local minister witnessed her pillow rotate on the bed. Virginia was later relocated, where Dr. William Logan and his wife, also a physician, observed similar knocking sounds. As a result, Drs. Nesbit and Logan set up a cine camera to document the events. Between 9:00 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., both knocking and moving furniture were successfully recorded.By December, while the townspeople were still heavily discussing the notorious poltergeist, the activity began to dwindle. Curiously, around this time, Virginia was reunited with her beloved dog and had a new best friend. Furniture still moved on occasion, but Virginia was no longer frightened and affectionately named the poltergeist Wee Hughie. Many priests who were involved with the incident deemed Virginia to have psychic powers. Was Wee Hughie the manifestation of a troubled girl in tune with supernatural forces, or was this a case of mass hysteria?Mary Kings CloseMary Kings Close, Edinburgh. Source: Visit ScotlandMary Kings Close in Edinburgh was named after the burgess and merchant of the same name. Nothing is known about her prior to married life, but she was married in 1616 and interestingly kept her own maiden name instead of taking her husbands last name, Nimmo. By 1629, Marys husband had passed away, yet Mary still lived a fairly comfortable life selling clothes in what at the time was called Alexander Kings Close, the second-largest street in Edinburgh.Mary Kings Close is actually a network of several interconnected closes, linked by narrow alleys and passageways. It resembles a labyrinth, with eight distinct layers. Wealthy residents occupied the grand high houses, which typically had multiple stories and a cellar. In contrast, the low houses were home to a range of people, from tradesmen to the very poorest. While some of these lower homes were relatively comfortable, others were dark, cramped, and lacked basic sanitation.Clothes of a Scottish Plague Doctor. Source: Real Mary Kings Close MuseumMary King eventually passed away in 1644, and two plagues hit the residents of Edinburgh the following year. Due to the crowded and unsanitary conditions, the plagues spread uncontrollably. Three hundred inhabitants were sealed inside a part of the Close and were abandoned to die. They were alone with the exception of the plague doctor George Rae, who stayed to provide care. George survived the plague and allegedly died penniless after ten years of battling the council to pay him the money he was promised.Mary Kings Close was fraught with constant danger due to the presence of criminals such as murderers, rapists, and thieves as well as public health risks heightened by hazardous workshop practices, such as the use of horse urine in tanning. Additionally, its proximity to the polluted Old Nor Loch exposed residents to toxic biogases that seeped through the walls, causing hallucinations and emitting an eerie green glow, a phenomenon that likely gave rise to the earliest ghost stories from the 17th century.Photograph of toys and dolls left for Annie taken in 2019, Edinburgh. Source: Wee Walking ToursThe Close was partially demolished and buried due to the building of the Royal Exchange in 1753. The new building clipped the tops of many structures inside the Close, which essentially created a ceiling and constructed a mysterious underground village. Mary Kings Close has now opened to the public as a historic attraction, and it has become infamous for ghostly sightings.One sighting at the Close is thought to be the spirit of its last resident, Andrew Chesney. In 1902, his home was taken through a compulsory purchase. He has been seen as an anxious man who meanders around the streets of the Close. The woman in black is another frequent presence, thought to be Mary King herself. In addition, ghostly animals have also been spotted, including dogs, cats, and rats.When Mary Kings Close reopened to the public, a renowned Japanese medium visited and reported encountering the spirit of a young girl named Annie. The medium felt a tug on her coat and saw the child weeping in a corner. Annie claimed she had lost her family, and it has been surmised that she had caught the plague and had therefore been abandoned. Annie was equally distressed over the loss of her beloved doll. Deeply moved, the medium returned and left a doll for her, and since then, visitors have continued the tradition by leaving dolls and gifts in the same spot.