# @scotland on Instagram

- **Type:** Video
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/DJEcmSktZXl
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/30019719-scotland-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/40e14f84d9.jpg
- **Posted:** 2025-04-30T11:47:52.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Scotland (@scotland) — https://gondola.cc/scotland

## Caption

Ancient gravestones + suspiciously familiar names = a magical coincidence? 🪦🪄

Greyfriars Kirkyard has become a fan-favourite stop for Potterheads — but are these echoes of Hogwarts real, or just a trick of the moss and memory?

✨ Thomas Riddell Esq. ✨
Died in 1806, aged 72. The similarity to Tom Riddle — Lord Voldemort’s birth name — has made this one of the most visited graves in the kirkyard.

✨ William McGonagall ✨
Often remembered as Scotland’s worst poet, McGonagall’s name lives on in another context too: many fans associate it with Professor Minerva McGonagall.

✨ Elizabeth Moodie ✨
A simple headstone, but one that’s often linked to Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody thanks to the shared surname.

✨ Margaret Louisa Scrymgeour Wedderburn ✨
A grand name, frequently mentioned in connection with Rufus Scrimgeour, the hard-nosed Minister for Magic.

✨ Cruickshanks ✨
Tucked among other family stones, this surname catches the eye — and invites comparisons with Crookshanks, Hermione Granger’s clever and cantankerous cat.

While these links have become tour staples and fan favourites, J.K. Rowling has been clear: the similarities are pure coincidence. She created the names independently and wasn’t aware of these gravestones when writing the series. Still, it’s hard to wander Greyfriars without feeling that something magical might be watching.

And even if you’ve never read a single Potter book, it’s still worth a visit. The kirkyard is famously tied to Greyfriars Bobby, the loyal little dog who kept vigil by his master’s grave, and it’s also the resting place of many notable Edinburgh figures. Add in the atmospheric stillness, views of the Old Town, and the ever-present caw of crows — and you’ve got one of the city’s most unforgettable corners.

#Scotland #Edinburgh #GreyfriarsBobby #HarryPotter

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## Tags

edinburgh, scotland, harrypotter, greyfriarsbobby

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