Off we go to Delgatie Castle in Aberdeenshire to visit the haunted library.
Delgatie Castle History
The castle dates from 1050 and has been added to many times over the centuries. Mary, Queen of Scots stayed there for three days after the Battle of Corrichie in 1562. The Hay family bought the castle fifty years ago to save it from ruin. The castle and estate are now run by a charitable trust.
Past the canons we go…
We walk between unicorns and through the door.
Up the stairs…
The castle is beautifully decorated for Christmas.
There are many, many Christmas trees, and many, many children counting them as part of a quiz.
We pass by beautiful beds:
The bed below has a red-haired ghost of its own, Rohaise; she visits men who dare sleep in the room by themselves!
There are more beautiful Christmas trees…
The Haunted Library
And then, finally, we come to the library door.
It’s lovely in the room, no sign of the ghost today.
Many years ago, a body was found in one of the walls of the library. It was in a crouching position, and it’s now thought this was probably a member of the family who was a monk. He may have hidden in the castle after the Reformation, and was then unable to be openly buried when he died. After his discovery, the ghost was frequently seen and an exorcism took place. A local minister dedicated the final resting place of the body.
There’s a Christmas tree in the library today.
Historical Fiction
My historical novels all involve dark events, romance and a little magic…
- SISTERS AT THE EDGE OF THE WORLD opens on a snowy winter solstice in 1st century Scotland and includes the ancient battle of Mons Graupius.
- THE MERMAID AND THE BEAR has medieval Christmas and witchcraft accusations.
- FIREFLIES AND CHOCOLATE features Christmas in Colonial Pennsylvania and kidnapping.
They’re all available in paperback, kindle and on kindle unlimited.
A Recent Review of Ariel: Dancing on TV
“Today’s feature is Ariel: Dancing on TV by Ailish Sinclair, a young adult contemporary romance that blends resilience, first love, and the complicated glare of public attention. Set at a prestigious Scottish dance school housed within a castle, this story opens with a shocking act of betrayal and follows a young girl determined to redefine her future on her own terms.
“Through dance, friendship, and unexpected connection, Ariel explores what it means to be seen—not just by the world, but by yourself.” See the review here on the blog of Gina Rae Mitchell.
Castle Dancers Series on Amazon UK
Castle Dancers Series on Amazon Worldwide
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The Performance: sometimes going home for Christmas is just one huge performance…
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