Ten haunted places in Tayside to give you the spooks

Tayside has some of the most interesting ghost stories.

Some places are well-known for ghoulish goings on – others will make you look twice when you visit.

Here are just a few in Tele territory…

1. Coffin Mill

Coffin Mill

In September 5 1945, a newspaper carried a story with the title “GHOST WALKS BRIDGE DUNDEE THRONG VISITS SCENE THE WHITE LADY OF COFFIN MILL”.

A large crowd had gathered at the mill which was bounded by Brook Street. They were apparently staring at a white lady who apparently walked across the bridge over the courtyard there. So many people turned up the police were called. They called for the crowd to disperse but they got very unhappy about this.

Some young people began throwing stones at the windows and for some reason broke milk bottles at the entrance to the mill. To satisfy the public that everything was normal, a police officer and the works watchmen shone a torch went round the building shining a torch in every window they passed. According to witness reports, the ghost was supposedly a young female mill worker who got her hair stuck in machinery and was crushed to death.

The mill, in the Polepark area of the city, has since been transformed into flats.

2. HMS Unicorn

There have been numerous reports of moving shadows, cold spots and possible apparitions. People have also spoke of seeing apparitions, hearing noises or again feeling like they are being watched. The Unicorn has been the subject of many a paranomal investigation team, who all report something going on on the ship.

One of the ship’s custodians reported that he saw the figure of a man on the top deck and that his daughter heard footsteps on deck at a time when the ship was closed to visitors and there was no one else on board.

It was also featured, along with the Discovery, on an episode of Most Haunted.

3. Glamis Castle

Considered one of the most haunted places in Britain, Glamis Castle has long been the site of ghostly goings on.

The family chapel is said to be haunted by a Grey Lady, who was Lady Janet Douglas. She was burned at the stake as a witch in 1537.

There is also rumour of a woman with no tongue haunting the castle grounds, a young black boy who sits at the stone seat outside the Queen’s room and the Earl Beardie, whose spirit roams the castle, scaring children.

Glamis Castle is said to be under a curse, which is why there are so many ghostly sightings.

4. Liff Hospital

Witnesses have said to have heard footsteps in the staff housing at the mental hospital, which stopped when the person reached the top of the stairs.

They looked but couldn’t see anyone, and the building was locked so no one else could have got in or out. It is said to have happened in a nearby building as well.

5. Castle Huntly

It might be a prison now, but it’s not prisoners who are said to haunt Castle Huntly.

The most popular sighting is the White Lady, who wears flowing white robes. The legend is that she was a daughter of the Lyon family, who lived in the castle in the 1600s. Upon being discovered having an affair with a servant, she was locked in her bedroom high in the castle tower.

Unable to take being separated from her lover, she jumped (or was perhaps pushed) to her death from the bedroom window.

She has been seen on the grounds of the castle, and at the window of her old bedroom.

There is also the ghost of a young boy dressed in a sailing jacket, who has been seen in the White Lady’s room.

6. Claypotts Castle

Another White Lady is said to be resident at Claypotts Castle.

This one, thought to be the ghost of Marion Ogilvie, the mistress of Cardinal Beaton. Marion was murdered in St Andrews on May 29 1546, and witnesses are said to have seen her ghost on that date in subsequent years.

7. Den O Mains, Caird Park

Den o’ Mains, located near Mains Castle, is popular with dog-walkers, who enjoy taking leisurely strolls past the ponds.

However, if you’re thinking of taking a shortcut across the park at night, be careful you never know who you might meet along the way.

There is a witness report from 1960 from a couple in the area of Caird Park who walked past a Victorian gentleman and woman pushing a pram.

They said that they saw the clothes clearly, could hear the wheels of the pram in the gravel and that they were so close they could have touched them but when they turned around they had gone.

8. A93 north of Blairgowrie

A phantom dog has been spotted in the area, patrolling the road. It is said to spook normal pet dogs and make horses nervous.

Is this one of the “hell hounds”? Who knows!

9. Strathmartine Hospital

A former home for children, and a care facility for children and adults the site was opened as the Baldovan Institute in 1852. It became Strathmartine Hospital in 1959.

There have been lots of reports of ghostly apparitions and noises from within the grounds of the former hospital.

Some ghosthunters have said that the former hospital is “rife” with spirits of former patients and staff.

The building now lies in ruin following a devastating fire in April so the spirits in the building may lie undisturbed for a while longer.

10. Bell Street car park

This final tale takes the meaning of ‘long stay’ car park to a whole new level.

The Bell Street car park is said to have been built on top of an old cemetery, giving rise to the possibility of paranormal activity.

There have been reports of the sounds of sobbing and wailing echoing through the car park, but no one can be found crying.