It’s not often you get the opportunity to visit a haunted island with a historic castle that housed famous Scottish royalty.
So when the opportunity arose to make the drive to Kinross, situated 28miles north of Edinburgh, I jumped at the chance along with my teammates Greg Stewart & Ally Reid.
Built around the year 1500 for Sir Andrew Murray, Blavaird Castle is a particularly fine – and complete – example of a traditional late medieval Scottish tower house.
It’s likely that Balvaird Castle was built on the site of an earlier Castle belonging to the Barclay family. Substantial remnants of earthwork fortifications around the Castle survive from earlier defences.
Huntingtower was once named the “Place Of Ruthven” until around the 1600’s which would be in accordance with the noble family of Ruthvens.
It’s been in great company over the years too, playing host for Mary Queen Of Scots, Lord Darnley and even Mary’s son, James VI, whom was held here against his will by the Earl of Gowrie. It certainly has its history and with every such history……we find associated paranormal allegations and observations.
Balvaird Castle is a particularly fine – and complete – example of a traditional late medieval Scottish tower house, built around the year 1500 for Sir Andrew Murray, a younger son of the family of Murray of Tullibardine.
He acquired the lands of Balvaird, in Perthshire, through marriage to the heiress Margaret Barclay, a member of a wealthy family.
It is likely that Balvaird Castle was built on the site of an earlier Barclay family castle. Substantial remnants of earthwork fortifications around the Castle may survive from earlier defences.
As for paranormal activity, this castle is little known for such, with only a few pieces of anecdotal evidence, and thus it is accepted only in lieu of more solid evidence.
Rarely is the case that we will not return to a location for updated material, try new techniques, and present it all to the visitors of the Haunted Scotland website. We find this keeps material up to date, interest in our stunning Scottish locations high, and that little possibility of further mysterious activity to add to the in-depth files we already possess.
This was the case with Balavird Castle, which was visited this past Thursday (12/02)
Castle Menzies is a spectacular sixteenth century castle which was restored by the Menzies Clan Society. This has been the Seat of the Chiefs of Clan Menzies for over 400 years and importantly situated, it was involved in the turbulent history of the Highlands. Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Stuart Pretender to the throne, rested for two nights in the Castle on his way to the Battle of Culloden in 1746. It is located a little to the west of the small village of Weem, near Aberfeldy in the Perthshire highlands, close to the former site of Weem Castle, destroyed c. 1502.
The Old Ship Inn, was Established in 1665 in the city of Perth in Scotland. The stunning little public house – which incidentally is Perth oldest one – sits at 31 Hight St in Perth, not far from the famous River Tay, that runs through this part of Scotland.
In times gone by, this location would have been a second home to sailors who would come off the ships on the Tay, and as they do, had a jolly old-time while moored.
On Friday 24th of October, as part of the mystery tour in Perth, we joined up with Lynne & Gary Knight, Barry Fitzgerald, Donna Costello and Bryan Boyle.
The purpose was to lightly search within 4 locations for any possible signs of paranormal activity.
The Mercure Hotel is one of the most unique locations in Perth, set in a 15th century watermill, you can still watch the water trickling through the original water wheel from the garden, reception area and Lounge Bar.
So what paranormal activity do we have occurring in this location?
Greyfriars Burial Ground was established in 1580 when the kirkyard of St John’s Kirk ran out of space for more graves. The site was chosen due to its long-established religious tradition. First off, this is easy to confuse with the notorious Greyfriars Kirkyard in Edinburgh, with its world-famous activity from within the Covenanter’s prison area. This specific one I speak of here is based in the City of Perth.
This is the full final cut video presentation, which includes opening information, spiritual impressions with Bryan Boyle, and finishes with a few possible spirit voice captures via the Echovox application.