‘Ghost’ caught on camera at Drum Castle

A 'strange mist', believed to be a ghost, was caught on the castle's webcam. Picture: Contributed

The spooky image was recorded on the motion-activated webcam at Drum Castle, Aberdeenshire.

The National Trust for Scotland’s wildlife team set up cameras in the castle’s stables as part of a project to observe a nesting family of swallows this summer

But when checking the pictures captured overnight they discovered the mysterious image, described as a “strange mist”.

Since the webcam is motion-activated, something with a physical presence must have triggered the camera to take the picture but staff are certain the mist was not caused by a swallow or an insect.

Dr Alison Burke, the National Trust for Scotland’s Property Manager at Drum Castle said: “Everyone tells me that Drum Castle is a haunted place and that there are strange happenings here.

“I have always been highly sceptical but there have been too many inexplicable events that cannot be ignored.

“I have to admit, when I checked the camera and found this image a cold shiver ran down my spine.”

The creepy photo is the latest in a line of spooky goings on at the castle, near Banchory.

The old stables where the mysterious mist was captured are regarded by staff and volunteers as having a fairly odd atmosphere.

At the stables and in the adjacent garden that people have reported hearing two women laughing together despite no-one being present.

Other strange occurrences include sightings of a female figure believed to be Anna Forbes, wife of the 20th laird. Heavy footsteps have also been heard in the stone-floored corridor.

In the castle’s Chintz Bedroom, which is said to be very cold, linen and items in the dresser have been moved when no-one had access to the room.

William de Irwyn was gifted the Royal Forest of Drum and the Tower of Drum by King Robert the Bruce in 1323, making it one of Scotland’s oldest tower houses.

The tower has had various improvements over the centuries, including a Jacobean mansion house extension in 1619 built by Alexander Irvine and his wife Marion Douglas.

But the Irvine family hit financial trouble later in the 17th century, leading to much of the estate -- except the castle and surrounding land -- being lost.

They family found were the losing side in both the 1715 and 1745 Jacobite uprisings.

Mary Irvine hid her brother, the 17th laird, in a secret chamber at Drum to save him from capture by the Redcoats after Culloden.

By the 19th century the family’s fortunes were on the up and they made various alterations to the castle, including the 1876 extension which added corridors and an entrance hall to the castle, designed by the architect David Bryce and built by his nephew.

The castle, garden and estate has been in the care of the National Trust for Scotland since 1976.