THE ROYAL MILE

ABOUT

A stretch of roads between Edinburgh Castle and Holyroodhouse, the Royal Mile makes up many miles of Edinburgh’s Old Town. Several haunted locations are spotted throughout the streets, providing attractions to ghost lovers. Thanks to the abundance of these locations, the Royal Mile itself is known for crawling with ghosts.

Since the beginning of its history, the Royal Mile was home to the poorest and vilest people of the city—during the plague, bodies were left to rot in the underground Edinburgh Vaults. Murder was rampant due to no supervision, and the effect can be seen through ghost stories today.

The most popular ghost of the Royal Mile is that of the Headless Horseman, a specter that foretells doom when he appears. Real Mary King’s Close is also located on the Mile, a spot rife with the spirits of those murdered or guilty of murder. Of course, the infamous Edinburgh Vaults, where many poor souls were left to die of the plague, is another site.

With so many ghosts and haunted houses along the Royal Mile, you’re bound to see something…or someone.