Haunted Places to Visit in Scotland & Northern England

If you're a fan of hunting ghosts and ghouls, seeking the perfect activity for Halloween or simply interested in hearing a spooky story or two, visiting a haunted location is the perfect way to give yourself a delightful scare. With so many haunted spots to explore in Scotland and Northern England, you're bound to find the ideal one to give you the creeps and send chills skittering up your spine. 

Haunted spots in North East England

Chillingham Castle

6 miles / 14 min drive from Riverside Holiday Park

Boasting some of the highest levels of paranormal activity in the country, Chillingham Castle is a must-visit for fans of anything spooky. There are several spectres to spot, including a frail figure in the inner pantry who is believed to have been poisoned, a chilling, oppressive atmosphere in the chamber, the voices of two men in the chapel and shadows in the courtyard. There was also the infamous Blue Boy, though he has not been seen since the 1920s. 

For those who are brave enough, there are several ghost tours and even ghost hunts to embark on throughout the castle for an even more immersive experience. 

Alnwick Castle

17 miles / 26 min drive from Riverside Holiday Park

One of the region's most iconic castles, Alnwick has a legacy spanning over 900 years, and with such a long history comes its fair share of creepy tales, the most notable being the Legend of the Alnwick Vampire. The story states that a deceased master of the castle would rise from his tomb at night to prowl the town, feasting on the blood of the living. There is also a Grey Lady who has been spotted in the tunnels below the castle, believed to be a Victorian maid who worked there. 

Bamburgh Castle

16 miles / 31 min drive from Riverside Holiday Park

With its proud location above the Northumberland coastline, Bamburgh Castle is not only breathtaking but also a hotspot for paranormal activity linked to a tragic tale. According to legend, a Northumbrian princess was left brokenhearted after her father sent her suitor overseas for seven years. In an attempt to cheer her up, the king had a dress made in her favourite colour, pink, but during the final fitting, the distraught girl climbed the stairway to the castle's highest battlements and threw herself to the rocks below. She's said to return every seven years, wearing her pink dress and wandering through the castle before gliding down to the beach. 

St Mary's Churchyard

32 miles / 47 min drive from Riverside Holiday Park

This is believed to be the oldest church in Northumberland and there is a definite eeriness to this churchyard. Make sure to explore and find the 'pirate grave', a gravestone featuring a skull and crossbones, and keep your eyes out for the Phantom Cyclist. The cyclist is only ever seen at dusk, dressed in a miner's work attire with a grey face, hollow eye sockets, and black, rattling teeth. 

Dunstanburgh Castle

23 miles / 41 min drive from Riverside Holiday Park

Standing in ruins on cliffs along the North Sea, Dunstanburgh Castle is home to several ghosts. Thomas Plantagenet, who was executed by his cousin Edward II, has been spotted roaming the grounds, carrying his mangled head, and the ghost of Margaret of Anjou, Henry VI's wife, has also been seen. The ghost of Sir Guy the Seeker, who, according to the local folktale, is said to have had a supernatural experience himself at the castle and now can be heard on stormy evenings.

Lumley Castle

25 miles / 45 min drive from Heather View Holiday Park

A 14th-century manor house turned castle, Lumley Castle is a magnificent yet spooky building, labelled the most haunted place in County Durham. The most popular ghost is that of Lily Lumley, who was supposedly thrown down a well on the castle grounds and continues to wander the corridors and rooms. There is also Black Jack, a mischievous spirit who likes to play pranks, a man who sits in the corner of the bar, and ghostly, child-like laughs coming from the top floor.

Raby Castle

21 miles / 35 min drive from Heather View Holiday Park

Though this 14th-century castle has had a peaceful existence, there are still a few spooky residents who can be spotted by those who keep their eyes peeled. The ghost of Charles Neville, 6th Earl of Westmorland, has been seen on the staircase and is said to be an angry spirit. A spectre believed to be Lady Barnard has also been glimpsed roaming the corridors at night, knitting with white-hot knitting needles, as well as a rider outside and a portly man in the library whose head is lying beside his body on the desk. 

Durham Castle

23 miles / 44 min drive from Heather View Holiday Park

With a long history dating back to William the Conqueror, it's perhaps surprising that Durham Castle is said to be haunted by only two ghosts. The Grey Lady, said to be the wife of a 19th-century bishop who fell to her death, can be seen on the black staircase, and the ghost of Fredrick Copeman, one of the University's original students who incorrectly believed he had failed his final exam and took his own life, can be heard pacing around his room in anguish.

Barnard Castle

19 miles / 35 min drive from Heather View Holiday Park

This imposing structure towers above the town, with a spooky atmosphere to match the restless spirit of Lady Ann Day. Little is known about Lady Ann, except that she was killed at a young age in the 16th century and tossed from the castle walls into the River Tees. It's unknown who was behind her death or why, but the ghost of a young woman dressed in white has been seen tumbling from the castle walls, sometimes accompanied by a scream, which stops as she disappears before hitting the water.

Haunted spots in South East Scotland

Tantallon Castle

14 miles / 26 min drive from Thurston Manor Holiday Park

19 miles / 33 min drive from Pease Bay Holiday Park

27 miles / 45 min drive from Coldingham Bay Holiday Park

27 miles / 45 min drive from Scoutscroft Holiday Park

These dramatic ruins have lain abandoned for over 300 years, but that doesn't mean no one has been residing there. A mysterious figure is said to roam the corridors and has even been caught on camera twice, wearing a ruff and clothing from centuries past. The photos have been confirmed to be real and were taken 30 years apart, so there's definitely a spooky feel to this castle. 

Yester Castle and Goblin Ha'

16 miles / 26 min drive from Thurston Manor Holiday Park

21 miles / 34 min drive from Pease Bay Holiday Park

30 miles / 47 min drive from Scoutscroft Holiday Park

30 miles / 47 min drive from Coldingham Bay Holiday Park

Built in the 13th century, this ruined medieval fortress is famous for its mysterious atmosphere and the legendary underground chamber known as Goblin Ha'. The castle was built by Hugo de Gifford, and it was widely believed to have been created with the help of magic. Gifford is said to have made a deal with the Devil to summon an army of hobgoblins to build the chamber as a space for him to practice dark magic. With so much legend surrounding the structure, it's certainly worth a visit. 

Newhailes House

29 miles / 39 min drive from Thurston Manor Holiday Park

33 miles / 46 min drive from Pease Bay Holiday Park

42 miles / 57 min drive from Coldingham Bay Holiday Park

42 miles / 58 min drive from Scoutscroft Holiday Park

This Palladian house played a prominent role in the Scottish Enlightenment and is beautiful to look around, but there have been many spooky stories from staff and visitors over the years that are sure to send a chill running down your spine. From unexplained knocking to soft singing, piano playing and fleeting ghostly apparitions, there's plenty of eeriness to explore. 

Dirleton Castle

21 miles / 29 min drive from Thurston Manor Holiday Park

26 miles / 36 min drive from Pease Bay Holiday Park

35 miles / 50 min drive from Scoutscroft Holiday Park

35 miles / 50 min drive from Coldingham Bay Holiday Park

With centuries of history, this 13th-century fortress makes a fantastic family day out, but make sure to keep an eye out for ghostly residents on your visit. Between 1649 and 1650, several women were held in Dirleton Castle's pit prison after being accused of witchcraft, and today's visitors often report cold spots in the prison, alongside the feeling of someone standing behind them in an otherwise empty room. There have also been occasional sightings of a lady in white roaming the castle, who's believed to have come to a tragic end. 

Hailes Castle

12 miles / 20 min drive from Thurston Manor Holiday Park

16 miles / 27 min drive from Pease Bay Holiday Park

25 miles / 40 min drive from Coldingham Bay Holiday Park

25 miles / 40 min drive from Scoutscroft Holiday Park

Hidden in the valley of the River Tyne, this castle dates back to the early 1200s, making it one of Scotland's oldest stone castles - and with such a long history, the castle isn't without its ghostly residents. One of the pit prisons is said to be haunted by the spirit of a man imprisoned after falling in love with the laird's wife, and a 'White Lady' has been spotted wandering the castle, who many believe to be the ghost of Mary Queen of Scots. 

Duns Castle

15 miles / 28 min drive from Pease Bay Holiday Park

14 miles / 29 min drive from Scoutscroft Holiday Park

14 miles / 30 min drive from Coldingham Bay Holiday Park

20 miles / 33 min drive from Thurston Manor Holiday Park

This rugged fortress was built in the 14th century and its rich history has inspired many ghostly tales. Several figures have been spotted, including a shadowy lady said to roam the upper halls, believed to be mourning a lost love. Visitors have often heard her faint cries, felt cold spots near the staircase and seen shadowy shapes in the dining room. There have also been eerie whispers reported, as well as an unsettling silence linked to a drowned servant whose spirit lingers around the site.

Thirlestane Castle

31 miles / 52 min drive from Scoutscroft Holiday Park

32 miles / 52 min drive from Pease Bay Holiday Park

32 miles / 54 min drive from Coldingham Bay Holiday Park

37 miles / 55 min drive from Thurston Manor Holiday Park

This magnificent 16th-century castle is set within the beautiful Lauderdale Estate and is no stranger to the supernatural. A Lady in Green, believed to be a former governess, is sometimes glimpsed on staircases or in the children's nursery, and both staff and guests have reported objects moving of their own accord, unexplained drafts and laughter or music in empty rooms. 

Haunted spots in South West Scotland

Eglinton Castle

6 miles / 13 min drive from Viewfield Manor Holiday Park

This Gothic-style castle stands in a public park, but it was once the site of a 16th-century stronghold. Though not much remains of its original structure, it's a widely visited spot and is believed by many to be haunted. Not much is known about the spirits who reside there, though there are three main ghosts associated with the castle: a White Lady, a Grey Lady and a shadowy figure sometimes spotted inside the tower. 

Culzean Castle

31 miles / 51 min drive from Viewfield Manor Holiday Park

This cliff-top masterpiece is well worth a visit, with plenty to discover from thick woodlands to beautiful beaches and, of course, a ghostly resident or two. The most famous is that of the piper, who was sent into the caves below the castle with his dog to prove to locals that they weren't haunted, only to never be seen again. According to legend, the sound of pipes can be heard on the eve of a Kennedy family wedding. There are also apparitions that supposedly wander the castle and a painting with numerous stories behind it. 

A75 Kinmount Straight

4 miles / 10 min drive from Queensberry Bay Holiday Park

This road is said to have had more reports of supernatural activity than any other in Scotland, with tales ranging from screaming hags and eyeless phantoms to a menagerie of unearthly creatures. Among the spotted apparitions are an old-fashioned man with a rifle, standing solemnly by the roadside; a ghostly legion of Romans marching along the road; a lady in white who crosses the road before vanishing; and a spectral old lady in Victorian attire.

Caerlaverock Castle

12 miles / 24 min drive from Queensberry Bay Holiday Park

This castle may have a fairytale appearance, but there are centuries of grisly history to it, leaving behind several restless spirits still wandering the walls of the castle. The most commonly seen is the Green Lady, a spectral figure in a flowing gown who's said to silently drift through the corridors and occasionally appear in upper windows. Many visitors report chills or sudden temperature drops, as well as footsteps and whispers, and there have also been sightings of a ghostly 'good Samaritan' in the nearby wetlands who guides lost wanderers to safety. 

Haunted spots in Central Scotland

Huntingtower Castle

13 miles / 18 min drive from Erigmore Holiday Park

27 miles / 51 min drive from Ballintuim Holiday Park

This impressive structure is said to be haunted by a 'Green Lady' whose footsteps have often been heard, accompanied by the rustle of her gown. She has even reportedly appeared on several occasions, usually to help passers-by, including a man being robbed and an ill child. If you're looking for somewhere spooky to explore, be sure to add Huntingtower to your list. 

Castle Menzies

20 miles / 36 min drive from Erigmore Holiday Park

Renowned as one of Scotland's most haunted castles, with centuries of history providing plenty of chilling tales and unexplained happenings, Castle Menzies is a great spot to visit for fans of the supernatural. From freaky footsteps to an apparition of a 'Grey Lady', believed to be the ghost of Lady Elizabeth, there are lots of opportunities for an eerie encounter. There are ghost tours available where visitors can explore the castle after dark and hear more about its thrilling past.