The Lost Piper Boy & The Love of a Dog

Built on a 700-year-old extinct volcano (yes volcano), Edinburgh Castle has been home to both Scottish and English monarchs. The most famous being Mary, Queen of Scots. As one of the UK’s oldest castles, it has seen its fair share of blood and war so it's no surprise it has more than a few ghosts. 

Like most haunted places you have your normal changes in temperature (brrr), shadowy figures, disembodied voices and the occasional touching (who doesn’t like to be felt up by a ghost). But at Edinburgh Castle, you get all of that and more. There were two ghost stories that tugged on my heartstrings. They were the story of the young bagpiper that disappeared and the story of Greyfriars Bobby. So, we’ll start with the lost piper boy. 

Several hundred years ago, some secret tunnels were found beneath the castle seeming to lead towards Holyrood House which is located at the end of the Royal Mile. The entrance to these tunnels was so small, a young boy and his bagpipes were sent down to investigate. He played them loudly so the people above ground could follow where he went. The pipes stopped abruptly when the boy reached Tron Kirk, which is located on the Royal Mile. A search party was sent to look for the boy and there was no sign of him or his bagpipes anywhere in the tunnels – he just vanished. Which is the scariest part of the whole story? 

It is said that you can hear bagpipes playing down the Royal Mile, however, if you try and follow them, it stops as soon as you reach Tron Kirk – the last place he was heard. No one knows what happened to him and the tunnels have been searched many times since his disappearance. I guess we’ll never find out what happened to the poor little piper boy and I think that’s what makes this story so heartbreaking. 

Now the story of Greyfriars Bobby is about man’s best friend. Animal lovers get ready to have your hearts melted and the sudden urge to hug your pet. 

A local man named John Gray, better known as “Auld Jock”, worked as a night watchman for the Edinburgh City Police. John however never patrolled alone – he had his loyal Skye Terrier Bobby. 

In February 1858, John, unfortunately, died of tuberculosis. Upon his death, he was buried in Greyfriars Churchyard. Bobby led his master’s funeral procession to his final resting place at Greyfriars Cemetery. Even after the service, Bobby refused to leave John’s side. No dogs were allowed in the cemetery and every day the caretaker would send Bobby away. But the little dog always returned, no matter what Mother Nature threw his way. 

Despite the combined efforts of the caretaker, John’s family and the local people Bobby refused to leave his owner’s side for any length of time. It’s been documented that the only time Bobby would leave would be at 1pm when the firing of the one o’clock gun would sound. At this time, Bobby would leave his post and go to the eating house for food and then immediately run back to John’s grave. Ultimately, he touched the hearts of the local residents. As I said earlier no dogs were allowed in the cemetery but Bobby became the only exception to this rule. The townspeople rallied around and built a small shelter next to the grave. And Bobby stayed, remaining ever faithful to John even until Bobby died in January 1872, at 16 years old. 

Bobby had the great honour of being buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard just 75 yards away from his master’s grave. He had his very own tombstone erected and unveiled but H.R.H the Duke of Gloucester CCVO (Prince Henry) in 1981. 

If that doesn’t hit you in the feels, I don’t know what will. Personally, it solidifies the realness of the bond between man and dog.