The Green Lady Of Crathes Castle

Every Scottish castle needs a good ghost story and Crathes Castle in Aberdeenshire is no exception. Built over 400 years ago, the beautiful harled walls of this historic tower hide a dark tale. A previous resident refuses to rest, a spectre in a flowing green dress that still terrifies visitors to this day. 

Nobody knows for sure who the Green Lady was while alive, but she’s made her presence known for centuries. Tied to one specific room of the castle, her ghostly figure, clad in green, silently glides from one shadowy corner before vanishing into the fireplace. She’s usually seen carrying a baby, weeping as she walks. 

Sometimes the Green Lady is a little more subtle, with castle guides reporting green orbs flitting past their faces or spotting a flash of colour out the corner of their eye. There have been dozens of sightings by members of the Burnett family, staff working in the castle, tourists and even Queen Victoria who visited whilst touring the countryside from Balmoral. 

We can’t be certain of the Green Ladies origins, but there are two similar tales of woe that might explain her presence. In one version, she was the daughter of a Burnett laird who fell in love with a stableboy. Falling pregnant, she managed to hide her condition for as long as possible. 

However, when the child was born, there was no way to keep her secret. Her father, upon discovering the truth, flew into a rage. Soon after, both the young woman and her baby vanished without a trace. In the second tale, the Green Lady was a servant girl who became pregnant by the laird before suffering the same tragic disappearance. 

Either way, the stories gained some credibility when evidence surfaced in the 1800s. Renovations were being carried out in the Green Lady’s Room and as workmen lifted the hearthstone of the fireplace, they made a shocking discovery. The tiny bones of a young baby had been hidden away underneath. If this was the illicit child of the mysterious Green Lady, then no wonder she couldn’t rest. 

Unfortunately, reburying those remains somewhere more suitable hasn’t allowed the Green Lady to rest. She still makes her presence known today and while not a violent ghost, an encounter with her can be chilling. 

A few years ago, Australian visitor was wandering the rooms of Crathes Castle on a quiet day. After exploring the Long Gallery at the top of the tower, she stepped onto the staircase to head down to the Green Ladies room when she heard a clear voice whisper in her ear, “Don’t go in the next room. Don’t go in. Get out. Now.” 

Terrified, she raced down the spiral staircase and fled through the main doors, past the startled guide. No amount of persuasion could convince her to return and finish the tour. We don’t know why she was singled out for the warning at Crathes Castle, but clearly the Green Lady’s story is far from over.