Scotland’s Spooky Castles are a Spine-Tingling Benefit of Membership!
For travelers drawn to ghostly adventures, few destinations rival Scotland, where history and the supernatural have unsettled visitors for centuries and the unknown continues to defy explanation.
While we don’t mean to give you the fright of your life, Chicago Scots Reciprocal Membership with the National Trust for Scotland Foundation USA provides free access to 130 heritage sites in Scotland including 20 haunted castles where ghostly chills happen every day, even more so at Halloween.
Many Chicago Scots members report that it’s hard not to get goosebumps when visiting creaking castles, haunted battlefields, or eerie woodlands. Even Scotland’s landscape of rugged cliffs and windswept moors make it easy to imagine ghouls, goblins – even the Loch Ness Monster!
Today, Scotland is widely considered the birthplace of Halloween (there are Irish roots too) and the country has seen a 39% increase in Halloween tourism over the last three years.
Even Robert Burns influenced Halloween’s popularity in his 1785 poem Hallowe’en which shared the spells, fortune-telling rituals, and supernatural beliefs of the celebration with new audiences. It’s no wonder one-third of all Scots polled believe in ghosts.
From phantom bagpipers to floating spirits, a wonderful world of hair-raising legends awaits in Scotland when you join or renew your Chicago Scots Reciprocal Membership. Here are four compelling tales from the National Trust’s ghostly archives.
Join, renew or give the gift of membership today, and experience the best of Scotland.
Fyvie Castle – The Ghost of Lilias Drummond
We have a first-hand account from a very pragmatic Chicago Scots Board member who could never shake the legend of Lilias Drummond after visiting Fyvie Castle four decades ago. He saw the unfathomable reality of this haunting with his own eyes. Legend tells that Lilias was starved to death by her husband, Alexander Seton, for failing to provide a son and heir after five daughters. On the night of his second marriage, Lilias’ ghostly laments were heard outside the marital bedchamber window – in the morning, and still visible today, her name was found freshly scratched into the windowsill 50-feet above the ground.
Culzean Castle — The Laird’s Piper
The 2026 winner of the Highland Games raffle will be spending a week at Culzean Castle next year. She will have plenty of time to explore this haunted tale in full. According to legend, a piper entered the caves beneath the castle to prove they were not haunted. His music could be heard from the cliffs above until it abruptly stopped; neither he nor his dog returned. Pipes are still said to sound from the caves, and a solitary figure is sometimes reported on Piper’s Brae.
House of Dun — The Headless Horseman
Just the visual is unforgettable and not for the faint of heart! If you have experienced the phenomenon of the House of Dun, please share your story on Chicago Scots social media. We are dying to know more. A headless rider is said to roam the lanes around the estate seeking retribution from unsuspecting travelers. The property’s lore also includes a murdered harpist heard playing mournful music and the phantom of a knight linked to a deadly betrayal.
Crathes Castle — The Green Lady
Finally, we include Crathes Castle because even Queen Victoria saw this ghost! A young woman in a green dress is said to appear beside the fireplace, sometimes cradling an infant. During 19th-century renovations, workers reportedly discovered a child’s bones beneath the hearthstone. Even Queen Victoria is counted among those said to have witnessed the mysterious figure.
For more haunted stories, explore Ghosts of the Trust, 10 of the best-known haunted castles the Trust cares for. And join Chicago Scots or renew your membership today! We are the first Saint Andrew Society in the U.S. to participate in the Trust’s reciprocal membership program. Access offers more than tours of beautiful historic properties—it opens the door to stories that have haunted Scotland for generations.
This is a great opportunity that will haunt you if you pass it up.
Receive Member Benefits on Both Sides of the Pond
Chicago Scots Benefits
Scottish Travel Guide from our Board of Governors.
Impact Supporter of Chicago Scots elder care mission at Caledonia Senior Living.
Free admission to the Annual Summer Picnic held the 1stSaturday in August on the grounds of Caledonia Senior Living since 1916!
Free admission to the Annual General Meeting and Holiday Party held the 1st Sunday in December at the Scottish Home.
Free digital programs including the Scottish American History Forum.
Invitations to Chicago Scots’ signature events: The Scottish Festival and Highland Games, the Kilted Classic Golf Tournament, the Annual Saint Andrew’s Day Gala, the Feast of the Haggis.
Exclusive discounts on tickets to the Scottish Festival & Highland Games, for shopping at ScotlandShop, and travel with Vacations by Rail.
Discount at Caledonia Senior Living & Memory Care.
National Trust for Scotland Benefits
Digital NTS USA Membership card valid for 12 months
NTS USA membership card required to enjoy free admission and parking at more than 100 heritage sites in Scotland
Free or discounted admission to all National Trust properties worldwide, including England, Wales and Northern Ireland (NTS USA membership card required)
Guide to all heritage sites and latest visitor attractions – ideal for planning vacation itineraries
National Trust for Scotland member’s magazine published 3x annually
Access to stories and news about the Trust’s collections and programs on www.nts.org.uk
Every year at our Scottish Festival & Highland Games, the Chicago Scots feature a family or an organization as our Honored Clan. This year, to recognize and celebrate its’ strong Scottish roots, our Honored Clan is Rotary International. We are proud to announce that Rotary International’s Scottish President, Gordon McInally has agreed to lead our Parade of Tartans at 12:30 p.m. Gordon will also receive the Salute to the Chieftain from the Massed Pipe Bands at approximately 6.30pm on Saturday, June 15, 2024.