A Spooky Slice of Golf History at Cruden Bay
Any golfer who has teed off at Cruden Bay Golf Club will have seen the dramatic ruins of Slains Castle, perched on the clifftop and visible from the clubhouse and several holes around the course. Its haunting silhouette adds an unforgettable touch of mystery to one of Scotland’s most scenic golfing destinations.
Bram Stoker’s Cruden Bay Connection
Between 1882 and 1910, author Bram Stoker spent a month each year in Cruden Bay. The rugged coastline, North Sea views, and gothic atmosphere clearly captured his imagination – inspiring the settings for two of his novels, The Watter’s Mou and The Mystery of the Sea.
It was here, at the Kilmarnock Arms Hotel, that Stoker began writing Dracula in 1895.
Slains Castle: The Real Dracula’s Lair?
Legend has it that the interior of Slains Castle directly inspired Stoker’s description of Count Dracula’s forbidding home. The castle’s central octagonal hall is said to be echoed in the vampire’s eerie lair – a chilling thought for anyone gazing at the ruins from the fairways of Cruden Bay.
When Dracula Played Golf
On 31st October 1897 – fittingly, Halloween, Dracula himself was reportedly seen playing golf at Port Erroll Golf Club (the course now known as Cruden Bay), two years before it officially opened. With the castle just a short walk away, it seems even the Count couldn’t resist an early round on these hauntingly beautiful links.
