Ghostly Hound of Barnbougle Castle

Barnbougle Castle sits far from any main roads, on the banks of the Firth of Forth, set amongst the Dalmeny Estate. The castle was originally built in the 13th century by the Moubray Family, passing from family to family before eventually landing with the Earls of Rosebery who still own it today.

While the castle was abandoned for the grand Dalmeny House built nearby, it was completely rebuilt in the 1800s as a library and quiet space for Prime Minister Lord Rosebery to practice his speeches. Barnbougle’s most famous story is a lot older than this though and explains the strange name of Hound Point, found a little further down the beach.

Sir Roger Moubray was one of the first people to live at Barnbougle Castle and was such a pious man that he was desperate to go on a crusade to fight in the Holy Land. As he climbed into the boat in a little bay, finally ready to live out his dream, he heard a strange noise coming from his home. The boat was already pushing out into the water when his hunting dog came bounding over the hill, leapt into the Forth and swam out to meet them.

Roger didn't have the heart to send his faithful hound away, so he took it along for the adventure with the dog protecting him, fighting fiercely at his side. Eventually in Palestine, Roger was struck down in a battle and the ever-faithful dog refused to abandon him, guarding his body until the battle was over.

Nobody knows what happened to the dog after Roger was gone, but ever since that day, ghostly howls have occasionally been heard from where the crusader left home at Hound Point. It's become known as a sign of impending doom and whoever the current Lord of Barnbougle is, they are said to pass away soon after.