A Shadow at Hermitage: Strange Figure Caught on Film While Documenting the Borders Reivers

Setting the Scene: The Reivers and the Ruins

The goal of the video shoot was simple: to tell the dramatic story of the Borders Reivers, the lawless clans who raided and fought along the Anglo-Scottish border from the 13th to the 17th centuries. With Hermitage Castle as the backdrop, it was the perfect location—grim, isolated, and deeply entwined with Reiver history.

The camera rolled as the storyteller described tales of raiding families, blood feuds, and shifting allegiances. Wind howled across the moor. Crows circled the crumbling towers. Everything felt just right for the scene… until something unexpected appeared.

The Figure in the Frame

Later that evening, while reviewing the footage, the filmmaker noticed something odd. In one wide shot panning across the castle’s inner courtyard, a dark figure can be seen—standing motionless, partially obscured by shadow near the old stairwell.

At first, it seemed like a trick of the light or perhaps another visitor. But upon closer inspection, things didn’t quite add up:

• No one recalled seeing anyone else nearby at the time.

• The figure doesn’t move, even when the camera pans towards and away.

• It appears to wear long, tattered clothing—not typical for modern visitors.

• And perhaps most unsettling—it doesn’t show up in the shots taken just seconds later.

Echoes of the Past?

Hermitage Castle is no stranger to grim tales. Once dubbed the “Guardhouse of the Bloodiest Valley in Britain,” it has witnessed centuries of violence, from medieval battles to the dark deeds of its infamous inhabitants.

It was the prison of Sir Alexander Ramsay, left to starve in the dungeon. The stronghold of William de Soulis, who was said to practice black magic and was allegedly boiled alive by his own people. And it sits in a landscape thick with ghost stories and whispers of things best left undisturbed.

Could this unexplained figure be tied to that lingering energy?

An Unsolved Mystery

The footage is now doing the rounds among local historians and paranormal enthusiasts. Some say it’s just a trick of the light. Others believe it could be the spirit of a long-dead Reiver—or even one of Hermitage’s more sinister former lords.

Either way, the moment has added an extra layer of mystery to the video project. What was meant to be a historical deep dive into the life and times of the Reivers has now become a talking point for anyone curious about the castle’s eerie reputation.

Want to See for Yourself?

Hermitage Castle is open to visitors (seasonally), and though it’s remote, it’s well worth the journey. Whether you’re there to soak in centuries of rugged history—or maybe to see if you catch a shadow of your own—it remains one of the most atmospheric spots in Scotland.

So next time you walk through its moss-covered halls and ruined towers… keep your camera ready. And maybe, just maybe, don’t look too closely at what’s standing behind you.

Need help planning a visit to Hermitage or curious about the Reivers’ dark history? Let me know—I’ve got tales, trails, and tips galore.