Spirits of Scotland

We combine “the water of life” with the “afterlife” and believe me one too many tasting’s and you might be seeing apparitions too!
Day 1
Our First visit is to Dirleton Castle, the lands of Dirleton were acquired by the DeVaux family in the early 12th Century, the exact date of the castle you see today is unknown. Many people have reported feelings of dread and other unpleasant sensations in the area of the Dungeon and pit, see if you feel it too.

Next stop is Tantallon Castle, a formidable stronghold set atop cliffs on the Firth of Forth. Tantallon Castle was the seat of the Douglas Earls of Angus, one of the most powerful baronial families in Scotland.
Our lunch stop will be in North Berwick, it is overshadowed by North Berwick Law a 187m lump of volcanic rock which is visible for miles around. It is an attractive bustling seaside/harbour town with an abundance of eateries.

We then take you to Glenkinchie Distillery (the home of The Edinburgh Malt) for some Dutch courage before bringing you down to Dryburgh Abbey in the Scottish Borders, on the banks of the River Tweed, it was founded in 1152 by Premonstratensian monks, on a site perhaps made sacred by Saint Modan around the year 600. It was founded by monks from Alnwick on land owned by Hugh de Morville, Lord of Lauderdale. It was burned by English troops in 1322, after which it was restored and patronised by Robert I of Scotland. It was again burned in 1385, but it flourished in the fifteenth century. It was finally destroyed in 1544, briefly to survive until the Scottish Reformation, when it was given to the Earl of Mar by James VI of Scotland. Visit the Abbey before we drop you at your overnight accommodation in the Dryburgh Abbey Hotel, many guests have reported seeing a grey lady thought to have been a former Lady of the Manor who fell in love with one of the monks at the nearby abbey, when their affair was uncovered he was put to death and she took her own life by jumping off a nearby bridge. We won’t tell you the room number; suffice to say staff won’t enter it alone.....

DAY 2
Our First stop today is Jedburgh Castle Jail, this has a decidedly creepy feel and yet it was built in 1823 as a Howard Reform Prison so the prisoners were not badly treated. The fact that it is built on the site of the medieval castle (which was destroyed in 1409 to stop it being used by the invading English) might explain the dark atmosphere.

Our second visit is Mary Queen of Scots House, this house was actually owned by the Kerr’s of Ferniehirst Castle and is a fine example of a Pele Tower home of the Border Reivers. In October 1566 Mary was presiding over the Courts at Jedburgh when she heard that The Earl of Bothwell had been injured. She rode cross country to Hermitage Castle to visit him (driving today it takes 45 minutes) on the return trip she fell from her horse and spent the next 4 weeks recovering, during that time she caught a fever and almost died.

For those who wish we can also visit the Abbey, built in 1138 by King David 1st of Scotland and home to Augustinian Canons. It was here during the wedding ceremony of Alexander III and Yolande de Dreux that a ghostly figure rose up before the congregation and foretold the Kings death, he died the following year after falling from his horse.

Lunch will be in one of the many fine Pubs/Restaurants in Jedburgh.

After lunch we will travel south to the eerie Hermitage Castle, even on a summer’s day it sends a shiver down your spine. Radio Scotland once broadcast that it was the embodiment of “Sod Off” in stone, when you see it you’ll know why. It has a very blood thirsty history with one of its past owners reputedly an evil wizard much feared by the local’s; they apparently had enough of him and boiled him alive in molten lead.
Our overnight accommodation is The Cross Keys Hotel, it is the oldest continuously operating pub/inn in Peebles, the vintner Ritchie acquired it in 1693 and his daughter Marion was the inspiration for Meg Dodd’s in Sir Walter Scott’s Waverley novels. (She is also the resident ghost).

Day 3
We head on up to Rosslyn Chapel, famous after The Da Vinci Code but still seriously spooky, the pillar shown is the Apprentice Pillar, the legend goes that the master mason had a mental block and went off to Europe for inspiration, his apprentice had a vision and started carving the pillar, when the master mason returned and saw the finished article he was filled with such a jealous rage that he struck the apprentice such a blow that he killed him. Rosslyn is also believed to be the gateway to the afterlife.
We will stop for lunch at the Ratho Bridge Inn where you can dine on locally produced food and look out on the canal with its barges passing by.

Linlithgow Palace is our next stop after lunch, This is where Mary Stewart was born on 8th December 1542, her father James V died 6 days later and she was crowned queen whilst still an infant.
The first mention of Linlithgow as a royal residence is in 1301 when Edward 1st of England took the House and fortified it, the English stayed for over a decade and eventually left in 1314 after their defeat at Bannockburn. James 1st of Scotland started rebuilding in 1425 after a fire in 1424 destroyed the House and much of the town, His descendents all left their mark in the shape of improvements to the palace over the years.

The palace is said to be haunted by Mary of Guise (mother of Mary Queen of Scots) and also a Blue lady is said to walk from the entrance to the palace to the nearby parish church of St Michael.
St. Magdalene Distillery also known as Linlithgow Distillery was established in the 1790s and was at one time operated by Adam Dawson.