Ghosts in the UK: Discovering the Most Haunted Places in Britain
This site uses affiliate links to sites, including Amazon. If you decide to make a purchase through any links, I’ll earn a small commission from the sale at no extra cost to you. Please read my Disclosure Policy for further information.
Ah, Haunted Britain – one of the most haunted places in the world, apparently, and where ghostly sightings date back centuries.
From ancient Roman spirits marching along historic streets to tragic Grey Ladies forever mourning their lost loves, each ghost tells a unique story.
With its rich history of war, betrayal, and mystery, the UK is a hotspot for paranormal activity, making it a must-visit destination for many ghost hunters.
Whether you’re drawn to haunted castles, eerie phantom highways, or homes where poltergeists roam, this guide is your ultimate resource for uncovering the most legendary ghosts in the UK.
Table of Contents
The Best Places to See “Grey Ladies” and Other Female Spirits
No haunted castle is complete without its obligatory Grey Lady. In fact, nearly every castle you encounter claims to house a spectral lady of some kind – whether she’s Grey, White, Green, or even Pink.
Grey Ladies are often associated with tragic deaths or betrayal, and as you might imagine, they typically appear as a sorrowful female figure draped in a long grey dress.
But not all Grey Lady’s are created equally and if you’re on the hunt of hopefully catching a glimpse of one yourself, where should you be spending most of your time?
Here’s my round up of just some of the most famous Grey Ladies the UK has to offer.
The Tower of London & The Ghost of Anne Boleyn
Perhaps the most famous Grey Lady of them all is Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry VIII.
After having her head cut off with a sword in 1536, the ghost of Anne Boleyn now haunts multiple locations, including her execution site at Tower Green in the infamous Tower of London.
All sightings of Anne’s ghost, have seen her appear in post-execution splendor, dressed in a grey gown, her severed head tucked under one arm.
But Anne has also been seen elsewhere around ‘The Tower’ with perhaps the most famous sighting occurring in 1864 when a yeoman guard charged at what he thought was a real person.
It wasn’t until his bayonet sliced straight through the spectral vision that he realised he had seen a ghost – and promptly fainted.
The Ghost of Anne Boleyn: Haunted Locations Across the UK
Anne Boleyn, executed on May 19, 1536, is said to haunt several iconic UK locations, including the Tower of London, Blickling Hall, Hever Castle, Windsor Castle, Salle Church, and Marwell Hall. Her ghost is often seen in post-execution splendor or arriving in a headless carriage on the anniversary of her death.
Other more terrifying tales come from inside the Tower’s chapel and range from a ghostly procession of ladies and knights headed (if you’ll pardon the pun) by Anne herself, to sightings of Anne walking through the chapel towards her grave at the altar.
But Anne’s restless spirit can be seen at other notable locations throughout the UK.
Salle Church and Marwell Hall, in the county of Norfolk, as well as her childhood home Hever Castle, and the place of the King’s betrayal Windsor Castle, all lay claim to a happier spirit of Anne.
One of the scariest tales surrounding Anne and her grey dress, however, comes from Blickling Hall, and is an event often experienced on the anniversary of her execution, May 19th.
It is said that Anne arrives at Blickling in a carriage pulled by four ghostly horses, all under the control of a headless coachman.
When the carriage draws up to the main entrance, it becomes clear that Anne is headless. Her ghost destined to wander the long corridors until sunrise, clutching her head firmly held in her hands.
The Queen’s House, Greenwich & The Haunting of Queen Henrietta Maria
Believed to be the spirit of Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I, this grey lady is often seen drifting through the halls of her former royal residence, clad in a flowing grey gown.
The Queen’s House, with its intriguing past, has witnessed many transformations over the centuries. During the English Civil War starting in 1642, it was repurposed as a prisoner of war camp, and parts of it were even commandeered to serve as a biscuit factory no less!
The Grey Lady of The Queen’s House is believed to be the ghost of Queen Henrietta Maria. In 2002, gallery assistant Tony Anderson reported witnessing her spectral figure within the historic building.
After watching a double door from the Bridge Room close, Anderson watched as a woman glided across the balcony before passing through a wall. Initially thinking it was a staff member, he soon realised the woman was a ghost.
With hairs standing on end and the air noticeably cooler, Anderson and his colleagues watched as the ghostly figure glided through a wall in the Queen’s Presence Room.
The woman was dressed in an old-fashioned white-grey crinoline-style dress.
But the hauntings at The Queen’s House don’t stop there. The site is also home to perhaps the most iconic ghost photo ever captured – a haunting image that rivals even the famed photograph taken at Tantallon Castle.
On a Sunday evening in 1966, Rev. R. W. Hardy and his wife visited The Queen’s House. Before leaving, they decided to take one final photograph – unaware they were about to capture something extraordinary.
Pointing their camera at the Tulip Staircase what the Rev. captured that night has become the stuff of ghost lore legend. When the photo was developed, it revealed not just the historic staircase but also a mysterious hooded figure standing on the steps.
A year later, The Ghost Club attempted to recreate the eerie scene but failed to explain the apparition. With the staircase closed to visitors at the time, the Rev.’s chilling photograph remains an unsolved mystery.
Before leaving The Queen’s House, however,there’s one more tale to tell – another legend involving the Tulip Staircase.
It is said that a woman can be seen wiping away blood at the base of the staircase, a grim reminder of a tragedy that occurred 300 years ago when a maid fell to her death from the upper banister.
Glamis Castle, Scotland & The Lady of Glamis
The ghost of Janet Douglas, Lady of Glamis, is one of Scotland’s most well-known spirits.
Janet was burned at the stake on July 17, 1537, on Castle Hill after being falsely accused of witchcraft and treason.
Following her death, her spirit is said to have lingered at Glamis Castle, where she is commonly seen as the Grey Lady.
Janet’s tragic fate began with accusations of poisoning her first husband, John Lyon, the 6th Lord of Glamis, in 1528.
These suspicions, coupled with rumors of her involvement in a plot against King James V, led to years of torment and false accusations. As her trial for treason approached in 1537, her family and servants were tortured, with many providing false testimony against her.
Ultimately, Janet was executed in front of her 16-year-old son, leaving a legacy of suffering and injustice that haunts Glamis Castle to this day.
Although Janet was executed at Edinburgh Castle, it is at Glamis Castle where her ghost is most active.
Known as the Grey Lady of Glamis, her apparition is frequently seen in two key areas of the castle. One of the most eerie sightings occurs in the family chapel, where she is often found kneeling in prayer.
The family has even reserved a permanent seat for her, a seat that remains unoccupied by any living person. Her ghost is also seen near the clock tower turret, where some claim to witness her suffering in the flames of her execution.
But Glamis Castle holds other horrifying secrets.
From Secret rooms to the Monster of Glamis, to the Tongueless Lady and Glamis Vampire, it seems that every spirit under the sun either lives here or has passed through here, no wonder Glamis is reputed to be the most haunted castle in Scotland.
Dudley Castle, West Midlands & The Torment of Dorothy Beaumont
Widely regarded as one of the most haunted castles in the UK, Dudley Castle is home to the restless spirit of Dorothy Beaumont – said to be the castle’s most seen ghost, haunting here ever since her death in April 1646.
Wife of Lieutenant Colonel John Beaumont, the Royalist Second-in-Command at Dudley Castle, Dorothy was at the castle during the English Civil War (1642- 1651).
It was in September 1645 that Dorothy gave birth to a baby girl, who perished shortly after birth – her daughter’s headstone actually reads the 13th September 1644.
In a BBC Sounds podcast celebrating Hidden Black Country History, castle guide Amy Hickman reveals that Dorothy’s daughter, Frances, was christened before her passing.
Her gravestone can still be found in the St. Edmund’s Church graveyard- known at the bottom church – just across from the castle.
A number of disturbing events, starting off with the threat of Parliamentarians taking the town and ending in the destruction of the church where Frances was buried, led Dorothy to believe that her daughter was still alive and that she was being kept from seeing her.
After suffering many months of torment, Dorothy’s dying wish was to be buried as near to her daughter as possible. As Hickman explains, this was never to happen since the church had been demolished to keep it out of Parliamentarian hands.
Instead, Dorothy was buried in a grave at St Thomas’s Church – known as the top church – her dying wish left ungranted.
Dudley Castle: The Most Haunted Castle in the UK
Dudley Castle is renowned as one of the UK’s most haunted locations. The ghost of Dorothy Beaumont, known as the Grey Lady, is said to haunt the castle after her tragic death in 1646. Seen around the Castle Keep, Dorothy’s spirit remains tied to the castle where she died following the loss of her child. Other hauntings at Dudley Castle include a barefooted girl, a drummer boy, and the Robbing Baron. In 1994, a cleaner reported seeing legs sticking out of a coffin in the Chapel Undercroft.
Image: Dudley Zoo & Castle
Dorothy is fondly remembered in Dudley, with The Grey Lady Tavern in the castle grounds named in her honor – and yes this is also haunted!
Local legend also speaks of a coffin race, occasionally held to commemorate the struggle of her pallbearers as they carried her coffin up the steep high street, now Castle Street.
When Dorothy died, the Royalists in command of Dudley Castle attempted to notify the Parliamentarians to arrange safe conduct of Dorothy’s coffin to the church. However, two drummer boys sent to receive the message were shot on their way to the castle.
Angered by the killing, the Parliamentarians allowed just 20 minutes for Dorothy’s coffin to be carried to the church. This difficult journey is now commemorated in a Coffin Race, held from what I can gather, rather spasmodically in the town.
Unable to find peace, Dorothy is forever bound to the castle, her presence mainly felt around the Castle’s Keep and famously captured in an image in 2014 where she’s thought to be seen coming out of a doorway in an area of the castle called the ‘Sharington Range’.
Other ghosts at Dudley Castle include a barefooted girl who the castle have nicknamed Ellie, who is said to walk around the castle grounds, well, barefooted.
Is Elllie a servant girl looking for her mum as most investigators believe? Or is she the famous poltergeist from the 1980’s who rearranged the display of jams in the old castle gift shop right after she’d shifted a key rack across the shop floor?
Ghost stories are also told of a drummer boy, one of the drummers killed on their way to receive the message about Dorothy perhaps? As well as a pair of legs sticking out of the end of a coffin in the castle’s Chapel Undercroft, scaring a cleaner half to death as she tidied up after Bank Holiday weekend in 1994.
For the brave ones among you, paranormal ghost hunts do take place at the castle and I’d recommend, as a starting point, the events held by Haunted Happenings – and no, I haven’t tried them, are you crazy!
If you’re interested in more stories about Dudley Castle, or the equally haunted Bromwich Hall, take a look on the BBC Sounds website (UK only I’m afraid).
Berry Pomeroy Castle, Devon & The Story of Two Ladies of Note
Beware, dear visitor, if you ever step into the ruins of Berry Pomeroy Castle in Devon – you may find yourself lured to your doom by one of its restless spirits.
Built in 1496 during the Wars of the Roses and later taken over by the Seymour family in 1579, the castle’s haunting Elizabethan manor was constructed between 1560 and 1570.
Today, the ruins, along with their ghostly inhabitants, are owned by the Duke of Somerset, a descendant of the original Berry Pomeroy family, and managed by English Heritage.
The castle’s most famous legends speak of two spectral figures: the mysterious Blue Lady, known for luring victims to deadly falls, and the sorrowful White Lady, forever trapped in mourning.
Usually appearing to men, The Blue Lady tries to lure these unsuspecting creatures to forgotten parts of the castle and push them to their death over the castle ramparts.
Legend says the Blue Lady gave birth to her father’s child after many years of abuse and, driven by shame, strangled the child. Her tormented spirit has been seen by many, including visitor Julie Lane, who shared her chilling encounter on Facebook – one of the most terrifying sightings to date.
Visiting in 1994, Lane felt an overwhelming sense of hatred at the castle, culminating in a chilling encounter with a blonde woman in a blue medieval dress who seemed filled with intense hatred towards her.
Many visitors to the castle have reported a blue light in St Margaret’s Tower, with some claiming to see a face within the mysterious blue orb that appears in the upper levels.
Stories of a White Lady also circulate at Berry Pomeroy, but is this ghost real or not? Some say her story is hearsay, made up from a book written in at the turn of the 19th century.
Others say that The White Lady is a spirit that leaves a feeling of dread and malice to all who encounter it – most often than not on the stairwell to the dungeons or along the wall walk on the way to St Margaret’s Tower.
Wherever you encounter these spirits, have your wits about you for I feel that they have your harm in their sights.
Berry Pomeroy has other ghosts, it’s bound to have, it’s said to be the most haunted castle in the UK.
It also has a famous ‘Ghost Picture’, captured in 1973 by Tim Brook and said to show a young girl in a bonnet carrying a spray of flowers.
During your visit, keep an eye open for the hairs on the back of your neck to react if you spot or sense the following:
- Time Slip
- Man in a Tricorn Hat
- Eerie Sounds of Horses Dying at Pomeroy’s Leap
Roman Soldiers, Ancient Warriors & Watery Graves
Make no mistake, Roman soldier ghost sightings in the UK do happen, and some of the tales I’m about to share are infamous the world over.
From haunted graves of warrior clan chiefs to the sighting of whole troops of Roman soldiers, this next section looks back at the footsteps of Roman soldiers, ancient warrior ghosts and those who perished at sea.
Treasurer’s House, York & The Famous Roman Legion
Tucked behind the spectacular York Minster in the Yorkshire capital city of York lies a true hidden gem on the books of the National Trust, and that’s the Treasurer’s House.
Built on an ancient Roman road – once the main thoroughfare into York to be exact – the Treasurer’s House stands in a city often dubbed the most haunted in Europe.
And yes, I know the UK is no longer part of Europe, but let’s be honest, no one’s changing that title now, are they?
The ghosts here lie in the cellars at Treasures House, and the most famous sighting dates to 1953, when a group of Roman soldiers, headed by a trumpet-player were sighted by the then 18 year old Harry Martindale.
Harry, who eventually ended up serving as a policeman, was an apprentice engineer when he visited the Treasurer’s House t
o install some new heating in the cellar.
While at the top of his ladder, a soldier’s helmet emerged from the wall beside him, followed by its owner- the trumpet-playing Roman soldier. Behind him came a weary procession of twenty Roman soldiers and a horse, all trudging away from their barracks.
Pinned to the wall Harry watched as the soldiers made their way across the cellar, visible only from the knees up.
Years later, archaeologists discovered that the original Roman road beneath the Treasurer’s House lay 18 inches below the current cellar floor – thus explaining the missing feet.
But this isn’t the only time the soldiers have appeared and scared the witness out of their senses.
In the 1920s, during a fancy dress party hosted by the property’s owner, Frank Green, a female guest wandered into the cellar. There, she was stopped by a man dressed as a Roman soldier. Later, she was shocked to discover that no one at the party had been dressed as a Roman.
Goodwin Sands, Kent & Ghostly Shipwrecked Sailors
In a treacherous stretch of water, four miles off the east coast of Kent, lie the Goodwin Sands – two vast sandbanks stretching ten miles from Ramsgate to St Margaret’s Bay.
Known as the North and South Calliper, these sandbanks, each measuring 1- 2 miles across, have claimed the lives of hundreds of seamen and caused countless shipwrecks.
Ghosts seem almost inevitable here, and one of the most famous legends is that of a triple-masted schooner, the Lady Lovibond, which sank in February 1748, claiming the lives of all on board.
On February 13th, Captain Simon Reed set sail for Portugal aboard the Lady Lovibond, accompanied by his young bride, Annetta.
Despite the wedding celebrations on board the ship, tension simmered beneath the surface.
Consumed by jealousy and infatuation with Annetta, First Mate John River steered the ship onto the treacherous Goodwin Sands – dooming the vessel before it could even reach open waters.
The collision with the sands completely destroyed the Lady Lovibond, and all on board were lost.
Since that tragic night in 1748, her ghostly figure has been spotted several times, stranded on the banks and fooling passing ships into thinking she is still in distress.
The last sighting was in 1948 – exactly 200 years to the day after the ship’s destruction.
Eilean Donan Castle & The Headless Spanish Soldier
You’ll find the infamous Eilean Donan Castle on an island where the Lochs Duich, Long and Alsh converge.
This castle, arguably one of Scotland’s most scenic, is haunted not by a Scotsman, but by a Spanish soldier, trapped here forever since the Jacobite Rising in 1719.
But what were Spanish soldiers doing in the Scottish Highlands?
In a failed attempt to restore ‘The Jacobite Pretender’, James Francis Edward Stuart, the son of James II of England, to the throne, the Jacobites received support from Spanish troops.
A small Spanish force landed in Scotland, and Eilean Donan Castle played a key role during the conflict.
The castle served as a garrison for 46 soldiers, who worked tirelessly to prepare it for battle. When word of these preparations reached the English Government, they quickly sent forces to confront the Spanish.
After a three-day bombardment failed to yield results, men from one of the three armed frigates that had been attacking the castle landed on the shore.
Their overwhelming force proved too much for the small contingent of Spanish troops.
Using gunpowder from the Spanish resources, all 343 barrels of it, the English blew up Eilean Donan castle and there it remained, as a shell, until restoration works started in 1911.
It is the spirit of one of these Spanish soldiers that haunts Eilean Donan today. Nicknamed ‘Carlos’ by the staff at the castle, this headless Spanish soldier is said to wander through the castle’s gift shop carrying his severed head under his arm.
Some stories, however, tell of the soldier wandering around the island itself looking lost, wishing beyond all hope that he could go home.
Can’t get to Eilean Donan in person? Take a look at the webcam on the official Eilean Donan website via the link below.
Seath Mor & Scotland’s ONLY Cursed Grave
Seath Mor Sgorfhiaclach, the 15th-century clan chief of the Clan Shaw, is the subject of a chilling legend linked to his grave in the Rothiemurchus Estate in the Scottish Highlands.
Known as ‘The Great Shaw,’ the cursed grave of Seath Mor is marked by five cursed stones that protect it, bringing misfortune or death to anyone who dares to move them.
Seath Mor survived the Battle of the Clans in 1396, the only man to emerge alive, and died in 1405. His grave became infamous because of the five homing stones placed atop it.
The curse is particularly tied to the central stone, which is believed to cause death to anyone who touches it. In 1983, an iron cage was placed around the grave to protect visitors from the curse.
Not only is Seath Mor said to haunt the area himself, but the site is also known for ghostly sightings, including the presence of a vengeful spirit guarding the grave, the Bordach an Duin, an elf-like spirit once believed to protect the estate when it was held by the Shaws.
The Cursed Grave of Seath Mor in the Scottish Highlands
Seath Mor Sgorfhiaclach, the 15th-century Clan Shaw chief, is buried in a cursed grave at Rothiemurchus Estate in the Scottish Highlands. His grave, marked by five homing stones, is said to bring death or misfortune to anyone who dares to disturb them. The grave is protected by an iron cage to prevent visitors from triggering the curse, but the eerie tales of Seath Mor’s final resting place still persist.
After the estate passed to the Grant family, the spirit continued to guard Seath’s grave. Despite the legends and warnings, some still approach the grave, though the curse remains a powerful deterrent.
The eerie presence of Seath Mor’s ghost and the vengeful Bordach an Duin ensures that few challenge the curse.
The legend endures, with many questioning whether those who’ve dared to test it ever lived to tell their story.
Poltergeists – The Most Terrifying Spirits in the UK
Ghosts are one thing, but poltergeists – they’re on another level. With their ability to move objects, create loud noises, and even cause harm, these restless spirits are far more unsettling.
In the UK, there are a few infamous poltergeist stories that leave people terrified and fascinated in equal measure. Here’s just a few of the UK’s most famous poltergeist cases.
The Mackenzie Poltergeist, Edinburgh – Violence in Greyfriars Kirkyard
Dubbed the most haunted cemetery in the world, Greyfriars is also home to one of Edinburgh’s most active poltergeists.
The Black Mausoleum in Greyfriars Kirkyard, with its domed roof and double doors, is the final resting place of Sir George Mackenzie (1636/1638-1691), known as ‘Bloody Mackenzie’ for his brutal persecution of the Covenanters during Charles II’s reign.
As Lord Advocate in 1677, Mackenzie became infamous for his role in the ‘Killing Times,’ imprisoning and torturing over 1,000 Covenanters, many near the Kirkyard.
Today, Greyfriars is renowned for its paranormal activity, with Mackenzie’s ghost being one of Scotland’s most active poltergeists. Visitors have reported being pinched, burned, or bruised, adding to the eerie reputation.
The mausoleum itself has seen some unrest, having been broken into multiple times in recent years. In 1999, a homeless man sought shelter there but fell through the floor after breaking in.
Through the window, there’s an iron grill, which is likely a modern safety measure covering the hole made by the intruder.
In 2004, two youths broke in and decapitated a corpse, later being charged with the ancient crime of ‘violating a sepulchre,’ a charge not seen in over 100 years.
Greyfriars offers ghost tours, with City of The Dead Tours being the only company to grant access to the Mausoleum and Covenanter’s Prison, promising a chilling encounter with Mackenzie’s restless spirit.
‘Mr Nobody’ – The Pontefract Poltergeist, 30 East Drive
Said to be the most violent poltergeist in Europe, the entity that haunts this unassuming 1950s semi is affectionately known to the press as ‘Mr Nobody’.
Once a family home to the Pritchard’s, 30 East Drive now belongs to movie producer Bill Bungay who bought the house after it inspired him to make the film ‘When The Lights Went Out’.
Described on the Haunted Rooms website as ‘anything but dormant’, ‘Fred’, or ‘The Black Monk’ is not an experience for the faint hearted.
His penchant appears to be marbles which he either drops through the ceiling or throws at ‘guests’, even causing marbles to appear in people’s homes after they’ve visited.
That said, The Black Monk also likes keys that have been left unattended – stealing them and returning them in the most unexpected places.
Turning violent if offended or disrespected, Fred has destroyed several rooms in the house and has appeared as a pair of ghostly hands conducting the hymns that were used to exorcise him.
If you’re brave enough and your nerves can take it, you can spend the night at 30 East Drive as part of an organised tour with Haunted Rooms. I for one will not be joining you!
The Battersea Poltergeists
Mention Battersea, and three things likely come to mind: the iconic power station, the renowned dogs’ home, and the enigmatic Battersea poltergeists.
I say plural because two locations in the area have been linked to supposed poltergeist activity.
The first disturbances were reported in 1928, beginning in the conservatory at the rear of a house on Eland Road.
On November 29th, without warning, lumps of coal began falling from nowhere, shattering the conservatory’s glass.
As time passed, the activity spread throughout the house, becoming particularly intense in the family dining room.
There, chairs were said to march around the room in single file before mysteriously stacking themselves atop the dining table – a chilling spectacle that added to the legend of Battersea’s ghostly happenings.
A little over twenty years later poltergeist activity was felt in Wycliffe Road.
There was little remarkable about 63 Wycliffe Road, Battersea – aside from the mysterious raps and taps on the walls, inexplicable keys appearing on beds, and a spirit that seemed to respond to the family’s indirect questions. Oh, and the exorcism.
Drawn by the growing media attention, paranormal investigator Harold Chibbett delved into the strange occurrences. What he uncovered was no ordinary haunting. The spirit not only communicated through writing and drawing but, astonishingly, was said to send Christmas cards and even steal jewelrey from shop windows.
Identifying itself as a prince, the poltergeist – initially named ‘Donald’ by 15-year-old Shirley Hitchings, in whose bedroom the activity began – communicated through letters written in a curious mix of French and English.
This linguistic quirk led to claims that ‘Donald’ was, in fact, Louis XVII, or Louis-Charles, the lost heir to the French throne.
Whatever transpired during those turbulent years in Battersea, you can explore the mysterious events at Wycliffe Road in greater depth through The Poltergeist Prince of London, a book co-written by Shirley Hitchings herself alongside James Clarke.
Disembodied Hands, Phantom Pheasants & The Haunting of Britain’s Roads
I want to be completely clear with you – I absolutely love to drive (hence the name of my website), but if I’m heading down a haunted road, I’d much rather do it in broad daylight. Honestly, I’d probably only do it in broad daylight.
Don’t get me started on the time I realised I might be driving along the A75 close to midnight. Let’s just say, ghost stories feel a lot more real when you’re the only car on the road.
This next eerie collection then features some of the UK’s most spine-chilling roads, perfect for those looking to add a macabre twist to their road trip.
From phantom hitchhikers and ghostly carriages led by headless horsemen to Scotland’s most haunted stretch of tarmac, just make sure your engine doesn’t fail you.
A75, Scotland – Scotland’s Most Haunted Road
Scotland’s most haunted road, the A75, stretches from Gretna Green, passes through the county town of Dumfries, and continues to the coastal town of Stranraer on Scotland’s west coast.
Spanning 95.4 miles (153.5 km), it’s particularly notorious for paranormal activity in two sections: one between Annan and Gretna along an older stretch of the road, and the other along the infamous Kinmount Straight.
One of the most well-known hauntings from this stretch of road occurred in 1962 when Derek and Norman Ferguson were driving along without a care – until a large hen suddenly flew towards their windscreen, vanishing at the moment of impact.
In a 2013 interview with BBC Scotland, Bob Sturgeon, a former snack van owner on the A75, shared stories of traumatised lorry drivers seeking refuge in the early morning hours after encountering terrifying events along the hotspot at Kinmount Straight.
One burly lorry driver even quit his job after waking at 3 a.m. to witness what he described as “a parade of people,” likely the bedraggled medieval camp followers Sturgeon mentioned – figures seen pulling handcarts and carrying heavy bundles.
Frequent hauntings include phantom figures that suddenly appear in the road, seemingly throwing themselves into the path of oncoming cars. Yet when drivers pull over to investigate, there’s never a trace – just an eerie, unsettling emptiness.
So, keep your wits about you, dear driver. Masked men, ghostly creatures, and even spectral furniture vans have all been reported along Scotland’s most haunted road.
Blue Bell Hill, Kent – A Phantom Hitchhiker Appears And Vanishes.
Lying just off the A229 you’ll find the small village of Blue Bell Hill, in Kent.
This stretch of the Kent countryside is notorious for its phantom hitchhikers – mysterious figures who accept a lift, only to vanish without a trace.
Two chilling encounters, occurring within twelve months of each other, are often linked. In 1972, kind-hearted Bob Vandepeer stopped to offer a lift to a young girl standing at the top of Blue Bell Hill.
She took a seat in the back of his car, but when he later glanced over his shoulder to check on her, she had completely disappeared.
A year earlier, James Skene experienced something even more unsettling. As he was driving home from work, a young woman in her early twenties suddenly appeared in the passenger seat beside him.
After he drove her to nearby Chatham, she vanished as she stepped out of the car.
Was it the same girl? I think so.
The site is also tragically connected to the fatal accident on November 19, 1965, when bride-to-be Suzanne Brown, accompanied by her friends Judith Lingham and Patricia Ferguson, was involved in a head-on collision.
Their Ford Cortina spun out of control as they were driving home from Suzanne’s hen party. While Suzanne tragically lost her life at the scene, her two friends passed away a few days later in Maidstone Hospital.
Since then, sightings of a woman in a bridal gown have been reported along the stretch of road where the accident occurred.
But perhaps some of the most prolific and disturbing hauntings on Blue Bell Hill involve a young woman who throws herself infront of cars as they pass by, knowing they’ll be unable to stop.
The most chilling encounter, though there have been numerous reports, took place in 1974 when Rochester local Maurice Goodenough was unable to avoid a young girl who suddenly jumped in front of his car during the early hours of July 13.
The injured girl lay in the road, bleeding and unconscious, as Goodenough quickly covered her with blankets.
When his attempts to flag down passing motorists for help failed, he raced to the Rochester Police Station, leaving the girl wrapped in blankets, fearing that moving her might cause further injury.
When he and the officers returned to the scene, all that remained was the crumpled blanket he had placed around the ghostly figure.
The B3212 & The story of the Hairy Hands
The B3212 makes its way over the desolate Dartmoor landscape and connects Exeter with Yelverton, a journey of just under 35 miles ( 55km).
Its most notorious stretch however lies near Postbridge and a location known as Two Bridges and is said to be haunted by what’s known locally as ‘the Hairy Hands’.
Appearing suddenly to unsuspecting motorists these ‘disembodied hands’ will suddenly grab your steering wheel and swerve your car violently off to the side of the road.
In 1921, E.H. Helby, the medical officer of Dartmoor Prison, tragically lost his life when he suddenly lost control of his motorbike and sidecar. The passengers he was carrying survived the crash.
Later that same summer, an eerie incident occurred involving another motorbike. As an army captain was driving across the moor, invisible hands reportedly gripped the steering wheel, leaving him struggling to maintain control of the vehicle.
Is this the ghost of an unnamed man who himself died in an accident on the moor or, is it more as locals believe, the result of inexperienced motorists driving too far for the country roads?
Whatever the reason, I’ll tell you now, you will never, ever, get me to drive along this road.
The Ghosts of Historic Battlefields – Soldiers Who Never Left
With the amount of bloodshed and tragedy some locations in the UK have witnessed, it’s hardly surprising to find that these next sites have captured spirits who will forever relive their final moments.
Edgehill, Warwickshire & Ghostly Battles in the Night Sky
On the 23rd October, 1642, the first battle of The English Civil War took place. This furiously fought battle lasted three hours, and involved over 30,000 men coming together to fight for their cause.
Two months after the fighting stopped, the ghosts started.
So many people witnessed the battle re-enacted in the skies above the battlefield that in January 1643 two pamphlets were published – A Great Wonder in Heaven and The New Year’s Wonder – retelling the stories of the ghostly encounters.
When word of the hauntings reached King Charles I, a commision was raised (a public inquiry), and six men were sent to investigate and gather further evidence.
Sure enough, they too witnessed the ghostly re-enactments, even being able to identify some of the individual soldiers involved.
So regular and intense were the apparitions that in a vain attempt to try to stop the hauntings, the villagers of Edgehill started burying the dead, giving full Christian burials to men who’d been left strewn across the battlefield.
It took three months for the spirits of the men to move on, with hauntings eventually dying down to the thunder of horses hooves and the crash of canons, noises which seem to intensify on the battle’s anniversary.
Edgehill is the only battle officially recognised as haunted by the British Army and due to Charles I issuing a Royal Commission, the hauntings of Edgehill are the only ghost sightings recorded and officially recognised by the National Archives in Kew.
Culloden Moor, Scotland – The Saddest Battle on British Soil
On April 16, 1746, The Battle of Culloden Moor – the last battle fought on British soil – was over in just 40 minutes.
Fighting for Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Jacobites, also known as The Highlanders, faced devastating losses. All 1,500 men (though some accounts suggest 1,250) were killed in those 40 minutes.
Exhausted and weakened, surviving on just three biscuits a day, their defensive lines crumbled within the first 20 minutes against the better-fed and fresher Government troops.
In stark contrast, the Government army, led by the Duke of Cumberland (known as The Butcher of Cumberland), lost around 50 men.
There have been several famous ghost sightings on the battlefield at Culloden, but one of the saddest is that of a tall man clad in tartan, seen wandering the area. If approached, and spoken to, he simply looks and utters the word “defeated” before vanishing.
In 1936, a woman encountered the ghost of a wounded Highlander after noticing a piece of tartan draped over a grave mound. Beneath the fabric, the spectral figure of the fallen soldier appeared.
Lastly, in 2018, Diane Nicholson, owner and operator of Outlander: The Past Lives Experience was visiting the site when a strange mist closed in along the Jacobite lines.
As the group stood watching, the mist turned direction and appeared to ‘charge’ in the same direction as the Jacobite soldiers had in 1746.
Take a look at Diane’s video of the Culloden Battlefield Mist, you can definitely see the mist ‘charging’.
Today, Culloden Moor carries a somber atmosphere. Many have reported sightings of ghostly figures wandering the battlefield, and it’s said that birds never sing over the graves of the fallen.
You can find more information about visiting Culloden battlefield on the National Trust for Scotland’s website, or, if you’d like to read more, and see a map of the positions each side took, then can I recommend the National Trust for Scotland’s in depth guide on the battle.
Battle of Naseby, Northamptonshire – Ghostly Musketeers & Cavalrymen
On June 14, 1645, the Battle of Naseby raged in a Northamptonshire field during the English Civil War.
The day began shrouded in fog as Parliamentarians and Royalists prepared to fight for their cause. By the end of the day 1,500 men would have been killed.
For nearly 100 years after the battle, in similar events to those at Edgehill, the restless spirits of the men who died here played out across the night sky.
But these re-enactments faded and in their place stories of ghostly cavalry soldiers took their place.
During a now-infamous 2008 visit to the battlefield, the Northampton Paranormal Group reported unsettling encounters that added to the site’s eerie reputation.
The group unwittingly captured an image that to some, including me, looks like a cavalry soldier striding into battle.
Others think the soldier looks to be sitting on a horse or even walking through a gateway carrying a musket and pike.
What do you think?
In 1949, a couple reported seeing a ghostly figure – a man in a leather jerkin and high boots – who vanished before their eyes.
Others have witnessed spectral soldiers pushing carts along old drovers’ roads, as if still marching to battle.
Ghost sightings at Naseby may be rare, but those encountered are sure to send a chill down your spine.
