Newton Castle

Newton castle is said to be haunted by a Green Lady, a common apparition and folklore motif in many Scottish castles and fortified homes.

There are a number of stories to explain the Green Lady's origin, one story suggests that she is the phantom of Lady Jean Drummond, who unwisely fell in love with one of the Blair's of Ardblair - with whom the Drummond family were often feuding. Inevitably their true love had to be abandoned due to a fresh violent and bloody feud, and she committed suicide by drowning herself in one of the nearby lochs.

Another story suggests that a Lady at the castle wished to gain the affections of a certain man, and went to the local wise woman for some magical advice. She was informed that she would have to wear green - the colour of the fairies - and spend a long night waiting at the Corbie Stane (a nearby standing stone).

Unfortunately she died before her affections could be gratified, and she now haunts the castle in grief wearing the green dress she wore in her quest for love.

The apparition is thought to be the strongest at Halloween, a time when the denizens of the otherworlds could walk abroad in our realm. It was during the night of Halloween that her gravestone was said to turn three times around.

Directions: Reached from the A923.