ABBOTSFORD House is included in Scotland’s tales of witchcraft which are being marked during the Year of Stories 2022 with a new Witch Trail created by VisitScotland.
The national tourism organisation is inviting visitors to discover some lesser-known spooky stories, dark history, truly magical places and find ways to live like a modern-day witch through the new trail and map.
Witches and witchcraft make for a formative chapter in the story of Scotland covering history, women’s rights, superstition and the supernatural.
There are numerous local tales spread across Scotland about witches and witchcraft based in both fact and legend.
A key focus for Scotland's Year of Stories is highlighting these tales from communities passed down through the generations.
The trail and map highlight a variety of these locations and attractions all with links to themes associated with witchcraft including a love of nature and modern takes on the lore. They can be enjoyed year-round as part of a longer holiday or on a day trip.
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The downloadable guide features 15 locations and will be hosted on VisitScotland.com alongside a blog taking a deeper dive on the subject and offering even more witchcraft-themed visitor experiences.
Included is Abbotsford House in the Scottish Borders. The home of 19th-century novelist and poet, Sir Walter Scott boasts a world-famous collection of rare books on witchcraft, demonology, and popular superstitions. Visitors to Scott’s stunning library can see his treasured “Witch Corner” overlooking the River Tweed.
Find out how the facts inspired the fiction in some of the writer’s most iconic novels and explore how Scott used Abbotsford to help him bring the past to life.
Other experiences on the map include: Calanais Standing Stones, Isle of Lewis - The Witchery by the Castle, Edinburgh - Kirkwall Witchy Walk, Orkney Blair Castle, Perthshire East Neuk Seaweed, Fife.
Cat Leaver, VisitScotland Head of Brand and Content said “As we mark Scotland’s Year of Stories, it is important to showcase tales of all kinds and highlight some of the truly unique experiences on offer in Scotland.
“This new witch trail and map does exactly this and we know that pre-pandemic, the popularity of attractions thought to be associated with the supernatural and darker aspects of Scotland’s history were on the rise.
“Highlighting fun, educational, and engaging experiences like those featured in the map will help inspire people to discover Scotland’s rich and diverse stories for themselves.”
Giles Ingram, Chief Executive of Abbotsford, said: “Generations of visitors to Sir Walter Scott’s home have been fascinated by ‘Witch Corner’, a cabinet within his library containing around 250 prized volumes dating from 1477 to 1832.
“Due to the popularity of Witch Corner, Abbotsford are currently building a sculpture trail inspired by the stories found within these books; from tales of witchcraft, to ourisks, elves, fairies and other mystical beings.”
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