Mysterious Britain & Ireland

Country and County: Dumfries and Galloway

Apparitions / Hauntings / Road Ghosts

A75, Kinmount Straight

Hauntings on the A75 Kinmount Straight in South West Scotland have led to it being called ‘the Ghost Road.’ Here is a brief list of some of the more famous sightings along this route.

1957
A lorry driver ran into a couple crossing the road arm-in-arm in front of his lorry, but when he stopped the accident victims had vanished: sometime in 1957.

Apparitions / Hauntings

Drumlanrig Castle

Only the cellars remain of the original 14th century castle in which Mary Queen of Scots stayed in 1563. The mansion, which now stands on the site, was built in the 1700s for William Douglas, the first Duke of Queensberry. Bonnie Prince Charlie stayed at the castle in 1745, after his unsuccessful invasion of England.

Festivals / Folklore / July

Common Riding, Langholm

Every last Friday in July is the Common Riding in Langholm. The festival dates back to the 1700s when rights to common lands were awarded to the burgh of Langholm – although it takes place on the date of an earlier fair. These lands were marked out by ditches cairns and beacons, which originally fell to the responsibility of one man.

Ancient Sites / Early Christianity

Ruthwell Cross

The cross is thought to date back to the late seventh century, an early period in the development of Christianity in the area, which spread here from Northumberland. It has been recognised as one of the most important early Christian crosses in Britain.

Hauntings / Legends

Rockhall Tower House

The tower house, now a hotel, is an altered 17th century tower-house built by Sir William Grierson. The tower-house reputed to be haunted by the spectre of a whistle-blowing monkey, the spirit of Sir Robert Grierson’s pet, which was killed by servants after his death.

Hauntings

Rammerscales Mansion

The ghost of James Mounsey, builder of the house and former physician to the Russian Royal family, haunts Rammerscales Mansion . Mounsey gained fame and wealth as doctor to Czar Peter, but when Czar Peter III was murdered Mounsey fled Russia and returned to Scotland. He became convinced that secret agents were trying to kill him and faked his own funeral.

Apparitions / Hauntings / Legends

Closeburn Castle

Many ancient families are associated with omens and signs that traditionally tell of death or illness in the family line. These omens range from radiant boys, banshees, phantom drummers and various animals. The Kirkpatrick family who inhabited Closeburn Castle have their own specially symbol of misfortune: that of a swan with a bloody breast, relating to an old family story.

Ancient Sites / Stone Circles

The Twelve Apostles (Stone Circle)

The twelve apostles, although the largest stone circle in Scotland and the fifth in Britain, tends to be overlooked because it is not visually that impressive. The circle consists of eleven squat boulders of a probable twelve, constructed in a flattened circle, some 88M in diameter at its widest.

Hauntings

Spedlins Tower

The tower dates from the 15th century, became ruinous in the 19th century, and was later restored in the 1960’s to its present state. The tower was the occupied by the Jardine family until they moved to a nearby mansion.