Glenfarg Railway Tunnels — Scotland[]
Hidden beneath the hills of Perthshire, just south of the village of Glenfarg, lie two chilling relics of Scotland’s railway past — the Glenfarg Tunnels. Once part of a vital transport link between Edinburgh and Perth, these long-forgotten tunnels are now abandoned, silent, and, according to some, haunted.
Opened in 1890, the Glenfarg line was built to offer a direct rail route between Edinburgh and Perth. It carved through steep gradients, crossed impressive viaducts, and burrowed under hills via two massive tunnels — each nearly 500 meters long. At the time, the tunnels were considered engineering marvels, lined with a mixture of concrete, brick, and stone.
Despite surviving the notorious Beeching cuts in the 1960s, the line was permanently closed in 1970 — not due to lack of use, but to make way for the M90 motorway, which now runs overhead. Since then, the tunnels have been left to decay, overgrown by nature and forgotten by most.
What Remains Today[]
Explorers who venture into the tunnels today are met with long, curved corridors of darkness. The north tunnel, in particular, is so deeply curved that it becomes pitch black in the middle — you’ll lose sight of both entrances. Inside, you’ll find dripping water, graffiti, rusted remains of old rail features, and even a burnt-out car, charred and hollow like some sacrifice left behind.
Bats have made these tunnels their home, and if you’re unlucky (or lucky, depending on your thrill tolerance), one might swoop by your head. The walls hold old inspection holes, weather-worn bricks, and blackened remnants of railway sleepers — eerie artifacts of a once-bustling line.
Glenfrag Railway Tunnel - Scotland
Accidents, Deaths, and Ghost Stories[]
The Glenfarg tunnels were not just difficult to build — they were deadly.
- In May 1888, a skip full of spoil plummeted 50 feet after a chain snapped, killing a worker named Edward McQuillan instantly.
- Just two months later, a falling rock collapsed scaffolding, killing Hugh Cameron.
- A spark from a passing train ignited explosives near the tunnel mouth the following year, severely injuring another worker.
Locals speak of strange occurrences — ghostly mists appearing in photos, lights at the end of tunnels that vanish, and an “unsettling presence” felt by many solo explorers. One photo taken in the north tunnel captured a mist that seemed to form the outline of a face… though the next shot showed nothing at all.
A Glenfarg local, Stuart Smith, once told of a railway inspector who found the mangled body of a tramp, legs missing, presumed to have fallen asleep on the tracks. Some say you can still hear phantom footsteps echoing through the tunnel, long after you’ve stopped walking.
These tunnels aren't easy to stumble across — they’re tucked behind woodland, accessible by steep trails, and partially hidden beneath viaducts and cuttings. Above them, the hum of the M90 motorway adds a surreal layer: a modern world speeding over a place lost in time.
Emerging from the south tunnel puts you directly onto a towering stone viaduct above the River Farg — a dramatic reveal after the claustrophobia of the tunnel. Further along, an old platelayer’s hut — made from railway sleepers — lies buried in the embankment, its fireplace intact, as if waiting for someone to come back.
How to Visit[]
Start from the Bein Inn Hotel and follow the track toward the south tunnel. A torch is essential — the north tunnel, especially, is a void of blackness. Waterproof boots, nerves of steel, and a sense of adventure are required.
⚠️ Proceed with caution. These are not tourist attractions — they are unmaintained, unlit, and definitely not for the fainthearted.
Have you explored Glenfarg? Felt something strange? Seen the ghostly figure in the mist?
Drop your stories below, or check out more abandoned places across the UK at ForgottenAtlas.com.