The Ghost Hunt is Afoot!
An interactive, investigation-led evening inside one of Scotland’s most evocative Border strongholds — where turbulent history entwines with restless spirits.
This March, Mostly Ghostly invites you to explore Gilnockie Tower after dark — a rare opportunity to investigate the 16th-century home of Johnnie Armstrong, the legendary Border Reiver.
Built around 1520, Gilnockie has stood witness to turbulent centuries: betrayal and bloodshed, raids and ruin, and more recent restorations that brought the tower back from dereliction. Within its walls are striking features — a vaulted basement, a spiral stair, a parapet walk and beacon-stance — and even a prehistoric carved stone set into the doorway, hinting at much older mysteries.
Woven into its long history is a collection of curious tales; local tradition tells of a husband, wife, and young daughter said to walk the rooms, their loyal hunting dog close by. Visitors speak of footsteps on empty stairs, faint whispers in the stone, and the occasional sense of being watched. Add to this the legend of the yin leggit ghost, and the past feels vividly present.
Over the course of the evening, guests will take part in a series of small-group sessions using traditional ghost-hunting techniques — dowsing rods, pendulums, mirror work, trigger objects, and basic audio recording. Each session is grounded in history and legend, encouraging participants to observe, explore, and share their experiences.
As the night unfolds, guests will be invited to gather for a simple Reiver-themed midnight feast, inspired by the food and fellowship of the Border Reivers, before the investigation continues.
You’ll also:
• Explore the vaulted basement and upper chambers linked by a winding spiral stair.
• Step onto the restored parapet walk and beacon-stance, taking in the Border landscape once marked by reiver conflict.
• See the carved prehistoric stone set into the basement doorway — a striking link to a much older past.
• Take part in small-group investigations before joining together for a closing vigil in one of Gilnockie’s most atmospheric rooms.
With limited places available, this is a unique opportunity to experience Gilnockie Tower in a different light — engaging with its atmosphere, legends, and enduring mysteries.
Mostly Ghostly — creators of award-winning ghost and local history events across Dumfries and Galloway since 2008, and experienced paranormal investigators with a passion for uncovering Scotland’s hidden histories and unexplained tales.
A good old-fashioned ghost hunt — in every sense.