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Location: Scotland
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 19,298
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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