Ghosts of Tolquhon Castle

The oldest part of Tolquhon Castle is the tower house, which dates from the early 1400s and was originally held by the Preston family, but inherited by the Forbes family in 1420 following Henry Preston's death.

In the next major chapter of the castle's history, William Forbes, 7th Laird of Tolquhon, began extensive work on the castle in 1584, retaining Preston's Tower while adding more comfortable accommodations, resulting in a three-story residential block, with other ranges of buildings surrounding a rectangular courtyard.

The castle was built for display rather than defense. The Forbes family lived at the castle until 1718, when they were forced to leave due to debt, and the castle began to fall into ruin.

Despite its peaceful setting, Tolquhon Castle is still home to a few restless spirits.

Among these stories, local legends claim that the ruins are haunted by a former lord accused of witchcraft, whose spirit is said to still linger in the castle. The lord is thought to date back to the time of King James VI, known for his interest in demonology and witch hunts, but the legends remain vague on dates and details.

Recent sightings tell of a spectral White Lady—slim, draped in a trailing white dress—standing silently at the top of the spiral staircase. Her face, grief-stricken, stares out over the ruins, yet no tale or record reveals her story or name.

Folklore mentions a spectral horse and rider who haunt the former stable area. The Custodian's House, near the castle, has also encountered unexplained knocking on the windows several times, often at night.