Glamis Castle is a stunning property, located in the region of Angus in Scotland, surrounded by beautiful countryside, it has been a home to royalty, and is the sort of place where one can only dream of living. Built in the 14th Century it is the seat of the Lyon family. The castle you see today was largely constructed in the 18th century, and was the childhood home of the late Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother . Her second daughter, Princess Margaret was born there on 21 August 1930.

Glamis was originally the location of a Royal Hunting lodge, where in the year 1034 Malcolm II, The King of Alban died a violent death, supposedly when fighting bandits in the area. It was nearby, in Eassie Burn (watercourse) that the Eassie stone was discovered in the late 18th Century, a Pictish stone (pictured below) carved with a cross and other images, it has been dated back to the mid 8th Century. With such a fine history, it is no surprise that this grand old building is brimming with Legends and Ghosts.

The Woman without a Tongue

The most reported of Glamis spectral inhabitants, and the most chilling, is the ghost of the woman with no tongue. She has been sighted wandering around the grounds pointing to her badly wounded face.

People also claim to have seen her staring mournfully out from a barred window within the castle. No one is certain who this unfortunate spirit could be or what may have happened to her.

The Grey Lady

Another phantom oft seen stalking Glamis halls is that of a Grey Lady, said to be the ghost of Lady Janet Douglas, her first husband was John Lyon the Lord of Glamis. when he died in 1528, people whispered that she had poisoned him, she was however cleared of this crime, and went on to marry again, this time to a man called Archibald Campbell of Skipness.

She finally met her grisly end at the stake , where she was burned for being a witch in 1537, after being accused of conspiring to poison King James V of Scotland

The Young Servant Boy

The shade of a young servant boy has been seen sitting on a stone seat close to the door of the Queen’s room He is completely silent, and has never been seen anywhere else in the Castle.

Ghost of Earl Beardie

The legend of Earl Beardie is a horrifying one. He is the most infamous of Glamis Castle’s ghosts. Earl Beardie’s real name was Alexander Lindsay, 4th Earl of Crawford. He was what we in the business call a Wrong ‘Un’, a cruel, twisted man, a heavy drinker, his spectre is seen, heard, and felt throughout the castle, with reports of children being awoken at night to find his shadowy figure standing over their bed.

His ghost resides in a secret room in the castle, gambling with the Devil for all eternity. The legend goes, he was visiting the castle one Sunday night, upon returning to his room, he was shouting in a drunken rage for someone to come and play cards with him. Nobody wanted to take him up on his offer as it was the Sabbath, so he finally declared that he’d play the Devil himself.

Shortly after, there was a knock at the door, it was a tall gentleman in a long dark coat, and he asked if Earl Beardie still needed someone to join him in a game of cards. The Earl agreed to play the man, and they retired to a room in the castle, slammed the door shut, and proceeded to gamble.

Later that night one of the servants overheard a commotion in the room, and bravely looking through the keyhole, saw the Earl ranting at a tall, smokey figure. Within moments the poor servant was blinded in one eye by a bright light. Earl Beardie, - at least the living Earl Beardie - was never seen again.

The Monster of Glamis

Another of the castle legends is that of the Monster of Glamis, a rather tragic tale. Said to be a deformed child born to the Lyon family in the 1820’s this poor infant was believed to have died shortly after his birth. However some guests to the castle claimed the child lived, was disinherited, and locked away in a secret room, only being allowed out to walk the roofs at night. His ghost now haunts the section of the parapets known as “The Mad Earl’s Walk.” The room where he was supposed to have lived was believed to have been sealed up in the 1920’s after his death .

An alternative version of the legend says that to every generation of the family a vampire child is born and walled up in that room.

Other Tales

The Ogilvy Clan fled to Glamis Castle seeking refuge during a conflict with the Lindsay Clan. Lord Glamis welcomed them and hid them in a secret chamber. However, as a friend of the Lindsays, the Earl sealed the door and left the Ogilvy’s to starve. Years later the skeletons of the Ogilvy’s were discovered when strange sounds were heard coming from the concealed room.

There is another tale of a monster, this one is said to have dwelt in Loch Calder near the castle, a thing so terrifying no one will speak of it.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog my friend, I do hope you didn’t find it to unsettling and that you will be able to find a restful nights sleep. If you enjoy stories of ghosts, monsters, and the uncanny, please consider supporting me by purchasing a copy of my book ‘Fireside Horror,’ a novel told in short stories, each one certain to send a shiver down your spine. Available on Amazon and Audible, Link Below.

Until next time, stay spooky.

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Ghosts and Legends of Glamis Castle