Top Five Spookiest Places to Visit on a Halloween Road Trip
Ellie Dyer-Brown, 6 months ago
5 min read
- Creative
- Seasonal
- Travel
WhoCanFixMyCar maps out the best places to stay on a ghoulish getaway, including Dalhousie Castle, which is pictured above.
The nights are getting longer, there’s a definite chill in the air, and the spirits are growing restless. Halloween is almost upon us.
This year, instead of cozying up on the sofa with a toffee apple and rewatching your favourite Halloween flicks, why not hit the road for a ghoulish getaway at the top five spookiest places to stay in the UK?
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1. Pendle Hill, Lancashire
Near Burnley in Lancashire, Pendle Hill is notorious for its association with fierce witch trials and savage executions. Twelve people were accused of committing a series of local murders in 1612, and witchcraft was said to be involved in the killing.
All twelve witches lived near Pendle Hill. One died in prison, and of the remaining eleven - two men and nine women - only one was deemed to be innocent. The other ten were found guilty and hanged. The witch trials at Pendle Hill are among the best recorded and most well-known in British history.
Were the witches guilty? Head here on your road trip, and you might just find out from one of their wandering spirits.
2. Croft Castle, Herefordshire
Dubbed “the most haunted house in the Midlands”, Croft Castle is said to be haunted by seven strange spectres, the most notable of which is the relentless Welsh freedom fighter Owain Glyndwr.
In the 15th century, Glyndwr instigated a war of independence against the English. Although the war was unsuccessful, Glyndwr became a Welsh folk hero. Not only is he the last native Welshman to have held the title of the Prince of Wales, but it is also said that he is awaiting the call to return and liberate his people.
Another enigmatic presence is that of Herbert Croft, the Bishop of Hereford. During the castle's closure for renovations in 2013, a security guard reported a chilling encounter. Despite confirming the building's emptiness, he spotted a figure gazing out over the fields from a window, only for it to vanish upon investigation.
The security guard checked the castle again - it was empty. Nobody in sight. As he went to leave for the second time that night, he saw the same figure looking out from a window above. Again, he checked the castle, and again, he found no one inside.
Upon the completion of the renovations, the security guard returned to the castle. As he stepped inside, his eyes were drawn to a painting of Herbert Croft. At that moment, a wave of recognition washed over him, confirming his suspicion that it was Croft's ghost he had encountered.
Photograph "Croft Castle at Christmas" by c.art on Flickr (no changes made).
3. Bagdale Hall, Whitby
While Whitby is famous for its golden sands and top-notch fish and chips, this little seaside town has a darker history lurking beneath the surface. Not only did Dracula wash up on those same golden sands in Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel, but the oldest building in the town is also said to be haunted.
Bagdale Hall is an atmospheric Tudor manor house built in 1516 that operates as a hotel. However, stay there at your own risk - it’s one of the most haunted buildings in the country. Former owner of the hotel, Browne Bushell, was executed with charges relating to piracy. After his death, he returned to haunt the hotel and has been spotted many times gliding up and down the stairs.
That’s only the beginning of the creepy goings-on that guests and staff have experienced over the years. Cleaners regularly report that they can hear voices whispering. Lights often switch on and off seemingly by themselves, objects move without explanation, and a child can sometimes be heard crying in empty rooms.
Bagdale Hall is undoubtedly one of the best places for a ghoulish getaway.
4. Dalhousie Castle, Edinburgh
Situated just a few miles outside of Edinburgh, Dalhousie Castle is the oldest inhabited castle in Scotland - and the most haunted.
The two ghosts to look out for here are Sir Alexander Ramsay and Lady Catherine, who has become known as the “Grey Lady”.
The Ramsays held possession of Dalhousie for longer than any other family. Eventually, William Douglas captured Alexander, who reportedly starved to death - since then, his ghost has been spotted roaming the castle.
Lady Catherine is most often seen in the dungeon or on the battlements, staring blankly ahead and fading away if anyone gets too close.
Dalhousie Castle has become so well known for its spooky goings-on - including the sound of footsteps down empty corridors and objects moving on their own - that the hotel sometimes runs ghost tours explaining all the ghastly things that have caused spirits to linger.
Even if you don’t spot any ghosts, eating dinner in the dungeon beneath a suit of armour is still a great experience to tick off your Halloween road trip list.
WhoCanFixMyCar gives special thanks to Dalhousie Castle, who provided the fantastic image above and in the header of this article.
5. Pluckley, Kent
Pluckley might look like a quaint, picturesque village, but don’t be fooled by first appearances - it’s the most haunted village in Britain, according to the Guinness Book of World Records.
Pluckley is reportedly home to between twelve and sixteen ghosts, including the screaming man (who fell to his death in the brickwork factory), the highwayman (who was impaled by a sword and pinned to a tree) and an elderly woman who reportedly set herself on fire while she was sleeping.
Photograph "St Nicholas' Church, Pluckley" by Josh A. Tilley on Flickr (no changes made).
Hopefully, our top five spookiest places to stay have got you in the mood for a ghoulish getaway. If you’re planning to hit the road this Halloween, why not make sure your car is road trip ready by booking a vehicle health check?
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Written by Ellie
Ellie is WhoCanFixMyCar’s Content Writer. She has a BA in English literature from Durham University, a master’s degree in creative writing, and three years of experience writing in the automotive industry. She currently drives a Suzuki Swift.