Chasing Ghosts

The stone walls of Castle Menzies have stood for centuries, holding secrets, legends and – some say – restless souls...

- by BETH MCHUGH

By day, Castle Menzies is nothing short of idyllic. Nestled by a steep hillside, with golden fields stretching out before it, it's a pleasant spot for anyone passing through the picturesque town of Aberfeldy to visit.

But once dusk begins to fall, the ghost hunters gather at this medieval site of horror and tragedy. They remind us that this was not always a place for happy visitors to pass the day, enjoying beautiful views and learning fascinating titbits.

It was once the beating heart of Clan Menzies, their stronghold in the Highlands - and some believe their spirits haunt the castle to this day.

I'd never considered myself a likely ghost hunter, as I'm a bit of a scaredy-cat, but I do adore a castle. With History and Horror Tours's promise of a genuine spooky experience - and, crucially, no “jumper-ooters” - I couldn't resist heading to the Highlands with my fiancé, James, to explore Castle Menzies under cover of darkness.

When we arrived, we were greeted by our delightfully welcoming guides, Gary and Lynne, and the group were thoroughly briefed about what was in store for us.

Gary and Lynne were reassuring and straightforward. They'd had supernatural experiences of their own and had seen many groups face moments they couldn't explain.

But they stressed one thing - they wouldn't fake it. If the spirits weren't rowdy in the castle tonight, we'd have to be OK with that.

Lynne led us in mindfulness, and we all closed our eyes and imagined a bubble surrounding us in a place we felt happy and safe. If at any point the tour became too much, we could always return to our bubbles. This refreshing approach put me more at ease.