Nestled within 20 acres of secluded grounds, stands Closeburn Castle – ancient home of the Kirkpatrick family and one of the oldest continuously inhabited tower houses in Scotland. On Saturday 10th February this impressive private location will host a brand new historical tour led by the team at Mostly Ghostly Tours – Secret History of Closeburn Castle. The first tour has already sold out with two more dates planned in the near future. This vibrant new partnership sees Mostly Ghostly joining forces with the Spanish branch of the Kirkpatrick family, who now own the castle, to reveal its history in a way that’s never been done before.
The launch date was chosen to tie in with a dramatic history-changing event that took place at Greyfriars Monastery in Dumfries. On February 10th 1306, Roger Kirkpatrick of Closeburn Castle joined his ally Robert the Bruce when he met John ‘The Red’ Comyn. The pair were discussing which of them would become the next King of Scotland. The day ended disastrously for Comyn when Bruce stabbed him, but it was Kirkpatrick who is believed to have dealt the final death blows after proclaiming the famous words “I Mak Siccar” (I’ll make sure) when Bruce doubted if he’d killed his rival.
Team Founder Kathleen Cronie tells DGWGO about the tour:
“We’re thrilled to have created a new tour based at Closeburn Castle and had always wanted to visit. Through a dear mutual friend – Sarah Currie – we were introduced to the castle’s owners and from there a fantastic opportunity arose. We’ve been working closely with the castle researching Closeburn’s incredible history, remarkable characters and fascinating legends, which will be revealed to our first guests this Saturday. The tour will feature everything from ancient curses to dark deeds, the dreaded Killing Times to a colourful courtship with Napoleon III.”
Sharing her views on the new venture, Maria Navarro de Sepulveda of Closeburn Castle said:
“When I first met the Mostly Ghostly team I knew something special would came out of this new partnership and I must say we have started a great friendship. After just a few months, I trust and value their work as if it we’d been working together for years. I’m very grateful to our common friend Sarah Currie that made our paths cross and therefore these tours possible. I hope people enjoy and love Closeburn Castle as much as we do.”
Team Member John Hill added:
“We’ve loved every minute of researching the tour, each visit to the castle reveals something new – the place is bursting with history and character. Maria (Navarro de Sepulveda) has been incredibly welcoming and supportive. She has provided us with invaluable research materials and made us feel very much at home.”
Of course, Mostly Ghostly love the darker side of life, so does Closeburn Castle deliver? Kathleen tells us more:
“There is certainly a darker, more curious side to this ancient house: a chilling death omen once haunted the family and a mysterious lady in black has been witnessed. In certain areas of the castle the family’s dogs have been known to bark for hours with no apparent reason. Another grim event concerns one of the Kirkpatrick’s servants, who was executed by a family enemy at nearby Sanquhar Castle – a ghastly and unjust end…”
Within the castle and grounds, the team aim to present a dramatic interpretation of key events in Closeburn’s history, with an aim of raising the castle’s profile and that of the region as a whole, encouraging more locals and visitors to explore Dumfries and Galloway.
Summing up, Kathleen said:
“We feel very proud to bring a unique new attraction to our region. If you’re a history buff, enjoy exploring old buildings and have a thirst to discover the unusual side of life, then you’ll love this tour! Together with the Closeburn Castle team, we look forward to welcoming our guests and giving them an experience to remember!”
Mostly Ghostly – [email protected] – mostlyghostly.org – facebook.com/mostlyghostlytours – twitter.com/MostlyGhostly
