Tag: ghosts

Haunted hotspots for a budget Halloween

Cash strapped fans of the spooky season are being given advice on the haunted hotspots to visit this Halloween on a budget.

The frugal team at NetVoucherCodes.co.uk have looked at the places ghost hunters can visit for free this spooky season.

Among the creepy gems are Pendle Hill in Lancashire, the village of Pluckley in Kent and Bodmin Moor in Cornwall.

Other spooky destinations to explore include Wistman’s Wood in Dartmoor, Cannock Chase in Birmingham and Mary King’s Close in Edinburgh.

Frugal expert Rebecca Bebbington said: “ We love Halloween but if you’re on a budget finding a haunted destination to explore without spending a fortune can be tricky.

“We’ve come up with ten haunted hotspots to explore without spending a fortune and ones with some great creepy tales to tell.

“Just remember not to scare yourself too – and sleep with the light on!”

Here are NetVoucherCodes.co.uk’s ten haunted hotspots on a budget:

Pendle Hill, Lancashire
Pendle Hill is home to the Pendle Witches. They were tried and executed for witchcraft in 1612. Ghost hunters often climb the hill around Halloween to catch any spooking comings and goings.

Pluckley, Kent
Pluckley is one of the most haunted villages in the UK. Between 12 – 14 ghosts are thought to haunt the village including the screaming man, the highwayman, the elderly woman and the school master. Look out for the highway man who appears as a shadowy figure and the schoolmaster who can be seen in his favourite old coat and stripy trousers.

Blickling Hall, Norfolk
The spooky hall is thought to be haunted by the headless ghost of Anne Boleyn who returns on the anniversary of her execution every May. Roam the grounds and nearby villages and you may spot the ghost of her father, Sir Thomas.

Manningtree, Essex
Witchfinder General Matthew Hopkins lived in Manningtree in the 1600s. His witch hunting led to the deaths of hundreds of women in East Anglia’s witch trials. There have been sightings in the neighbouring village of Mistley next to the pond where he drowned innocent people.

Mary King’s Close, Edinburgh
Mary King’s Close is thought to be one of the most haunted places in Scotland. During the plague in 1645, it’s believed half of Edinburgh’s residents died. The disease was bad in the close due to the poor sanitation and cramped tenements. The most famous ghost to haunt the area is a ten year old called Annie who died during the epidemic.

Wistman’s Wood, Dartmoor
According to legend, Wistman’s Wood was a sacred grove of the Druid’s where they held pagan rituals. It’s also said to be where the Wisht Hounds are kept. These are fearful hounds who hunt the moor at night in search of lost souls and unwary travellers.

The Ten Bells, London
This is Jack the Ripper’s local pub and two of his victims are linked to it. Annie Chapman spent her last evening there before her murder in 1888 and Mary Kelly was outside the pub. It’s claimed the place is haunted by Annie Chapman.

Glencoe National Reserve, Scotland
Glencoe is home to the Glencoe Massacre of 1692. The story goes that a troop of soldiers, following government orders, were invited to the home of the Clan of Macdonald posing as visitors. During the night they slit the throats of their hosts. Legend says some members of the clan fled to the wood where they still remain.

Cannock Chase, Birmingham
This spooky woodland is said to be haunted by a girl with coal black holes for eye sockets. Sightings describe a young girl crying but when those who see her approach the eerie figure, she turns to show her eyes then runs away.

Bodmin Moor, Cornwall
Bodmin Moor is packed with creepy myths and legends. The Beast of Bodmin Moor, a big panther-like cat, has been seen numerous times and is said to scavenge livestock during the night.

Ghost Roads: The UK’s most haunted highways revealed

In the lead up to everyone’s favourite spooky season, GoodBye Car are taking a look at the most ‘haunted’ roads in the UK and why they’re considered to be eerie and unearthly.

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, it’s still interesting to look at their history … 

 1. The Devil’s Highway

Location: A666 Near Bolton

When you name a road ‘666’, the chances are the future is going to be rife with plenty of occult shenanigans. There have been a number of sightings of a shady figure at the side of the road after the sun goes down, described by eye-witnesses as being hunched over with a slight limp. 

There has even been some video footage of this, which you can make your own mind up on if you see it. Filmed on a dashcam, the white figure approaches the car slowly, much to the distress of the driver and their passenger… 

2. The Ghost Road

Location: A75 Gretna to Annan

I mean, the name kind of speaks for itself here. This road, just over the border between England and Scotland, links Gretna to Annan and is notorious for being extremely badly lit. Driving along pitch black roads can play tricks on the mind at the best of times, especially if you’re aware that this road has seen incidents of the paranormal in the past. 

Unnervingly, the police have recorded calls from drivers that describe having run over an old man in a tweed suit who they claim was crossing the road. But when they got out to check, the man was nowhere to be seen…

3. Blue Bell Hill

Location: A229, Kent

This particular road was the scene of an unfortunate tragedy back in November 1965 and has been haunted ever since, in the eyes of many. A young woman was due to be married when she was killed in a car accident. 

Since then, the woman has been spotted wearing her extravagant wedding dress, veil and all, standing by the side of the road waiting for a lift. The scariest part of the story is that some people claim to have given the woman a lift, only for her to disappear completely soon after…

4. Stocksbridge Bypass

Location: Stocksbridge

A relatively new road when compared to the others on the list, the Stocksbridge Bypass quickly gained a reputation for events of the paranormal. Connecting the M1 with the A1616, the spooky shenanigans started occurring as soon as the building work started. 

When construction was underway back in 1988, two security guards reported that they saw some young children playing right in the centre of the construction site. This would be an odd sight at the best of times, made even more bone chilling by the fact that the children disappeared without a trace as the guards approached them, with no signs of footprints…

5. M6 Bermuda Triangle

Location: M6

Named after the infamous Bermuda Triangle, it’s not a surprise to see that it’s gained this nickname for a negative reason. As opposed to the new style road seen above, there have been parts of this route that have been in place for around two thousand years. 

What is now the M6 used to be travelled across by the Roman’s before the layers of concrete were added, and as such there have been numerous reports of Roman soldiers marching across the road. That’s not all though, as junctions 16-19 are particularly accident prone, leading to more tormented souls being seen, such as hitchhikers that vanish into the night and eyes that have been spotted watching passers by from the bushes. Slightly unnerving…

6. The Spaniard’s Inn

Location: Hampstead

When you pull up to the Spaniard’s Inn in Hampstead, it just looks like a normal pub. However, there are sinister undertones at play, with a rich history of ghosts and ghouls being spotted in the area. The building actually dates back to 1585, and became famous thanks to Dick Turpin’s father reportedly being the landlord of the pub.

The Inn gets its name from a Spanish Ambassador who used to meet with King James in the 16th Century. There were also reportedly two Spanish landlords named Francesco and Juan in the 17th century, to which the rumour exists that the duo fell out and eventually ended with Francesco killing Juan in a duel, who was later buried near the Inn. 

I’m sure you can see where this is going, but it’s reported that Juan’s ghost still haunts the pub, looking for Francesco to claim his revenge…

7. Overtoun Bridge

Location: West Dumbartonshire

Probably the saddest story we’ve seen so far, this one is not for the faint of heart. Long story short, it’s said that the bridge located on the grounds of Overtoun House in West Dumbartonshire is haunted by the White Lady of Overtoun, who’s the ghost of the wife of former estate owner John White. 

The sad part comes in when people claim the bridge affects dogs in particular, causing them to terrifyingly throw themselves off the side of the bridge. It’s said that more than 300 dogs have suffered this fate over the years. Our advice would be to keep your dog on a lead if you’re passing over the bridge any time soon.

If you don’t want to believe in the supernatural, non-believers say that the smell of wild animals in the woods below is what compels the dogs to jump over the side. But what if…

8. Blairgowrie

Location: A93

On the subject of wild animals, that takes us on nicely to the Hellhound of Blairgowie. This plagued pooch is said to have glowing red eyes and patrols up and down the side of the road. If you’re unfortunate enough to encounter it, you’ll likely smell it before you can see it, as it’s said to carry a stinking odour. 

The hound is particularly a menace to dogs and horses, who become incredibly spooked when in the area, particularly at night. 

There’s even a legend that says if you stare directly into the Hellhound’s eyes three times, then you’ll die. So that’s fun…

9. Platt Lane

Location: Westhoughton

Infamous to locals in the area, Platt Lane is another sad story of a tragedy leading to plenty of haunting stories. The incident in question was the Pretoria Pit mining disaster on 21st December 1910, leading to 344 of the 900 men and boys who went into the mine on that day never making it out alive. 

The issue came from a gas leak due to a broken lamp, which then ignited an explosion. Some died from the flames, while others suffocated from carbon monoxide in what was a terrifying event for such a close-knit community. 

Now it’s been said that when you drive along Platt Lane you can see the eyes of the miners watching on from the bushes, and the road is also partial to an eerie mist overcoming it at all parts of the year…

10. The Ghost of Gracious Lane

Location: A21, London

Normally when a road is made into a duel carriageway, life just goes on without incident. However, the ghost of Gracious Lane did not take too kindly to the road being split, and it prowls the street looking to take revenge by leading cars off the road and the unfortunate drivers to their death.

After drivers travel underneath the bridge, an odd phenomenon occurs where the standard A21 road seems to disappear and a new road takes its place, which actually points in a different direction. 

Oddly, it’s not the only cursed activity in the area, as there are also reports of a white haired woman being seen stood in the middle of the road. Most drivers try and swerve to avoid what they think is a living and breathing human being, but inevitably run her over.

When they get out to check if she’s alright though, the woman is nowhere to be found … 

12 of the UK’s Most Haunted Highways

Superstitious drivers seeking a scare this spooky season have been told about 12 of the most haunted roads across the UK.

From ghostly children and ghoulish soldiers to phantom trains and even werewolves, motoring experts at LeaseCar.uk have revealed some of the most reported supernatural sightings across Britain’s road network.

Driving in the dark can be scary enough as it is, but a number of spooky roads haunted by phantom hitchhikers, monks, and soldiers are supposedly peppered throughout the UK.

Tim Alcock from LeaseCar.uk commented: “Most of us will have heard stories about haunted houses, cemeteries, hospitals and hotels, but who knew there were so many roads that boast their fair share of ghouls, too?

“So with Halloween just around the corner, we’ve researched and revealed 12 of the scariest roads in the UK, in case you feel like taking your own phantom-filled road trip this spooky season.

“Whether you believe in ghosts or not, the stories alone are enough to send a chill down your spine.”

1. Blue Bell Hill, Kent

Over the last few decades, there have been countless reported sightings of ghostly figures in the road amongst Blue Bell Hill. The most reported being that of Judith Langham, a young bride-to-be who was killed in a car collision on the day of her wedding – 19 November 1965 – when she was just 22.

According to the reports, she haunts the road wearing a white dress and startles drivers who believe they’ve hit and injured her, yet when they get out of their car to help, she’s simply disappeared.

2. Stockbridge Bypass, Sheffield

In 1988, a new road was built across the Peak District to help connect the M1 with the Woodhead Pass and the A1616. Once building work started, reports of unusual occurrences began to surface, and the road soon became really famous for its paranormal activity.

During the time the road was under construction, it was reported that two security guards witness young children playing in the middle of the construction site. As they got closer, the children began to disappear with no footprint evidence left in the trail behind them.

3. M6 motorway

Part of this route has existed for nearly two thousand years, having been used by Roman soldiers during the Roman occupation of England in 55 BC, so it’s no wonder the M6 boasts its fair share of spooks.

It’s been reported that motorists driving on the M6 have witnessed unusual phenomena, like Roman soldiers marching across the road. Some people have claimed that there have been a set of eyes looking at them from behind bushes too.

4. The B519 by The Spaniard’s Inn, Hampstead

A sharp turn in the B519 just before The Spaniard’s Inn in Hampstead is said to be haunted by an eighteenth-century highway man.

The ghost’s father allegedly owned the pub for a time, and his ghoulish son still paces the road looking to target passing motorists.

5. A666, ‘The Devil’s Highway’, Bolton

If any road was going to be haunted, it was always going to be the A666, which shares its name with The Number of the Beast.

Several accidents have been caused by sightings of a hunched-over figure limping at the side of the road along the Devil’s Highway. Known simply as the A666 ghost, dashcam footage from 2015 revealed a white creature appear out of nowhere on the deserted road. The video shows the figure slowly approaching a terrified driver while the passenger cries for help.

6. The Old Tay Bridge, Dundee

A violent storm during the winter of 1879 caused the Old Tay Bridge to collapse while a train was passing over it. The six-carriage train plummeted into the ice-cold waters of the Tay and all 75 passengers on board were tragically killed.

According to an old legend, on the anniversary of the disaster each year, a phantom train can be seen crossing the old bridge and locals report hearing the screaming cries of the victims.

7. Platt Lane, Lancashire

This road in Westhoughton runs close to the site of the 1910 Pretoria pit tragedy, which killed 344 miners. Many motorists have reported seeing spooky eyes peering out of the hedges by the roadside, and phantom miners plodding alongside cars or pulling coal wagons behind them.

8. The A636, Wiltshire

One particular stretch of the A636 – dubbed ‘Sally in the Woods’ – is supposed to be the site of the tragic death of a young girl who was hit by a car and killed when she ran out into the road.

Motorists have reported numerous sightings, and as many as seven fatal accidents in the area have been left with no logical explanation for their cause – leading many to think they are the result of paranormal intervention.

9. B1249 between Driffield and Staxton Hill, East Riding of Yorkshire

Real life wolves roamed the wooded farmland of the East Riding of Yorkshire up until the 15th century, when they were hunted to extinction, so the number of reported werewolf sightings here may not come as much of a surprise.

In the 1960s, author Charles Christian described how a lorry driver was left terrified when a red-eyed, hairy creature tried to smash its way through his windscreen as he drove along the isolated road.

Then in August 2016, a young woman described seeing a monster which looked “like a big dog, ­probably bigger than my car, but it had a human face” in the nearby village of Halsham.

10. A3 near Burpham, Surrey

In December 2002, Surrey Police investigated reports of a car seen swerving off the A3 near Burpham.

They eventually found a car in a ditch containing the remains of a driver, but the motorist had perished some five months previously! This lead to speculation that the sighting had been a ghostly re-enactment of the crash which killed him.

11. Cock Lane, near the Old Bailey in London

While drivers may not necessarily experience anything on the road, one of the houses is said to be haunted by the ghosts of two women who died in the residence back in the 1760s, so many believe you can still hear strange noises and screams as you travel past.

12. Electric Brae, Aryshire, Scotland

Though there’s been no reports of ghostly goings on per se, this road has long been the subject of speculation regarding a different kind of supernatural phenomena.

Essentially, despite appearing to run uphill, a suitably free-running vehicle will slowly move off from a standstill. For years, it was widely believed that vehicles were being propelled by a mysterious magnetic force, and some even claimed that the road had been cursed by witches.

Ultimately, the Electric Brae is a ‘gravity hill’, whereby the road’s apparently uphill slope is actually an optical illusion – but it’s still popular amongst drivers who want to experience the phenomenon themselves.