Search fails to scare up Castle ghosts

Published on Sunday 29 October 2006 00:32

NERVOUS squaddies posted to Edinburgh Castle need no longer hide under their duvets for fear of ghosts.

While stories of the Headless Drummer, the Tunnel Piper, the Ghost Dog and the former inmates of the Castle's dungeons have terrified locals and visitors for generations, soldiers posted on guard duty have never noticed anything going bump in the night.

The Ministry of Defence says that despite guards being on duty for decades at the Castle it has no evidence of ghosts around the historic buildings.

Officials have scoured 30 years' worth of guards' reports and files in reply to a Freedom of Information request, but have admitted their records contain nothing relating to the supernatural.

Ghost-hunters had hoped the papers might have hinted at the likes of soldiers hearing footsteps and then finding no-one around when they went to investigate, or unexplained noises or sights. Military regulations require soldiers on guard duty to maintain logs of what happens on their watch.

But an Edinburgh Castle spokesman for the army in Scotland said: "Our files have nothing in them relating to any possible incidences of ghosts or the supernatural."

An insider added: "It's a bit disappointing, there are supposed to be about five or six ghosts around. On the face of it, you would wonder how we manage to sleep at night."

But one of Edinburgh's intrepid band of ghost-hunters was undeterred by the MoD's failure to come up with evidence for ghoulish goings-on.

Robin Bankhead, assistant manager of Witchery Tours, said: "Maybe the ghosts swore the guards to secrecy after encounters - they are men and women of their honour after all. But we have incontrovertible evidence of ghosts around Edinburgh and we know where to find them."

Historic Scotland has no official position on whether or not there are ghosts at Edinburgh Castle, or anywhere else, but retains records of legends and makes tales of the ghostly available to anyone interested.

A Historic Scotland spokeswoman said: "Edinburgh Castle encompasses hundreds of years of history, it was the site of many great and important events in Scottish history, hundreds have lived, and indeed died, within its walls, but are there any supernatural reminders of this turbulent past at Edinburgh Castle?

"I guess we will never know for sure, but as long as there are stories and legends of such things, an air of intrigue will surround the castle, one which can only enhance its continuing appeal to our visitors."