Brodick Castle

The legend of the Grey Lady said to haunt spectacular Brodick Castle on Arran seems to have endured since the 1600s.

It is claimed that Oliver Cromwell sent his troops to occupy the castle in the 1650s, killing the local Duke, then his successor in battle.

During or just after these troubled time, a serving girl fell in love with the captain of the guard - and fell pregnant. She was quickly dismissed from service and disowned by her own family.

Abandoned, shunned by her relatives and left homeless and alone, she drowned herself in the Wine Port Quay close to the castle. An alternate version says she was a plague victim, locked up with two other women and left to die in the castle dungeons.

Whatever happened, the hauntings soon began...

The mysterious Grey Lady would be seen over the centuries - a spectral figure spotted in the former servant's area, but also spotted looking out over the castle battlements. It is even claimed she would follow some of the castle staff around - although only visitors noticed her.

Another Brodick Castle legend surrounds the mysterious white stag said to be seen in the grounds. Some say it only appears just before the Hamilton Clan chief is about to die.

Alternatively, the ghostly deer is believed to bring good luck to all who see it.

In 2018, a life-sized sculptures of the stag, by artist Sally Matthews and crafted from leaves of Arran whitebeam and bracken, was added to the castle grounds.