Nowhere does Halloween like America but this year if your family is looking for history and atmosphere on All Hallow’s Eve then you should definitely let Scotland cast its spell. Here is Tots2Travel’s Top 5 spooky days out to frighten your little devils.
1 EDINBURGH The Real Mary King’s Close – what’s underneath your feet in Edinburgh can make you shudder – Mary King’s Close is a seriously creepy subterranean warren of underground streets. A few hundred years ago this close was home to entire families therefore all age of visitor can relate to the tales unravelling before them. Many ghost-hunters have explored the streets to see if the area is haunted but most modern tourists are attracted to the social history experience on offer.
The worst version of the close’s story is that the streets were bricked up during an outbreak of the plague leaving the inhabitants to slowly perish. Discover the truth from costumed tour guides who uncover a slice of Edinburgh street life frozen in time since the 17th century.
2 AYRSHIRE – One of Scotland’s best loved hoot of a poem about witches, the devil and haunted graveyards is ‘Tam O’ Shanter’. Its liveliness engages kids with Scots literature, if you don’t mind the booze references. The poem tells the raucous tale of drunken Tam who walks home inebriated and spies witches having a fair old party accompanied on the bagpipes by the Devil in Kirk Alloway. When Tam’s spotted by the wildest witch, Cutty Sark, the coven makes chase but Tam escapes over Brig o’ Doon on his trusty mare Meg. The tale’s a whirlwind of witches, music, pub banter and devilment. By taking a trip to Ayrshire you can visit Kirk Alloway, the bridge Tam famously galloped over, the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum and the Tam O’ Shanter Inn.
3 Nr EDINBURGH – Rosslyn Chapel – only a few miles to the south-east of Edinburgh is a truly mesmerising small chapel that shot to fame in the ‘The Da Vinci Code’.
The carvings are so intricate, compelling and prolific that finding a spooky selection is an activity for the little ones – how many green men can you find? Or you can tell them the eery tale of the apprentice, murdered by his jealous master after creating the impressive Apprentice Pillar.
4 ABERDEENSHIRE – Slain’s Castle – North of Aberdeen is the small fishing village of Cruden Bay and a short walk from here are the ruins of Slains Castle. A crumbling castle is always atmospheric but this particular one piqued the imagination of author Bram Stoker. It’s said to have inspired his famous novel ‘Dracula’. Would your kids like to visit a spooky castle that led to the creation of the world’s most famous vampire? The Walk Highlands website gives a detailed description of the route to the castle and what it entails so you can see if distances and terrain suits your family.
5 LEWIS/ORKNEY/SHETLAND – Stone Circle – if you want to go for something less obvious, perhaps leaning towards the pagan or spiritual rather than witches or ghouls, then an atmospheric stone circle may inspire your little ones. Some of the best stone circles in Scotland can be found in Orkney, Shetland and Lewis but there are some on the mainland too – click here to find out more from Visit Scotland.
Whatever you choose please do make sure your Halloween is terrifyingly terrific…
[Additional Notes – The Real Mary King’s Close – Over 5’s only, however visitors with children under 5 can book tours 1 hour and 15 minutes apart to swap over allowing both parents to visit.]
Lakisha
I love Halloween its one of my favorite holidays and I would love to experience it in another country. I would probably find all the green men in Rosslyn Chapel. lol
tots2travel
Rosslyn is mind blowing, no pictures can do justice to the craftsmanship – especially when you think they were working before electricity, power tools etc!
The Traveling Gals
Ooh those all sound like seriously spooky places. Great article!
tots2travel
I love the history and stories behind them all e.g. Tam O Shanter’s one of my favourite poems so to be able to visit so much linked to it is pretty cool.
Maggie
Love spooky places and stories! These looks awesome.
Maggie
Love spooky places and stories. These look awesome!
tots2travel
I love a bit of history too.
DT
Wow, they ARE spooky!
— DT | Here I Scribble
Stacey Eckert (@HomemakerStacey)
It would be a dream come true to be able to visit Scotland during the holidays! Wow, it looks really spooky! I love all the history behind it!
tots2travel
I’ve visited Edinburgh loads of times and had no idea what was under my feet. There’s a lot of subterranean Edinburgh! Hope you get to visit soon.
Ally Fiesta
I get spooked easily so this would be ultra scary for me! I like the glamour part of Halloween 🙂
tots2travel
You’ll love this then. I used to be girl number one, now heading towards number 2 https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=725860987547990&pnref=story
Emily, Our house now a home
With all of that natural history it is a given that it would be spooky for sure. I visited Scotland when I was in middle school and it was such a beautiful place, there was a feeling of mystery around with with all of the old buildings.
tots2travel
School trips can be comedy! Where did they take you? Edinburgh and Glasgow I’m guessing.
Bianca
I am such a huge fan of spooky places! This is great!
tots2travel
Thanks!
lorigraceh
My niece has Scottish ancestry. I’m going to share this with her. She’ll absolutely love it/1
tots2travel
That’s a nice gesture – I hope she enjoys it and sees a new side to Scotland.
Samantha
Halloween is probably one of my favourite holidays! It’s so spooky and great and I love watching scary movies, visiting haunted places – so cool! Great post!!
tots2travel
Thanks. Hope you have a spooky time.
thenavynest
Incredible. I am seriously so jealous and my husband would be too. We love traveling and we love Halloween. This looks amazing.
tots2travel
Thanks. Hope you make it to Scotland soon.
Johanny
Talking about Halloween, I visited an amazing place in Phillip- Easter State Penitentiary! It was crazy!!!
tots2travel
Ok, I’ve been to Alcatraz – bit predictable I know but never Phillip Easter State Penitentiary. Is it still operational or a historic site? I’ve never heard of it.
My Desert Love
Wow – my kids love historic memoirs and contemplating all the different ways of life. This would certainly be an incredible trip for them. To get a real taste of the past! Thanks for sharing!
tots2travel
The Real Mary’s Kings Close would be right up their street then. I’d never want to be there after it closes though!!!
Kristy
I didn’t know all the this history of Scotland. Thanks for sharing.
tots2travel
Thanks.
anniesnomsblog
Having been born and bred in the UK, it amazes me how there can be such amazing things that I didn’t know were almost on my doorstep! These places look seriously fabulous, I’m going to have to take a trip!
tots2travel
On your doorstep and sometimes literally under your feet 🙂
Britney
Not sure what happened to my comment, I’ve had a couple issues commenting on blogs today.. maybe it’s the lack of coffee lol!
Now back to what I had said earlier lol. I would love to visit these places. I’d probably chicken out, but within reason, I suppose. I love scary things, but I hate them, it’s a love/hate relationship. The most I’ve visited was made up haunted houses and those scare me, but it’s awesome knowing these places are all over the world! If I ever get the chance to visit Scotland (it’s on my one day list) I will try to get into one of these places for a visit for sure!
Evi
Looks like a lot of fun! I love the history behind it! I would love to go The Real Mary’s King Close!
Lauren White
I love Halloween and those look like some super spooky places! 🙂 I’d love to travel there someday!
andelec
Halloween or not, I would love to visit Scotland!! Definitely on my list of places to explore!
tots2travel
So much to do for its size – really good mix of city, nature, cosmopolitan then wilderness. Hope you make it one day.
andelec
Halloween or not, I would love to visit Scotland! It is definitely on my list of places to explore!!
Emily Rose
Underground streets and secret tunnels! How exciting!! I would love to go here and take a look around. Plus the spooky castles. I never really thought about it before, but it might be cool to go twice to the same castle once at night and once in daylight. It would be interesting to experience the difference! Thanks for sharing!
tots2travel
I did that with a temple in Malaysia as by night it was beautifully lit up. Definitely worth seeing twice.