15 Witchy Things To Do In Scotland
If you’re looking for witchy things to do in Scotland, you’ve certainly come to the right place. When I first visited Scotland back in 2017, I couldn’t shake the eerie feeling like I had come home. In 2020, the pandemic hit and I found myself in lockdown in Glasgow with my Scottish partner. Suddenly it’s 2021 and I’m married with a flat in the East End having recently discovered most of my Grandmother’s family come from Saltmarket just twenty minutes walk from my tenement apartment in Dennistoun. Combine that with my Grandfather’s Shetland origins and I’m beginning to think that strange feeling I had all those years ago was actually my ancestors welcoming me home.
Scotland is old. Like, really old. The country’s history is also macabre, to say the least. For a witchy woman such as myself, the superstitions of yore, supernatural occurrences and spooky legends passed from generation to generation have always fascinated me - long before I set foot in the UK. Witches and witchcraft in particular make for a formative and fascinating chapter in the history of the country, with numerous local tales to read about from Wick to Ayr.
What were the witch trials in Scotland?
The witch craze in Scotland began in 1590 when a group of people from North Berwick were tried for witchcraft. A group of mostly women were accused of meeting with the Devil and conjuring up storms to murder King James VI..
King James had sailed to Copenhagen to marry Anne of Denmark. Upon their return to Scotland, they experienced terrible storms and had to shelter in Norway for almost two months. The storms were blamed on the wife of an official in Copenhagen who under torture divulged the names of five other women. Several confessed under torture to having met with the Devil and devoting themselves to doing his bidding, including poisoning the King and other members of his household as well as attempting to sink his ship.
Upon hearing the news from Denmark, King James set up his own tribunal here in Scotland. More than a hundred suspects in North Berwick were arrested. James personally examined the accused before composing his very own treatise called Daemonologie. Panic spread and by the early 18th century, 4000 people had been tried and executed for witchcraft.
Witchy Things To Do in Scotland
For more information about the witchcraft trials in Scotland, take a look at the Survey of Scottish Witchcraft Database. It offers a fascinating glimpse into the country’s bloody history which overwhelmingly impacted women and young girls.
If you’re planning a trip to Scotland, I highly recommend finding some witchy things to do. From standing stands and memorials to markets and haunted castles, Scotland has many tales of fascinating myth and legend, ghosts and ghouls as well as plenty of magick shops to peruse. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Pay your respects at the Paisley Witches’ Memorial
When 10-year-old Christian Shaw, the daughter of a local laird or landowner (depending on who you ask), fell mysteriously ill in 1697, she accused Katherine Campbell, her family’s servant, and Agnes Naismith, an impoverished elderly woman with a fearsome reputation, of witchcraft. It wasn’t long before thirty-five other people were accused. Seven were found guilty, including Katherine and Agnes, who both laid a curse on both the town of Paisley and the witnesses to their execution before they were burnt at the stake. Their remains were buried at a crossroads with a horseshoe set in the road, which was supposed to prevent their spirits from returning.
In the 1960s, the horseshoe marking the burial spot disappeared while roadwork was being carried out. Chaos ensued and the economic decline in Paisley since then has been largely blamed on the witches’ curse. In May 2008, a bronze memorial was erected with a stainless steel horseshoe embedded in it. The memorial can be seen today where Maxwellton Street crosses George Street and includes the inscription Pain Inflicted, Suffering Endured, Injustice Done.
Visit the Leith Witchcraft Market
The Leith Witchcraft Market is a hugely popular local market held in Edinburgh. The market aims to bring attention to “traditional witchcraft, folklore and seasonal celebrations” and is held on every major pagan celebration including Samhain and Yule. At the market, you’ll find local traders peddling sustainable, ethically sourced handmade items, thrifted treasures and responsibly foraged elements from the Earth, as well as magick practitioners offering guidance and advice with tarot, divination and potions.
Stroll through The Glasgow Necropolis
Sitting atop a small yet formidable hill to the east of the city centre you’ll find The Glasgow Necropolis. Established in 1832, more than 50,000 people have been buried there, making it one of the largest cemeteries in the northern hemisphere.
The Necropolis was one of the few cemeteries that kept records of the dead, which information ranging from profession, age and gender to cause of death. It’s a fascinating place for a walk with a number of legends and myths surrounding the graves, ghosts and ghouls that live there. The most popular tale you’ll hear from locals is the famed Woman in White, a ghostly figure often spotted through the tombstones. Many visitors have also claimed to hear disembodied whispers and cries and of course, there’s the statue on one of the graves who loves to turn her head and have a nosey as people walk past.
Rumour around the neighbourhood is that if you wander up to the necropolis on a full moon, you may catch a glimpse of the local coven. For a less spooky activity, you could also head across the street to the Glasgow Cathedral (erected between AD 1136 and 1484) or to Duke Street for a coffee and a cake.
For more information about the necropolis, including its history and ongoing renovation and preservation projects, have a look at the Friends of Glasgow Necropolis website.
Stay at the Cathedral House Hotel
Fancy a stay at the most haunted hotel in Glasgow?
Designed and built in a stunning Scottish Baronial style in 1896, the Cathedral House Hotel is a beautiful, family-owned bed and breakfast just twenty minutes’ walk from Glasgow’s Merchant City. Originally built as a hostel and halfway house for former female inmates released from Duke Street Prison, Cathedral House held prisoners from all over Scotland. As a result, many Suffragettes and political activists were kept there until protests over the living conditions of the prison would eventually result in its closure in 1955.
Today, the only remaining evidence of the infamous Duke Street Prison is some of the boundary walls and of course, Cathedral House, which overlooks the Glasgow Necropolis. The most common apparition is a ghost on the stairs who loves to brush up against people - and of course, there’s the phantom children heard running about on the top floor.
If you’d like to check out Cathedral House but don’t fancy a stay, you could always grab a bite at Celentano’s - the hotel’s highly-rated Italian restaurant.
Pick up supplies
Black Moon Botanica
Edinburgh-based Black Moon Botanica is described online as a candlemaker and purveyor of esoteric and magickal goods. It’s a cosy but riveting place to toil away an afternoon, with books, herbal blends, tarot cards and more available in-store and online.
Opal Moon
Opal Moon was the very first witchy store I found in Glasgow when I moved here. Established in 1991, it’s a magical wee shop in the city’s charming West End offering fair trade, ethically produced spiritual supplies for the mind, body and spirit - from spell books and tarot cards to Tibetan singing bowls, crystals and incense.
The Wee Witch Shop
When I stumbled across The Wee Witch Shop on Tik Tok of all places I couldn’t believe my luck. Run by Kerri, a practising Celtic witch, the store is packed full of crystals, books, oracle cards, herbal remedies, pendulums, altar accessories, jewellery and so much more. Kerri is one of the friendliest people I’ve met since moving to Glasgow and her wee shop is well worth a look.
Visit Psychic Sally
If you’re local to Glasgow you’ve definitely heard of Psychic Sally. Contrary to popular belief, there’s so much more to Sally than the “psychic lady who’ll tell you your future for a tenner”. She pops up every so often at the Barras’ Market in the East End of Glasgow and is well worth the trip into Gallowgate.
Find The Witches’ Well
The Witches’ Well was commissioned in 1894 by philanthropist Sir Patrick Geddes, who asked his pal John Duncan to design a drinking fountain next to Ramsay Garden in Edinburgh. Today it’s an easily missed cast iron plaque and fountain located on The Royal Mile, fixed to the wall of the Tartan Weaving Mill and Experience that faces the castle esplanade.
More than a million tourists and locals alike visit Edinburgh Castle every year, yet many are unaware that the ground they’re walking on has since the bloody deaths of thousands of accused witches. During the Scottish witch trials, many accused were denied a proper burial and left where they perished meaning The Royal Mile leading up to Scotland’s most famous castle is both a pathway and a mass grave.
You wouldn’t guess it now but during the satanic panic, more people were murdered on the site of the Witches’ Well than anywhere else in Scotland. While the memorial is far less grand and imposing than Edinburgh Castle, it’s still worth a look as you wander up and down The Royal Mile. John Duncan was heavily influenced by Celtic myths and legends, which is evident in the design.
Honour thy ancestors at The Callanish Standing Stones
The Calanais Standing Stones is a cross-shaped set of thirteen standing stones erected approximately 5,000 years ago. Overlooking Loch Roag above the Village of Calanais on the Isle of Lewis, the stones were sourced by Neolithic people between 2900 and 2600 BC. They predate even Stonehenge and were an important place of ritual activity for at least 2,000 years. If you’re looking for somewhere to reconnect with the ancient people of yore, it doesn’t get any better than this.
Watch the Beltane Fire Festival
Since 1988, The Beltane Fire Festival has commemorated the ancient rituals and traditions of Beltane, an ancient Celtic celebration that signals the arrival of summer. It’s the largest celebration of its kind in the world and every year tourists and locals alike gather at Carlton Hill in Edinburgh to revel in the return of the sun with glowing bright fires, the pounding of drums, and a cavalcade of characters. The festival is a sight to see and well worth a look if you happen to be in Edinburgh around the end of April.
Visit Maggie Wall’s Memorial
Less than a mile outside the village of Dunnings, in the former parklands of Duncrub Castle, sits Maggie’s Wall Memorial - a collection of stones about 20 feet high, topped with a cross and decorated with a diverse array of gifts including pennies, bird feathers, seashells, stuffed animals and candles. In stark white lettering, the stones bear the words Maggie Wall burnt here 1657 as a witch. The problem is, there is no record of a woman named Maggie Wall being tried and executed for witchcraft. There is also no record of the monument itself until 1866, although the surrounding forest has been known as Maggie Wall Wood since at least 1829.
It’s highly likely Maggie did in fact exist but her records just didn’t survive. Some say she was a maid accused of witchcraft due to a dalliance with the son of a local laird - there is also speculation that Maggie had an affair with the lord himself. She could have also been a healer or perhaps one of several women who protested against the treatment of a local minister in the late 17th century. At the time, women were often singled out in their communities for being too outspoken, too loud and/or too opinionated.
Whoever she was, mystery, myth and legend surround the memorial of Maggie Wall. If you can’t make it up to Perth and Kinross, you could pop by the Saracen Head Pub in Glasgow where Maggie’s skull is allegedly on show although it’s never been proven.
Stay at the Witches Craig Caravan & Camping Park
Witches Craig Caravan & Camping Park is a stunning spot overlooking the Wallace Monument in Stirling. The area has a long and interesting history, with plenty of ruins to discover and explore. Behind the nearby Logie Kirk, which dates back to 1178, is a number of eerie and mysterious hills called the Ochils where rumour has it a coven of witches used to gather to dance with the devil. The most prominent hill is Carly Crag, also known as Witches Craig.
The history of the Ochils is remembered today with place names such as Devil’s Loch and Warlock Glen. Whether or not you believe the stories is up to you but regardless, Witches Craig Caravan & Camping Park is a great spot to park up for the night. Don’t forget to grab a toy witch at the park’s reception on your way out!
Walk the Fife Witches’ Trail
Edinburgh has its fair share of walking tours and trails but if you’re looking for something a little more off the beaten track there’s The Fife Watches Trail. The trail, which you’ll find as you wander down the Fife Coastal Path, commemorates the people executed there from the 16th to the 18th century. It was created by the West Fife Heritage Network, with plaques in Culross, Valleyfield and Torryburn.
Roughly 380 people in Fife were accused of witchcraft during the satanic panic - most of them women. The most famous case was Lilias Adie, also known as the Torryburn witch, the details of which were recorded in the 1704 Kirk Session Minutes. She died while awaiting trial and was buried on the mudflats of Torryburn Beach beneath a heavy slab of sandstone to prevent the devil from reanimating her.
Lilias is remembered with the second plaque on the Fife Witches’ Trail, which is located at the entrance to Valleyfield Wood. Her burial place is also marked in Torryburn, which overlooks the beach.
Visit The Forfar Witches’ Memorial
Take a wander through Forfar Loch Country Park and right off the paved path you’ll find The Forfar Witches’ Memorial. Between 1661 and 1662, fifty-three people were accused of witchcraft in the small town of Forfar. Of those fifty-three, the records of nine executions have survived - although historians believe the number to be a lot higher. The town even called in the infamous witch pricker John Kincaid.
Although the memorial is small, it’s worth a look just for the spooky factor alone. The Forfar Witch Trials have also generated a ton of local interest, and there’s even a podcast you can listen to while you wander around the park.
Get spooked at Fyvie Castle
Fyvie Castle is a magnificent 13th-century estate in Aberdeenshire. The building has seen a lot over the past 800 years and it’s considered one of the most haunted castles in Scotland. To be completely honest, one visit was enough for me. The corridor leading to the library where the grisly death mask of John Pallet is on display is about 10 degrees colder than the rest of the castle. If that’s not enough to freak you out, there are also several ghosts and ghouls roaming the castle.
There’s the ghost of Lady Meldrum, known as the Grey Lady, who died in the 13th century. She was asked to be buried in the walls of the Meldrum Tower and when her remains were discovered and moved in 1920, the castle began experiencing a number of strange ghostly occurrences which stopped when she was moved back. There’s also the ghost of Andrew Lammie, who died of a broken heart following the death of his love - the sounds of his trumpet playing have been heard throughout the castle.
Then there’s the Green Lady. Widely believed to be Dame Lilias Drummond, the wife of Sir Alexander Seton, The Green Lady roams the castle leaving behind a floral scent in her wake. Alexander longed for a son and grew impatient with Lilias after the birth of their fifth daughter. After discovering his husband had turned his attention to her cousin, Grizel Leslie, Lilias became ill and died. On their wedding night, Grizel and Alexander heard heavy sighs coming from outside their window. They thought it was the wind, but the next morning Alexander found the name D LILIAS DRUMMOND carved into the windowsill. This is where it gets really spooky - the window is about 50 feet from the ground.
The Weeping Stones of Fyvie
Fyvie Castle is also said to be cursed by Thomas the Rhymer, a psychic and fortune teller. Also known as True Thomas, he cursed the castle after attempting to take refuge during a storm. When the door slammed shut, he cursed…
Fyvie, Fyvie, thou’s never thrive
As lang’s there’s in thee stanes (stones) three
There’s ane intill (one in) the oldest tower,
There’s ane intill the ladye’s bower,
There’s ane intill the water-yett (water gate)
And thir three stanes ye never get.
Only one stone has ever been found, which can still be seen today at the castle. The other two have been lost to time. No one knows if the curse is real although in 800 years, no male heir has survived long enough to inherit Fyvie Castle.
Visit the Glasgow Witchy Bazaar
Although smaller than The Leith Witchcraft Market, the Glasgow Witchy Bazaar is still worth a visit. Hosted in The Haberdashery just off Sauchiehall Street, you can add some more crystals to your collection, get a tarot card reading or buy your first deck, or simply treat yourself to some local, handmade jewellery, art or a hand-poured candle.
For more witchy things to do in Scotland, check out Visit Scotland’s 2022 Witch Trail Map. From walking tours and potion-making to spooky castles and historic locations, it has plenty more witchy things to do for locals and tourists alike - and of course, don’t forget to check out the Witches of Scotland podcast.