Mostly Ghostly Tours

10/02/2025

A marvellous Monday night at Closeburn Castle with our lovely guests on the Secret History Tour - more to follow!

Warmest thanks to everyone who came out to support the tour, we loved every minute of your company.

Also, a huge thank you to Maria Navarro de Sepulveda and her family for kindly hosting us.

Closeburn Castle & Escape Rooms

10/02/2025

Fully Booked! Brilliant to see our Coastal Folklore: Stories of the Sea event at Dumfries Museum is now fully booked! Warmest thanks to everyone who has kindly supported the event; we'll look forward to seeing you tomorrow evening and sharing some of our curious coastal and sea-based tales! :)

10/02/2025

Bruce and Comyn - Murder at Greyfriars: On Thursday 10th February 1306, dramatic events took place on the sacred site of Greyfriars Monastery. The Monastery, founded by Lady Dervorgilla Balliol, witnessed the gruesome murder of John 'The Red' Comyn, Lord of Badenoch, by Robert The Bruce, who would become the next King of Scotland.

After the stabbing, Bruce doubted if he'd dealt the fatal blow - his ally, Sir Roger de Kirkpatrick of Closeburn Castle, wasn't going to take any chances. He uttered the chilling immortal phrase "I'll Mak Siccar" before dashing back inside, accompanied by Sir John Lindsay, to ensure Bruce's grim duty was complete. The Comyn was dead, along with his uncle, Sir Robert Comyn, and following further violent altercations on the site, Bruce galloped to Dumfries Castle.

Much debate surrounds the events of that day: did Bruce act on impulse or were his actions pre-meditated? Although we cannot be sure happened inside the monastery, there is little question about the outcome. Comyn's death undoubtedly paved the way for Bruce to ascend the Scottish throne.

Since 2010, Mostly Ghostly's Mary Wood has been performing a dramatic re-telling of the story in Dumfries' Greyfriars Street. When you look around at this old car park, it's quite surreal to think such an historic event took place here. However, fascinating finds (think Richard III) have been found in similarly mundane places!

Discoveries were made during an archaeological dig at the turn of the 19th century; we wonder if this area holds any more buried secrets...

Mostly Ghostly highlight the histories and legends of Bruce, Comyn, Kirkpatrick - allies and enemies - at the castles of Closeburn, Lochmaben and Caerlaverock, plus many more historical sites across the region.

VISIT key locations around D&G connected with King Robert the Bruce, FOLLOW the Medieval Bruce Heritage Trust to learn more about Robert the Bruce and how you can get involved, and DISCOVER the skull cast at Dumfries Museum.

Photo 5 of Closeburn Castle courtesy of Maria Navarro de Sepulveda

Dumfries and Galloway! Whats Going on ? Dumfries & Galloway Life VisitScotland Discover South Scotland - Scotland Starts Here Visit DG

09/02/2025

Only one ticket left for our Secret History of Closeburn Castle tour this Monday!

Monday 10th February at 7pm

Ticket booking link in comments section

Closeburn Castle & Escape Rooms

09/02/2025

Portents and Premonitions... Our research takes us into some fascinating territory and one of the themes we're exploring is portents and premonitions. We're interested in learning about signs or warnings you may have experienced that presage an event e.g. a powerful feeling that something important (or not!) is about to happen - and it does...

We're keen to gather diverse and unusual accounts, and hope you can help!

Thank you in advance - confidentiality assured.

Dumfries and Galloway! Whats Going on ? Dumfries & Galloway Life

09/02/2025

Mostly Ghostly Gift Vouchers! Share the love with the gift of a unique tour experience for that special someonel in your life. We can send an e-voucher, so you can either share electronically or print out and present.

These vouchers will be valid for a year.

Please message the team for more details!

Photo courtesy of Allan Devlin

08/02/2025

Hauntings, Horror and Heartbreak... At The Tam! Following the success of our festive storytelling event at the Tam O'Shanter Inn Dumfries, we're thrilled to be working together on an evening of Hauntings, Horror and Heartbreak.

Just in time for Valentine's, our theme is is the darker side of love, unearthing tales of tragic lovers, vengeful souls and spirits who refuse to rest...

Thursday 13th February at 7pm

Ticket booking link in comments section and at the Midsteeple Box Office.

Photo 2 courtesy of the Tam O' Shanter

Dumfries and Galloway! Whats Going on ? Dumfries & Galloway Life

08/02/2025

Haunted Highways Hits The Road! Next Saturday night, we're super-excited to be presenting our first A75 Haunted Highways Tour of 2025! The tour features a host of ghostly tales and intriguing history, centred on Scotland's Ghost Road - the A75...

Saturday 15th February at 6:30pm

Ticket booking link in comments section and also at the Midsteeple Box Office.

07/02/2025

Warmest thanks to the wonderful ladies from Dumfries Get Together, for supporting tonight's Waking The Witch tour, in collaboration with our friends at Dumfries Museum. A beautiful crisp (and chilly!) moonlit evening spent in fabulous company! We hope to see you all again at future tours and events!

Also, a big thank you to Judith Hewitt, Museum Curator, for her introductory talk, featuring some intriguing objects relating to the witchcraft and folklore.

Dumfries and Galloway! Whats Going on ? Dumfries & Galloway Life VisitScotland Discover South Scotland - Scotland Starts Here

06/02/2025

Caerlaverock Castle Tour - Sunday 23rd Feb! Join Mostly Ghostly at spectacular Caerlaverock Castle for our 'Chilling Tales' tour! Explore this ancient fortress, surrounding woodland paths and original castle site, where you’ll discover myths, legends and ghostly tales galore, all woven between a collection of dark, historical accounts.

Let us chill your senses, with everything from a jealousy-fuelled murder to a mysterious lady in grey, disembodied voices to a ghostly good samaritan, who wanders on Caerlaverock Merse...

*An exciting collaboration with Historic Scotland

**Sunday 23rd February at 3pm**

Ticket booking link in comments section and also available at the Midsteeple Box Office.

06/02/2025

Catch Kenny and Kathleen live from 6pm on Alive & Local on Alive 107.3 with special guest Maria Navarro de Sepulveda of Closeburn Castle & Escape Rooms!

06/02/2025

William Hare: The West Post Murderer in Dumfries... On this date in 1829, whilst en route to Portpatrick, the notorious murderer William Hare made an unforgettable stopover in Dumfries. Having turned Kings evidence against his partner in crime, William Burke, the results of which saw him hang in Edinburgh, Hare was dispatched to Ireland.

He sought refuge at the Kings Arms Hotel (the site now occupied by Boots) and word spread like wildfire! Before long, the streets were thronging with a dense mass of people, fuelled by vengeance aimed at this cadaverous killer.

This was to be the largest mob our town ever witnessed; what an awesome sight (and sound) to see them all, baying for his blood. This story captured our attention in 2009, while researching the town's dark history, and we've shared it many times on the streets of old Dumfries with some lively mob reenactments!

Burke and Hare are often described as bodysnatchers; they were in fact cold-blooded murderers who sold the bodies of their victims to the anatomists - no questions asked...

Photo 4: excerpt from Discover Dumfries

Dumfries and Galloway! Whats Going on ? Dumfries & Galloway Life VisitScotland Discover South Scotland - Scotland Starts Here

04/02/2025

*Book A Birthday Tour With Mostly Ghostly!* Did you know we offer tours and storytelling events for birthday and celebration parties?

From the Crichton Crypt to Closeburn Castle, ghost and history walks, Titanic tours and tales of Dumfries's graverobbing past, choose from our region-wide range and together, we'll create a truly unique experience.

Gather your friends and family and explore the darker, more curious side of history with Mostly Ghostly!

04/02/2025

Hauntings, Horror and Heartbreak... At The Tam! Ghost stories and tragic love - the two go hand in (spectral!) hand... This Valentine's Eve, we invite you to join the team for a night of hauntings, horror and heartbreak!

Together, in the atmospheric Tam O'Shanter Inn Dumfries, we'll delve into the darker side of romance, unearthing tales of tragic lovers, vengeful souls and spirits who refuse to rest...

Thursday 13th February at 7pm

Ticket booking link in comments section and also available at the Midsteeple Box Office.

03/02/2025

Join Kathleen for the Rabbie, Tam and Ghosts of The Globe Inn tour, this Tuesday, 4th February at 6:30pm!

Tomorrow Evening: Rabbie, Tam and Ghosts of The Globe Inn... Join Kathleen for a captivating journey through the atmospheric rooms at The Globe Inn.

You'll hear intriguing stories about Rabbie Burns, the chilling tale of Tam O'Shanter, and a host of curious happenings within this historic establishment.

The tour is perfect for families (recommended for ages 8 and above) and anyone interested in the rich history and culture of Dumfries.

The 90-minute tour will highlight a more curious side to Robert Burns' favourite howff...

Tuesday 4th February at 6:30pm

*Ticket booking link in comments section*

03/02/2025

Ghostlies at Gilnockie! Today, we enjoyed a fantastic visit to Gilnockie Tower, discussing ideas for an exciting partnership venture! Gilnockie was built in the early 16th century by Johnnie Armstrong and is proud home of the Clan Armstrong. It is situated in a beautiful spot close to the river and just a few miles from .

It was wonderful to catch up with the immensely knowledgeable Ian Martin and colleague Michelle Nichol; we thoroughly enjoyed looking round and hearing the latest developments.

After exploring each level of this charming and intriguing Borders tower, we left full of enthusiasm and can't wait to share future plans!

Warmest thanks to Ian and Michelle for hosting us.

Gilnockie Tower - Historic Home of Clan Armstrong Dumfries and Galloway! Whats Going on ? Dumfries & Galloway Life Discover South Scotland - Scotland Starts Here VisitScotland

03/02/2025

Join Kathleen at The Globe Inn tomorrow evening for her monthly Rabbie, Tam and Ghosts of The Globe Inn tour!

This Tuesday: Rabbie, Tam and Ghosts of The Globe Inn... Join Kathleen for a special tour of the historic Globe Inn this Tuesday, and immerse yourself in a collection of curious and captivating stories, featuring glimpes into the life of its most famous resident, Robert Burns, who lived, loved and entertained here.

Kathleen will reveal stories of the Globe's supernatural residents, woven between the Bard's time in Dumfries, with a hint of horrid history and folklore along the way!

Tuesday 4th February at 6:30pm

*Ticket Booking Link in Comments Section*

02/02/2025

On these cold dark nights (much as we love the winter!), I find my mind drifting back to our late September stroll to Crichope Linn and recalling how it possessed an enchanting - ethereal - quality, where you'd not be the least surprised to see faerie folk glimmering in the watery pools below...

Where do you like to visit for a magical atmosphere in Dumfries and Galloway?.