Blue Chip Holidays have mapped out some of the spookiest places in the UK, the haunted buildings, villages and places to spot ghostly apparitions, for a frightening Halloween.
Haunted buildings
Tower of London - Probably one of the most famous buildings, the Tower of London has been home to thousands of executions throughout history. So it's no surprise that there have been many apparition seen here, some sightings have included; Thomas Becket and Edward V and Richard of Shrewsbury, Anne Boleyn, who was beheaded at Tower Green in 1536 and Catherine Howard, who was executed six years later.
Blickling Hall, Norfolk - Anne Boleyn has also been seen at her family's residence, Blickling Hall in Norfolk. Apparently every year on May 19th the property is visited by a headless woman thought to be Anne, dressed all in white and riding in a ghostly carriage which is led by headless horses and a headless coachman. There are other former residents who also haunt this house, including the ghosts of Henry Hobart and Sir John Fastolfe.
Ancient Ram Inn, Gloucestershire - Described as the most haunted house in the UK, The Ancient Ram Inn has been the site of some most ghastly events, these include; black magic rituals, child sacrifice and suicide. The Inn has also housed many criminals who have committed heinous acts as well. Over the years many people have seen some spooky goings on including the current owner, John Humphries who has seen; ghostly presences, demons appearing, a witch and orbs also being seen.
The Banshee Labyrinth Edinburgh - There are plenty of haunted places to visit in Edinburgh, however the Banshee Labyrinth in the city has been described as Scotland's most haunted pub, for good reason. A group of workmen once heard a bloodcurdling scream, described as a scream of a banshee, hours later one of the group were then informed of a sudden death in the family. The pub itself has also seen items fly off tables and smash into the walls.
Berry Pomeroy Castle, near Totness, Devon - This 12th Century castle is home to a number of ghosts, a hot bed of supernatural goings on, including the ghosts of Margaret Pomeroy, known as the white ghost and an unknown blue ghost known as the blue lady. Margaret was said to have fallen in love with the same man as her sister, Margaret who was known for her enchanting beauty was imprisoned by her insanely jealous sister Lady Eleanor in the Castle. Here she died and her spirit is now said to rise to the castle ramparts.
Places
Pendle Hill - The Pendle Hill witch trials saw 12 of local residents accused of murder by use of witchcraft, all but one were hanged. The ghosts of those who died are now said to haunt the eerie looking hills in Lancashire.
Edge Hill - The scene of the first major engagement of the English Civil War saw 30,000 men do battle on the 23rd of October 1642. By nightfall, over 1000 had died, and thousands more wounded. Some say if you walk the battlefield you can still hear the crash of cannons and the screams of the wounded.
Culloden Moor, near Inverness - The scene of another battle, Culloden Moor, is known for ghostly sounds of battle, with anguished cries as phantom legions re-enact the slaughter. The battle was the last battle to take place in mainland Britain, the Jacobite rebellion prisoners were brutally massacred on the orders of the Duke of Cumberland and now it is said that the dead rise every year on the anniversary of the battle.
St Mary's churchyard, Whitby - The fishing town of Whitby is known for ghostly happenings, and a major draw is the Abby which stands alone on the cliff edge. However in the churchyard of St Marys Church a large hearse with four jet-black horses has appeared beside the grave of a Whitby sailor, and removed the body from the grave. The spectral coach would then gallop away at speed and plummet over the cliffs into the sea.
Village of Pluckley, Kent - When you have a reputation for being the most haunted village in Britain, you know there will be some spooky events which happen, in the village of Pluckley you have chance to see between 12 and 16 ghosts. Including a screaming man, a highwayman, a schoolmaster who was found hanged by a group of children and an old woman who sits on a bridge smoking. Pluckley has been named the most haunted village in Britain by the Guinness Book of World Records.
Other spooky sightings
Ghost ships of Goodwin Sands - Ghost ships have been sighted at Goodwin Sands, known as a treacherous sand bank in the Channel a few miles off Deal this area has seen hundreds of shipwrecks over the past few centuries, so it's unsurprising that there have been many ghost ship sightings. These include a Spanish galleon from the Armada, the HMS Northumberland, a frigate lost there during a storm in 1703 and also the steamer Violet, shipwrecked with the loss of the entire crew in 1857.
The Solway Ghost Ships - The Solway is another dangerous area for ships, and there have been ghost ship sightings here, including the Rotterdam, which sank over 150 years ago with the loss of all hands, the pitiful cries for help from the ghostly crew can be heard just before the anniversary of the disaster. The Betsy Jane, which sank in the 18th century, can also be seen on the approach to Whitehaven Harbour around the
anniversary of her sinking.
Phantom Black Dogs - There have been plenty of sightings of phantom black dogs around Britain, most counties have their own variant.
Spokesperson from Blue Chip Holidays commented on the Halloween hotspots "Ghost hunters will not be disappointed visiting any of these spots, we think they are some of the most spooktacular places to see in the UK. Even if you don't get visited by an apparition or see anything spooky the areas themselves are fascinating to visit. "
Tower of London
