The Ghosts Of Glencoe | Poem Scotland Enchanting Kingdom
Author:Callum FraserJul 22, 20251.2K Shares95.2K Views
The bard arrived within the house
The seer sat down with them
A dram to warm his heart was given
A meal for hunger’s pangs
People gathered close to him
His voice reached deep within
He told the story of the Ghosts
The Ghosts of ole Glencoe
Winter’s blanket covered all
Its wind so biting cold
To MacIan’s home the redcoats came
Captain Campbell led them all
Hospitality they did claim from him
MacIan welcomed them
Shelter from the blizzards blast
And food and drink as well
Warm the beds they made for them
Sharing all they had
Macdonald ever gentleman
Their every need did tend
Unknown to him his fate was sealed
His trust would broken be
Major Fergusson dispatches brought
For Campbell to obey
Dalrymple ‘Master of Stair’ had penned
King William he did sign
An example made they all did need
The MacDonalds chosen were
The Oath they’d signed, but they’d
been late
So, death it was for them
All males of 70 years or less
The sword, and none be spared
The homes to burn, destroy the clan
In ink the orders stood
Within the snow clad highland homes
Evil dwelt therein
A horror that would stain the land
‘Twas Murder under Trust
To eat and dine, to shelter there
And then to slay their hosts
Two weeks they stayed as guests
therein
Were tended hand and foot
Until the day of evil came
When treachery revealed
Deathdisguised as friend did
sleep
Before the warm log fires
Meals they ate and drinks they quaffed
The MacDonald entertained
As night did fall the shots rang out
Screams filled night’s cold air
Blood did flow upon the moors
White snows ran red with blood
Smells of sweat and blood were thick
Carnage everywhere
MacIan slain in his bed
His wife was murdered too
O the evil that prevailed that night
O the horrors that were seen
Men’s senses dulled and calloused now
Through treachery so vile
Women, children, old and young
Fell beneath the sword
Burn the houses, slay all life
The orders did declare
Yet some were warned and some escaped
Through freezing snow-clad hills
Wild the wind and cold the snow
Yet better that than sword
Thirty-eight were slain there
Another forty froze
Musket’s shots did echo round
While blood spurted on the snow
Satan wrote on Glenlyon’s heart
When all was said and done
His whisky could not blot the deed
Ghosts did haunt his dreams
Every night they came to him
The Ghosts of auld Glencoe
Screaming in the night to him
The dead of auld Glencoe
Captain Campbell heard each scream
Haunted by his deeds
The evil replayed every night
The Ghosts did follow him
Twas then the bard did stop his tale
He sipped his dram he rose and left
The wind it howled as he
did leave
Then
silence did prevail
Callum Fraser
Author
Callum Fraser isn't just a writer about Scotland; he's a product of its rugged landscape and rich history. Born and raised in Perthshire, with the Highlands as his backyard, his love for the nation's stories was kindled by local storytellers and long walks through ancient glens.
This passion led him to pursue a degree in Scottish History from the University of Edinburgh. For over 15 years, Callum has dedicated himself to exploring and documenting his homeland, fusing his academic knowledge with essential, on-the-ground experience gained from charting road trips through the Cairngorms, hiking the misty Cuillins of Skye, and uncovering the secrets of traditional recipes in his family's kitchen.
As the Editor-in-Chief and Lead Author for Scotland's Enchanting Kingdom, Callum's mission is simple: to be your most trusted guide. He combines meticulous research with a storyteller's heart to help you discover the authentic magic of Scotland — from its best-kept travel secrets to its most cherished traditional recipes.
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