Ghostly Folklore – The Ghostly Piper of Duntrune Castle.

The Piper plays his sad Dirge.

There can be few more stirring images than that of the lonely phantom piper, his haunting tunes drifting over a foggy Scottish loch on a cold winter’s evening.

Duntrune Castle is located in the West of Scotland. Originally built in the 13th century by the MacDougall clan, it was eventually taken by Clan Campbell and remained their seat until the 18th century. Sitting on the northern banks of Loch Crinan, it is a romantic site – the perfect setting for a ghostly tale.

There are a couple of variations regarding the origins its ghost, but the one told to me runs thus:

In 1644, Duntrune was captured by Clan Campbell while the leader of the MacDonald clan, Alasdair MacColla, was away with the majority of his warband. Alasdair was a shrewd man and had dispatched his piper to the castle to act as a spy. Unfortunately, he was discovered. Now, bagpipers were privileged members of a clan, being educated and widely travelled. As such, they were protected from harm during times of war. Thus, MacColla’s piper was not killed, but instead imprisoned.

When MacColla returned to Duntrune, he sailed up the loch, determined to reclaim his home from his bitter enemy. The piper, realising his master was outnumbered, played a tune called Piobaireachd-dhomh-naomhadh, or in English, The Piper’s Warning to His Master. Upon hearing the haunting notes drifting over the loch’s dark waters, Alasdair MacColla sadly turned his ship away.

Angered by the piper’s actions, the Campbells enacted a cruel punishment: they cut off the brave man’s hands so he would never play the bagpipes again. Unable to stop the flow of blood, the piper soon died.

Over the years, many people have claimed to encounter unusual phenomena within Duntrune’s ancient walls – strange shadows passing through empty hallways, objects moving without cause. But still, there were unbelievers – people who thought the tale nothing more than a colourful myth.

Then, in 1888, repairs were made to the castle, and incredibly, workers unearthed a skull beneath the first floor. Digging further, they found the skeletal remains of a man. With great care, they removed the skull, torso, legs, feet, and arms – and made a remarkable discovery: there were no hands. The piper’s remains were given a Christian burial in an unmarked grave in Kilmartin churchyard, where they remain to this day.

And so, you might stand on the banks of Loch Crinan as night casts its veil over the land and look out over its waters towards Duntrune. There, standing upon one of the parapets, you may see a lonely figure facing the sea, playing on his bagpipes. And if you listen very carefully, you may just hear the notes of Piobaireachd-dhomh-naomhadh carried on the breeze.

Thank you for taking the time to read this blog, my friends. I’ve attached a YouTube link to a video of the talented Faye Henderson playing The Piper’s Warning to His Master. So grab a whisky, settle down, and enjoy. Until next time – stay spooky.