Dave’s Halloween Road Trip of Horrors

10 Best spooky road trip stops in the UK

1. Bodmin Moor,  Cornwall

   Our list of haunted locations starts on the picturesque Bodmin Moor in Cornwall. You can enjoy beautiful countryside views of rolling fields and stunning rock formations, but keep an eye out for the legendary Beast of Bodmin Moor.

   Legend has it that an unknown creature has lived in the area for years, with beady, yellow eyes that have scared visitors for generations. Nobody seems to agree on what the beast could be, with some believing it's an escaped big cat, while others think it could be something far more sinister.

   Although no definitive evidence has ever confirmed the legend, reports of livestock attacks and unusual sightings have helped keep the story alive. Now Bodmin Moor has become a favourite of terrified tourists trying to track down one of the UK’s most notorious horrors.

2. Berry Pomeroy Castle, Devon

   In Devon, you’ll find Berry Pomeroy Castle. This Tudor mansion was planned to be one of the largest and most spectacular in the county, but it was never finished as the project ran out of money in 1610. Since then, however, there have been reports of two ghosts haunting the castle: the Blue Lady and the White Lady.

   The Blue Lady is said to be the spirit of a Norman lord's daughter, who mourns the loss of her child. She reportedly asks visitors for help, luring them to her tower. It’s said that anyone who visits her in the tower is doomed to fall to their death.

   The White Lady, believed to be the spirit of Margaret Pomeroy, is said to haunt the dungeon. Tales say that her sister, Eleanor, was jealous of Margaret’s beauty, locking her beneath the castle.

3. Hampton Court Palace, London

   Next, we’re heading to the outskirts of London, where ghost hunters can find Hampton Court Palace near Kingston upon Thames. This beautiful Baroque building was home to one of Britain’s most famous kings, Henry VIII, and it’s a popular tourist attraction to this day. The palace is home to a famous hedge maze, the historic Great Hall, and, supposedly, the spirits of its previous residents.

   Local legends suggest Henry VIII is said to roam the palace halls, but perhaps even more famous than the king himself were his six wives. Jane Seymour, Henry’s third wife and his only partner to die of natural causes during his lifetime, has been seen appearing as a white wraith on the grounds. His fifth wife, Catherine Howard, can also supposedly be heard screaming in the gallery, begging the king for mercy before she was due to be beheaded.

4. Blicking Hall, Norfolk

   While some of Henry VIII’s wives can be found at Hampton Court, one of the most famous roams through Blickling Estate instead. Found near the town of Aylsham, just north of Norwich, this stately home includes 5,000 acres of land and is said to be the birthplace of Anne Boleyn.

   It’s said that every year, on the 19th of May, Anne Boleyn’s ghost takes a ride in a haunted carriage, holding her severed head in her lap. Once she arrives at the estate, her carriage and horses disappear, and she glides through the corridors until the sun comes up.

   Another ghost said to haunt the estate is Anne’s father, Thomas Boleyn. Legend has it that he was cursed to cross a dozen bridges by coach in the nearby area before sunrise on the 19th of May each year, as penance for causing his family’s downfall with Anne’s marriage.

5. Ruthin Gaol, North Wales

   One of Wales’ most notorious haunted buildings is Ruthin Gaol, a former prison in Denbighshire which now operates as a museum. Most of the area’s ghost stories revolve around William Hughes, who was the only person officially executed at the gaol in 1903, after the attempted murder of his wife. Other ghostly reports include the laughing sound of a 9-year-old girl, and sightings of a local thief nicknamed the “Welsh Houdini”.

   Night-time ghost hunts have been led around the prison, with loud cell doors slamming shut, distant footsteps, and the ghost of an old guard all being reported while searching the gaol after dark.

6. Pendle Hill, Lancashire

   The town of Pendle in Lancashire has a rich local history of witch hunts. In 1612, twelve locals were accused of using witchcraft to commit ten murders. All but one were convicted and later executed. One nine-year-old child, named Jenne Device, even testified against her own family, leading to the deaths of her mother, sister, and brother.

   To this day, the nearby Pendle Hill is associated with witchcraft, with plenty of folk tales about the mysterious families that lived nearby. You can find local witch trails that tour the key areas surrounding the trials, and the hill itself is supposedly haunted by their ghosts.

7. Treasurer's House, York

   Near York Minster in the centre of the city, you’ll find the historic Treasurer’s House, a Grade I listed building owned by the National Trust. For centuries, it was the home of the Minster’s treasurer, who controlled the funds for the city’s biggest church, but the house has a much spookier reputation nowadays.

   There have been many reported ghost sightings at the house, mostly focusing on the property’s basement. Multiple people claim to have seen a group of Roman soldiers patrolling through the dark cellar, with descriptions matching the uniform that legionaries would have worn at the city’s garrison in the 4th century.

8. Whitby Abbey, North Yorkshire

   Whitby is one of the most important towns in horror history, as the seaside town is famous for its association with Dracula. In Bram Stoker’s original book, the Count’s voyage across the sea leads him to Whitby as he tracks down Mina Harker. As a result of its famous connection, the town now hosts the UK’s biggest goth weekend every year. The town’s ruined abbey is regarded as one of Britain’s most haunted historic sites, with stories of former nuns and abbesses watching the grounds.

9. Chillingham Castle, Northumberland

   

   Originally built as a monastery in the 12th century, Chillingham Castle is located in the northern part of Northumberland, only a short distance from the Scottish border. This made it a key landmark while England and Scotland were at war, with King Edward I even staying at the castle on his way to battle William Wallace in 1298.

   Nowadays, the castle has a more sinister reputation as one of the most haunted in Britain. Several ghosts are thought to roam its halls, the most famous being the Radiant Boy (or Blue Boy). He haunts the Pink room in the castle, with witnesses claiming to hear the cries of a young child, followed by blinding flashes of blue light. During renovations, human remains and a blue cloth were found inside the castle’s thick walls.

10. Mary King's Close, Edinburgh

    Our final entry takes us up to Scotland, and rather than focusing on a haunted building, we’re investigating a whole haunted street. Mary King’s Close is an underground alley located in the Scottish capital, which currently operates as a tourist attraction to teach visitors about the city’s history, but its reputation for hauntings only adds to its mystique.

    It’s said that a young girl called Annie haunts a room in the close, with famous Japanese psychic Aiko Gibo claiming to feel a strong sense of grief when she visited in the 1990s. It’s become something of a tradition for visitors to bring their own dolls to the close for Annie, which has transformed the corner of her room into a shrine dedicated to her memory. Her original doll was stolen in 2019, which led to a public outcry asking for it to be returned, but no trace of it has ever been found.

Staying Safe on your road trip

There have been plenty of scary sightings on British roads over the years. If you find yourself getting spooked behind the wheel on your road trip, make sure you stay safe instead of hiding with your tail tucked between your legs like Dave O'Deer.

Always wear your seatbelt and stay within the speed limit to help reduce the chance of an accident, and if you do have to deal with an unexpected scare, try to stay calm and pull over if you need a break. Long drives can make you feel exhausted, which reduces your reaction time and can cause you to see things that aren’t really there, so it’s important to rest in a safe spot if you start feeling sleepy on your road trip.

Driving in the dark can also be frightening for some. Remember to keep your headlights on, be wary of traffic around you, and stay alert for any potential hazards when you’re driving at night.

Avoid insurance scares with esure

From haunted castles to hidden underground closes, we'd rather your Halloween road trip was filled with spooky stories than unexpected bumps in the road.

Before you set off on your haunted adventure, make sure you have the right cover in place. Whether you're planning a quick trip to a local landmark or travelling across Britain to visit some of the country's most haunted places, having suitable cover can help give you peace of mind along the way.