Feast your eyes on 10 of the most haunted locations across the UK

Prepare to be spooked by these outdoor spaces

It's Halloween and we're celebrating by sharing frightening news of haunted places of interest. Outdoors experts from Gardening Express have revealed some of the spookiest spaces around the UK.

From woodlands and nature reserves to entire villages it's thought these are 10 of the most haunted gardens, parks, and cemeteries across the country. Recommended for those looking for spooktacular adventure.

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“We’ve researched and revealed some of the scariest outdoor spaces in the country,' explains a spokesperson for Gardening Express. 'These are places steeped in history, myths and legends, from cursed trees and old battlefields to vampires and witches.

'The entirety of one certain village has earned a spooky reputation over the years. And whilst you might assume every cemetery could be haunted to some degree, there’s one in particular that trumps the others.'

Take a peek, if you dare...

1. The Lost Gardens of Heligan, Cornwall

lost gardens of heligan cornwall

(Image credit: Gardening Express)

'Hauntings have terrified members of staff at Heligan for many years. With one gardener simply refusing to lock up the garden on his own at night. A link is often made between the ‘atmosphere’ at Heligan, and the fact that so many staff were lost in the First World War.'

2. Green Park, London

You may think of this as a great green space to head great place to head for a day out, but not all of the parkland is rumoured to be welcoming.

'Legend has it that there’s one sinister “Death Tree” within the grounds which should be avoided at all costs. It’s said that anyone who falls asleep in the shade of the tree’s branches never wakes up again. The tree has only been identified in the past by claims of a black figure that’s been spotted under the tree, park wardens have said they’ve heard a man’s voice around the area, and moans have been heard coming from the tree.'

3. Pendle Hill, Lancashire

'Home to the twelve Pendle Witches who were hanged at Lancaster Castle in 1612 – and buried on the ominous hill overlooking the village of Newchurch. Ghost hunters often climb the hill on Halloween to see if they can catch any ghostly activity.'

4. Cannock Chase, West Midlands

cannock chase west midlands

(Image credit: Gardening Express)

'Cannock Chase is a large densely woodland that has become known as one the UK's most active paranormal hotspots. Most famously it's known for its 'werewolf' sightings, and the monster apparently prowls the outskirts of Stafford.'

'There have been numerous reports from people who live in the area who say they've seen what they claim to be a 'hairy wolf-type creature' walking on its hind legs around the German War Cemetery, just off Camp Road, in between Stafford and Cannock. Several of the witnesses claim the creature sprang up on its hind legs and ran into the nearby bushes when it was spotted.

5. Bovey Heathfield Local Nature Reserve, Bovey Tracey

'In the Bovey Heathfield Local Nature Reserve, on the edge of Dartmoor, an English Civil War battle is said to replay. The original battle took place on 9 January 1646.'

6. Queen’s Park, Glasgow

queens park glasgow

(Image credit: Gardening Express)

'The 150-acre park is situated on the south side of the city and is the site of the Battle of Langside in 1568. Which is said to have marked the start of the Marian civil war. Hundreds of the 10,000 men who fought here died, and it’s now said that the ghosts of the dead soldiers are spotted near the boating lake on the anniversary of the battle on May 13th.'

7. Jenkyn Place, Hampshire

'The ghost of a housekeeper has been dubbed ‘Mrs Waggs’, but a woman in white has often been seen wandering the garden. There have also been reports of the sound of a phantom coach pulling into the drive.'

8. Rowton Moor, Chester

'The Battle of Rowton Moor took place here during the English Civil War in 1645. It appears to have left its mark on the land. It was one of the bloodiest battles of the conflict with a huge number of English soldiers brutally killed here. The area is now said to be haunted by the ghosts of men on horseback, who apparently appear each year around September 24th.'

'Visitors have reported hearing the faint sound of music echoing across the landscape, which is thought to be the ghost of William Lawes, King Charles’ court musician, who was shot down by a parliamentarian.'

9. Berry Pomeroy, Devon

berry pomeroy castle devon

(Image credit: Gardening Express)

'No one is quite sure what happened to Berry Pomeroy castle. As the shell of a once great building is all that’s left. Apart from a café, Berry Pomeroy is creepily empty. Allegedly a ‘Blue Lady’ is known for luring in passers-by only for them to fall of their death. And a ‘White Lady’ also haunts the dungeons after being imprisoned there.'

10. Pluckley Village, Kent

pluckley village kent

(Image credit: Gardening Express)

'The entire village of Pluckley has a reputation for being the most haunted in Britain – and it was named just that by the Guinness Book of World Records in 1989.'

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'Between 12 and 16 ghost sightings have been reported in the village, including a screaming man, a highwayman who appears at Fright Corner, a schoolmaster found hanged by a group of children and an old woman who used to sit on a bridge smoking.'

Contributor

Tamara was Ideal Home's Digital Editor before joining the Woman & Home team in 2022. She has spent the last 15 years working with the style teams at Country Homes & Interiors and Ideal Home, both now at Future PLC. It’s with these award wining interiors teams that she's honed her skills and passion for shopping, styling and writing. Tamara is always ahead of the curve when it comes to interiors trends – and is great at seeking out designer dupes on the high street.