The Goblin Ha'

One beautiful day in syummer after walking the gang by the reservoir early on, Zak and I went exploring to a place I had wanted to find for a while.

"Of lofty roof and ample size,
Beneath the castle deep it lies;
To hew the living rock profound,
The floor to pave, the arch to round,
There never toiled a mortal arm;
It all was wrought by word and charm.

- Sir Walter Scott, Marmion."

Just outside the village of Gifford lie the ruins of Yester Castle within quiet woodland. The castle has a supernatural history. Legend has it that below the castle lies a subterranean chamber, known as the Goblin Ha’. It’s called that because the castle was allegedly built by goblins after the powerful warlock Hugo de Giffard made a pact with Satan himself.

The castle isn't signposted so it took some wandering and exploring the surrounding woodland before I came upon it. Thankfully there was also a river running through the woods so Zak could keep cool.

A bit of history ...

Hugo De Giffard built Yester Castle in the 13th Century. He was widely regarded by the locals as having magical powers. When his daughter Margaret decided to marry Broun of Coulston, Hugo gave her an enchanted pear. “Keep the pear safe” he told her, “and no harm will come to your husband’s family.”

Margaret and her new husband locked the pear in a silver box and the family prospered for a couple of hundred years. Then in 1692 George, the heir to Coulston House, was preparing to marry his fiancee. Obviously he forgot to tell her about the pear because she found it, and it looked so ripe and delicious that she took a bite.

The pear instantly turned to rock, and the Brouns soon found themselves drowning in debt. George sold the house to his brother, but his line was wiped out en route to Edinburgh when the River Tyne burst its banks. George died penniless and without an heir. The pear, bite-mark and all, is kept in Coulston House to this day.

Now for the photos .... (I took them on my iPhone so will add them separately).

For anyone interested this website shows more photos of the ruins and the Goblin Ha' itself.

Yester Castle and the Goblin Ha' | Stravaiging around Scotland

The photos ...

Beautiful woodland





First we found this ... the remains of a barrel vaulted cellar



Zak watched through the window slit for any incoming enemies :laugh:



High curtain wall



Zak looking in to the Goblin Ha' from the outside



The entrance to the Goblin Ha' ... would you have gone in?

This is how Yester Castle would have looked




And this is how it looks inside the Goblin Ha' (not my photos! )

It is amazingly well preserved really isn't it. I'm quite into medieval history, so anything like that near me and I would be there all day
Think of the times it has seen and the history behind it, fascinating

It is very well preserved. I have promised myself I will go back with a torch and probably some other human company and go inside next time.

Just to add to this ... I have been back a few times since and have been inside. It is quite eerie but fascinating. The kids loved it too - especially with stories of wizards, ghosts and goblins.