Ghost tour will explore castle’s grisly past

Comlongon Castle at Clarencefield is said to be haunted by the restless spirit of Lady Marion Carruthers who died more than 400 years ago.
Castle owner Phillip Ptolomey said: “Having owned the castle for some 30 years I have gathered many stories from guests who have had numerous unexplained experiences.
“There has to be some sort of explanation.”
He added: “The castle has obviously had a rich and varied history for several centuries and been at the centre of the bitter border conflict that raged across the whole region for well over 300 years.”
Phillip has now entered into a collaboration with local paranormal research group and haunted history tour creators Mostly Ghostly Investigations – whose tours also include Dumfries Ghost Walk and the Haunted Highways Tour taking in a nearby stretch of the A75.
Touching on the death of Lady Marion, Phillip said: “It is unusual, possibly unique, in the area that we can offer guests the opportunity to explore the exact location of such a well documented tragedy.”
Mostly Ghostly are looking forward to launching the new tour on September 25, which coincides with the date of Lady Marion’s tragic death in 1570 when she is understood to have plunged from the castle’s battlements.
Founding member Kathleen Cronie said: “We’re delighted to be working with Phillip and his dedicated team.
“Together, we’ve created a fantastic new attraction for the region; a regular ghost tour in a jaw-dropping castle, with dramatic history spanning hundreds of years.”
The tour will touch upon the belief that Lady Marion may have been pushed to her death by allies of Sir James Douglas, who was desperate to gain control of Marion’s lands.
And after its debut later this month, the tour will run at regular intervals throughout the year.