How to Visit Glamis Castle, the Most Haunted in Scotland

Have you heard about Glamis Castle’s mysterious history?

Glamis Castle intrigued me with its stories of ghosts and vampires (seriously) — and I knew I had to visit.

If you’re of the same mind, look no further, as I’ve jotted down here everything you need to know to visit Glamis Castle in Scotland.

While there are not many tour groups that will get you there, it is fairly simple to visit on your own, even without a car.

So let’s get into it!

Table of Contents Show

Why Visit Glamis Castle

Built in the 1400s. Glamis Castle, as it appears today, is over 600 years old. It’s been visited by Mary Queen of Scots and several other royals.

It’s the most haunted castle in Scotland. With a reported 72 ghosts, Glamis Castle has a lot of paranormal activity going on. There’s been many ghost sightings throughout the years, some creepier than others. On my visit, I sat in a famous ghost’s chair. Will you see anything supernatural on your visit?

There’s a crypt. A castle with a crypt is definitely more interesting in my book. And this crypt is worth the visit alone — suits of armour, prison cells, and hooks on the ceiling? You have to see it to believe it. (Especially since photos are not allowed.)

It’s the queen mother’s childhood home. Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyons, the mother of Queen Elizabeth II, was the youngest daughter of Lord and Lady Glamis and grew up at Glamis Castle. As you tour the castle, your guide will point out rooms and furniture that the queen and queen mother used.

How Long to Spend at Glamis Castle

As an example, I spent about 4 hours at Glamis Castle. I arrived around 11 a.m., taking my time walking down the long driveway and admiring the view of the castle. Then I toured the house and gardens until the next bus came around mid-afternoon.

You can spend half a day at Glamis or even a full day if you really feel like it.

Here’s an approximate amount of time to spend at Glamis Castle:

Tour inside the castle: 1.25 hours
Explore the garden and grounds: 1-2 hours
Browse the shop: 30 minutes

glamis castle from the road leading up to it — Glamis Castle

a young woman standing in the middle of the road with Glamis Castle in the back — Glamis Castle

What to Do at Glamis Castle

Take a Tour of the Interior

How to join a tour: Tours kick off periodically throughout the day. They aren’t booked in advance, but once you’re ready to go inside Glamis Castle, you’ll see someone with a clipboard to sign you up for the next tour. (You can’t look around the castle on your own, unfortunately.)

No photos: While on the tour, you can’t take photos of the castle’s interiors. No photos at all.

How long is a tour? Tours last about an hour and 15 minutes.

exterior close up of glamis castle — Glamis Castle

What Are the Highlights of Glamis Castle’s Interiors?

Dining room. The dining room is the first room you’ll be taken into on the tour, and it’s very grand. Interestingly, from here you’ll go through a hidden door to reach the crypt.

Crypt. The crypt has stone walls, cells, shining armor, and hooks on the ceilings for hanging oil lamps. There is a secret room here, completely covered up by stone, but it can be seen through a window on the outside of the castle. Many stories have been created to explain this secret room, even ones involving a devil and a vampire. (Your tour guide will give you all the details.)

Drawing room. The portraits in the drawing room show off connections as they are not of family members but important friends of the family. Down the hall, you’ll find the powder room, which was for men to powder their wigs. These wigs attracted bugs and rodents, so they used arsenic from the 1600s-1700s.

Bedrooms. The beds are so small because people used to sleep sitting up, their backs against the headboard. Interestingly, there was a belief that laying down completely looked like you were dead, so there was a risk of the devil passing by the window and taking your soul.

Tour the Gardens and Grounds

On the grounds of Glamis Castle, there are a few gardens, such as the walled Kitchen Garden and the Italian Garden. They’re a bit out of the way, about a 10-minute walk from the castle but well worth it.

Near the Dell, you’ll even find Highland cows.

Glamis Burn, a small river, runs through the estate, making it feel idyllic, especially on a sunny day.

young woman standing on a path in a walled garden — Walled Kitchen Garden, Glamis Castle

flowers inside a walled garden at glamis castle — Walled Kitchen Garden, Glamis Castle

highland cows grazing in the grass behind a fence — Highland cows, Glamis Castle

Ghosts of Glamis Castle: Is It Haunted?

Glamis Castle is known as the most haunted castle in Scotland with a reputed 72 different ghosts.

Janet in the Chapel

One of the most famous ghosts is named Janet Douglas Lyon, or Lady Glamis, who is often spotted in the castle’s chapel.

Janet Douglas Lyon was a real person, who was burned at the stake in Edinburgh in 1537 for witchcraft. She was falsely accused, having caught the ire of King James V, her accuser.

The Story of How I Took a Ghost’s Chair

Today, her ghost haunts the chapel, sitting in one specific chair, and our tour guide said it was pretty rare for someone to choose that seat.

After we all had shuffled inside, our tour guide, looking a bit spooked, said someone had sat in Janet’s chair.

Who was it? Yes, it was me. Everyone turned to look at me, and it felt like I had been selected by the ghost for a seat of honor.

Janet’s Chair — Which Seat Is Hers?

I won’t spoil it for you and tell you which chair is Janet’s, but I’ll only say to channel your intuition. Perhaps Janet will draw you in, as well.

front of Glamis Castle by tree — Glamis Castle

When to Visit Glamis Castle

Glamis Castle is only open from late March to October, and, coincidentally, these are the best months to visit.

Come in spring for flowers and greenery, or come in autumn for some fall foliage and spooky Halloween vibes.

I visited in summer, on such a hot day that I couldn’t even manage to walk to all of the gardens on the grounds. Quite unusual for Scotland, but ultimately still a beautiful day.

young woman and her mom posing in front of Glamis Castle — Glamis Castle

young woman standing on a blue bridge in a garden — Inside the walled Kitchen Garden, Glamis Castle

Is It Worth It?

Glamis Castle is a little hard to reach for those of us exploring Scotland without a car, but it’s honestly so worth the effort.

It’s a beautiful castle with not only tons of history but also folklore. If you enjoy ghost stories as much as real-life stories, then you’ll surely love your visit to Glamis.

front of glamis castle by a tree — Glamis Castle

How to Get to Glamis Castle

The first step to get to Glamis Castle is to get to Dundee. I suggest the train, if you don’t have a car, as the station in Dundee is the closest one from the castle.

Starting from Dundee, you can get to Glamis Castle easily by either bus or taxi. It’s only about 12 miles away from the Dundee city centre.

Which is better — bus or taxi? I ended up taking a taxi to Glamis Castle, then a bus on the way back to Dundee. So I can say that both work well.

Bus from Dundee: The 20C bus route will take you from Dundee to Glamis Castle. The ride takes about 45 minutes, but it’s much cheaper than a taxi. Check Google Maps for more accurate bus timetables.

Taxi from Dundee: You can most likely find taxis waiting in front of the McManus museum. This is where we hailed ours. The ride was about 20 minutes and £25. It’s a little trickier catching a taxi or Uber on the way back to Dundee, which is why we took the bus.

young woman walking toward Glamis Castle — Glamis Castle

front of Glamis Castle by the gated garden — Glamis Castle

Where to Stay While Visiting Glamis Castle

When visiting Glamis Castle, one of the best places to stay is in Dundee. Dundee is about 12 miles away from the castle, an easy distance to reach by bus or taxi. Plus it has all the conveniences of a city.

Tip: Be sure to check out The McManus museum while in Dundee, it’s free!

Recommended Hotels in Dundee:

Hotel Indigo Dundee by IHG (where I stayed)
Malmaison Dundee
Hampton by Hilton Dundee City Center
Apex City Quay Hotel & Spa

View of historic stone buildings with tall chimneys and a domed tower in the foreground, a calm river in the midground, and green hills with scattered houses in the background under a clear sky. — View of Dundee from my hotel room

A woman with long brown hair stands smiling between two marble busts on red marble pedestals in a grand hall with ornate red and stone architecture. — The McManus museum, Dundee

A woman sits alone on a black sofa in the center of an art gallery with wooden floors and red walls, surrounded by numerous framed paintings hanging on the walls. — The McManus museum, Dundee

What to Pack to Visit Scotland

Warm, waterproof wear

If you’re visiting Scotland during its cold and rainy season (almost every month of the year besides a few weeks in summer), you should definitely bring a warm waterproof jacket and waterproof walking boots.

This waterproof jacket and these waterproof boots I took with me to Scotland helped us explore no matter the weather. We walked around Edinburgh in the rain and snow, during foggy mornings and chilly evenings, and enjoyed it all. Be prepared for rainy weather, and dress for it, so you don’t miss out.
Also consider bringing fleece-lined leggings — I loved this pair I packed!

Favorite travel essentials

I really recommend these compression packing cubes. They’re very thick and durable and allow you to pack more than you expect.
I also love this travel backpack that opens like a suitcase, fits almost as much as a carry-on, and has tons of pockets as well as a strap to attach to your luggage handle. It makes traveling so much easier and more organized. It also fits nicely under the airplane seats.
I bring this AirFly receiver for AirPods with me on long-haul flights, so I can connect to the plane’s video screen with my own AirPods.
I no longer hop on a flight without wearing my Sockwell compression socks because they really do help relieve/prevent leg cramps from sitting so long in one place. I have the lotus pattern, but there are other patterns to choose from. See all sock patterns in the Sockwell storefront.