Talks: Georgetown Library, Wednesday 6th March at 7:30pm

Wigtown Library, Friday 8th March at 2pm

Ghost Walks: Thursday 7th March at 7pm, Saturday 13th April at 7:30pm & Monday 29th April at 9pm

LOCAL HISTORY WEEK – We were delighted when Alison Burgess, Local Studies and Information Officer at Ewart Library, Dumfries invited us to give a talk as part of Local History Week which runs from 2nd-9th March 2013. In addition to a Dumfries-based talk at Georgetown Library, we will also be visiting Wigtown Library and are very excited about a trip to the haunted Machars! The main focus of these events is superstitions; a combination of those with a distinct local flavour along with some of the better known traditions. We will also touch on our paranormal investigations in Dumfries & Galloway, including a selection of eerie personal anecdotes from the team’s increasing back catalogue. Given the emphasis on local history and lore, it seemed like a great time to run the Dumfries Ghost Walk and on 7th March, we’ll be leading our first tour of 2013 on a spooky journey through the streets of dark Dumfries!

WITCHES ANNIVERSARY WALK – For the third year running, we’ll be taking the Dumfries Ghost Walk out on a very grim and poignant date, April 13. On this date in 1659, nine women were executed in front of a large crowd, having been found guilty of witchcraft. This was believed to have taken place on Dumfries Whitesands and during our ghostly tours, participants have come forward to report strange occurrences which they feel may be linked to this dreadful event. On Halloween night 2012, one of our guests felt a strong sense of apprehension, to the point she didn’t want to visit our final location. After being reassured by her husband, she decided to join us. Despite her nervousness, the presentation itself passed without incident, it was only when the group took a moment to reflect on the fate of the poor women involved that she heard a clear female voice stating the following words ‘Lord have mercy on us’. This phrase was repeated straight away and sounded as clear as talking to someone on the phone…

MARY TIMNEY ANNIVERSARY WALK - Following on from the wide public interest in last year’s 150^th anniversary tour, we are planning another ghost walk to coincide with this significant date in the dark historical calendar. Back in 1862, on the 29^th day of April, Mary made history when right here in Dumfries, she became the last woman to be publicly executed in Scotland. Her story is moving, thought-provoking and disturbing and one which has a haunting effect on both ourselves as ghost walk guides and those who have joined us to share it. When it comes to ghostly reports, the site of the old Buccleuch Street Prison has been one of our most active locations; guests have told us of being touched on the face and shoulders, feeling a ‘suffocating’ tightness in their chests and witnessing a strange, bright light…

Dumfries Ghost Walk Tickets are available from the Midsteeple Box Office on 01387 253383. For more information, contact us through our website or by phoning 07791 047835 or 07912 145865. You can also follow us on Twitter.