With Halloween fast approaching, Brits across the country will be searching for spooky activities to make the most of the holiday. The UK is filled with haunted and spooky locations, so to help motorists experience the creepier side of the country, LKQ Euro Car Parts has researched the best Halloween themed road trips in each region.
- Scotland
Time: 433 miles, 3 – 4 days.
This route starts in the city of Edinburgh, which is home to countless locations that are rumoured to be haunted, including Edinburgh Castle, as well as numerous ancient graveyards with famous graves. Next, you’ll head to Culzean Castle before travelling up the country, visiting the famous Stirling Castle, before stopping at Crathes Castle. You’ll then head to Cruden Bay, and finish the route at Culloden Moor.
Spooky Sightings:
- Edinburgh: The ghosts of Edinburgh Castle, ancient graveyards and famous graves
- Culzean Castle: Home to a ghostly piper and mysterious lady.
- Stirling Castle: Several ghosts including a spectral highlander.
- Crathes Castle: Haunted by the ghost of The Green Lady.
- Cruden Bay: Where Bram Stoker wrote large sections of Dracula.
- Culloden Moor: Ghostly sounds of battle from the 1746 Battle of Culloden.
2. Northern England
Time: 247 miles, 3 – 4 days.
Beginning your journey at the imposing Bamburgh Castle, you’ll then travel through Northumberland to Chillingham Castle before heading down into Yorkshire and the next destination, Whitby. From there you’ll go to York, visiting Treasurer’s House and staying the night in the haunted Black Swan hotel. The following morning, you’ll travel into Lancashire to finish your journey at Pendle Hill.
Spooky Sightings:
- Bamburgh Castle: A filming location for the 2015 film adaptation of MacBeth.
- Chillingham Castle: Claims to be the most haunted castle in Britain.
- Whitby: Where Dracula first came to England in Bram Stoker’s novel.
- York: Treasurer’s House, where ghostly Roman legionaries have been spotted, and the haunted Black Swan hotel.
- Pendle Hill: The site of the 1612 witch trials and said to still be haunted by their ghosts.
3. The Midlands
Time: 136 miles, 2 days.
Starting at Croft Castle, you’ll then travel to Kidderminster to visit the Drakelow Tunnels, a haunted military bunker, before visiting Dudley Castle. The route then travels to Birmingham, and the famous Aston Hall. Finally, you’ll travel to the Leicester Guildhall, before visiting Kelham Hall in Nottinghamshire. Both locations have featured on the TV series, Most Haunted.
Spooky Sightings:
- Croft Castle: Haunted by the seven-foot ghost of Owain Glyndwr.
- Drakelow Tunnels: Visitors experience mysterious mists and hear ghostly wartime music.
- Dudley Castle: Haunted by The Grey Lady and others.
- Aston Hall: Home to The White Lady, the imprisoned daughter of a former owner.
- Leicester Guildhall: Featured on Most Haunted.
- Kelham Hall: Home to numerous ghosts.
4. Wales
Time: 269 miles, 2 – 3 days.
Starting in the medieval castle town of Conwy, North Wales, you’ll then travel to the famous prison Ruthin Gaol, before heading to Abergavenny, where you can spend a night in the famous Skirrid Mountain Inn. Traveling into South Wales, you will pass through the village of Crickadarn before visiting Craig y Nos Castle. Finally, you will visit Tenby for its famous ghost walk.
Spooky Sightings:
- Conwy: The ghost tour of the medieval town.
- Ruthin Gaol: An old jail, experience slamming doors and mysterious whispering voices.
- Skirrid Mountain Inn: Ancient inn with a dark history and the most haunted pub in Wales.
- Crickadarn: Appeared as the Yorkshire village in An American Werewolf in London.
- Craig y Nos: Said to be haunted by several ghosts.
- Tenby: The area is rumoured to be home to fairies, witches and ghosts.
5. Northern Ireland
Time: 121 miles, 2 days.
Beginning your journey in Donaghadee, you will visit Grace Neill’s, said to be the oldest pub in Ireland, before visiting the Giant’s Ring, near Belfast. Also in Belfast, the Crumlin Road Gaol is possibly the most haunted location in Northern Ireland. Ballygally Castle is the next destination on the journey, followed by Ossian’s Grave before travelling to the final stop, Springhill House.
Spooky Sightings:
- Grace Neill’s Pub: The oldest pub in Ireland and haunted by the Grace herself.
- The Giant’s Ring: An ancient religious site said to experience strange, unnatural mists.
- Crumlin Road Gaol: An old prison and the most haunted site in Norther Ireland.
- Ballygally Castle: Home to several ghosts.
- Ossian’s Grave: An ancient burial site, Ossian himself is said to be waiting to rise again.
- Springhill House: Haunted by the former owner.
6. Southern England
Time: 233 miles, 2 – 3 days.
You will start your journey in the village of Pluckley, Kent, before heading to London to visit The Tower of London. You can then head across the capital to All Saints Church in Fulham, before visiting Hampton Court Palace. The next stop is Stonehenge, ahead of your final destination at Dunster Castle.