Haunted Road Trip: The North’s Most Spine-Chilling Destinations

For fans of a certain deadpan psychic, the recent return of Wednesday has been a call to embrace our darker side.

And if all that spooky mystery has you itching for a real-life supernatural thrill, you’ve come to the right place. This autumn, it’s time to lean in to your inner outcast and get ready for a road trip that would make even Wednesday Addams crack a smile. Maybe.

Our journey begins in Darlington, but be warned! As you leave town via North Road, don’t pick up any hitchhikers. Legend has it a woman dressed in white has been known to appear out of nowhere, only to vanish from the back of the car!

Stop 1: Winter’s Gibbet, Northumberland

Our first chilling stop is a quick detour en route to Alnwick Castle. Winter’s Gibbet marks the spot where a gruesome piece of history unfolded. In the 1790s, a man named William Winter murdered a woman in her home and was later executed for his crime. His body was then hung in chains at Steng Cross, an ancient boundary stone, as a grim warning. The ghost of Winter has been seen near the gibbet, perhaps still paying for his sins.

• Distance from Darlington: 48 miles
• Approx. drive time: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Stop 2: Alnwick Castle, Northumberland

From one dark tale to another, it’s time to head to Alnwick Castle. You might know it as Hogwarts from the Harry Potter films, but this grand fortress has a much darker past. In the 12th century, it was said a deceased lord of the castle would rise from his tomb and stalk the streets in search of blood! He was only stopped when villagers found and burned his remains.

Alnwick is also home to the Grey Lady, believed to be a Victorian maid who fell to her death in a dumbwaiter shaft. Listen closely, and you might hear her faint cries. After exploring the impressive grounds, including the famous Poison Garden, camp nearby for a night of spooky storytelling under the stars.

• Distance from Winter’s Gibbet: 11 miles
• Approx. drive time: 20 minutes
• Nearby Campsite: Doxford Farm (7 miles away). This working farm comes complete with electric hookups and modern facilities.

Stop 3: Chillingham Castle, Northumberland

Next, we head to a castle with a truly fitting name: Chillingham Castle. This former monastery is said to be one of the most haunted castles in Britain. The ghostly residents here are certainly an eccentric bunch.

Legend has it a painting of a Spanish witch in the Still Room lays a curse on anyone who steals from the castle. Then there’s the spirit of Lady Mary Berkeley, who roams the halls, pining for her unfaithful husband.

Perhaps the most famous story is that of the Blue Boy, a child dressed in blue who would appear in the Pink Bedroom. Later, bones of a young child were found behind a wall, along with scraps of blue fabric. After the bones were properly buried, the boy was never seen again. However, guests have reported seeing blue orbs floating in the room. Book a ghost tour if you dare!

• Distance from Doxford Farm: 14 miles
• Approx. drive time: 30 minutes
• Nearby Campsite: Riverside Leisure Park in Wooler (8 miles away). This site offers scenic riverside pitches, electric hookups, and modern facilities.

Stop 4: Bamburgh Castle, Northumberland

As you continue your journey, you can’t miss Bamburgh Castle, standing proudly on a rocky plateau high above the Northumberland coastline. This is a prime location for paranormal activity, thanks to the tale of a heartbroken Northumbrian princess. Her father, in an attempt to thwart her romance, sent her suitor away for seven years. Brokenhearted, and dressed in a beautiful pink gown her father had made for her, she climbed the castle’s highest battlements and threw herself to her death. Today, she is said to return every seven years, gliding from the castle to the beach in her fuschia frock.

• Distance from Riverside Leisure Park: 12 miles
• Approx. drive time: 20 minutes

Stop 5: Kielder Castle, Northumberland

Our next stop takes us to the heart of the famously dark Kielder Water & Forest Park. Built on an ancient burial site dating back to 3000 BC, Kielder Castle is a former hunting lodge with a truly eerie atmosphere. The pitch-black nights make this the perfect place for ghostly sightings. Guests and staff have reported seeing a man on a horse, a Victorian lady, a young hunting accident victim, and a servant girl who died of a broken heart.

• Distance from Bamburgh Castle: 35 miles
• Approx. drive time: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Stop 6: Jedburgh Castle Jail, Scottish Borders

Just over the border, you’ll find Jedburgh Castle Jail, a foreboding 19th-century prison with a gruesome history. Now a museum, this site is a hotspot for paranormal activity. Visitors have reported sudden chills, disembodied voices, and ghostly figures in the cells. The most prominent ghost is said to be Edwin McArthur, a dangerous prisoner who was executed in 1855 and is known to threaten visitors. You may also spot a phantom piper on the battlements!

• Distance from Kielder Castle: 30 miles

• Approx. drive time: 50 minutes

• Nearby Campsite: Riverside Caravan Park in Hawick.

Stop 7: Carlisle Castle, Cumbria

Our journey takes us into Cumbria and the impressive Carlisle Castle. Another castle, another phantom lady! In 1823, a soldier on duty was so terrified by a ghostly apparition that he attempted to run his bayonet through her. When it passed straight through, he fainted, and sadly, died of shock the next day. The phantom lady’s appearance may be linked to the skeleton of a woman holding a baby that was found bricked up inside the Captain’s Tower.

• Distance from Jedburgh Castle Jail: 55 miles
• Approx. drive time: 1 hour, 15 minutes
• Nearby Campsite: Wallace Lane Farm Holiday Park. Fully-serviced hardstanding pitches, with some even featuring a private hot tub to help you calm your nerves!

Stop 8: Kirkstone Pass Inn, Ambleside, Cumbria

Get ready to climb the winding Kirkstone Pass to reach the historic Kirkstone Pass Inn. This former coaching inn has a long and colorful history, including a reputation for being home to several ghostly residents. Many of the spirits here are believed to be travelers who died while making the dangerous journey through the pass.

The most well-known tale is that of Ruth Ray, who was found frozen to death in a blizzard, but not before she saved her baby, who was found alive in her arms. Today, Ruth’s apparition is said to appear as a warning to travelers of bad weather ahead. Other spirits include a young boy run over by a coach, a 17th-century coachman, and a terrifying grey lady.

• Distance from Carlisle Castle: 34 miles

• Approx. drive time: 1 hour

• Camping: If you’re feeling brave, you can park in the inn’s car park, as long as you patronise the pub (currently closed) or offer a small donation. For hookups, check out Low Wray campsite, a National Trust site on the bank of Windermere.

Stop 9: Edenhall Country Hotel, Cumbria

The final stop on your haunted tour is the picturesque Edenhall Country Hotel. This idyllic-looking hotel hides a much creepier side. It’s one of the most haunted places in Cumbria, and its ghosts love to pop up in mirrors! The most frequently spotted spirit is a female ghost who appears in room 4, often seen sitting at the end of the bed or in the bathroom mirror.

In the bar area, several mirrors had to be removed due to a high volume of customer complaints about apparitions appearing in them. Even without the mirrors, an older woman is regularly seen sitting in a corner, watching the happenings in the bar.

• Distance from Kirkstone Pass Inn: 18 miles

• Approx. drive time: 30 minutes

• Nearby Campsite: The Quiet Site. After all that excitement, you deserve a break! This award-winning, carbon-neutral holiday park is set among the stunning fells overlooking Ullswater in the heart of the Lake District.

Ready to Return?

After all those spine-tingling adventures, it’s time to head home. The drive from Ullswater back to Darlington is a scenic one, taking you through the heart of the North Pennines, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. As you leave the rugged fells of Cumbria behind, the stories of the spirits you’ve encountered may not feel so far away.

The road home is long, but a final piece of advice: maybe don’t check your rear-view mirror. After all, you never know who – or what – might be following.

• Distance from The Quiet Site, Ullswater, to Darlington: 50 miles

• Approx. drive time: 1 hour, 10 minutes

Whether you believe in ghosts or not, one thing is for sure: the North of England, Cumbria, and the Scottish Borders are rich with stories that will send a shiver down your spine. So, what are you waiting for? Book your campervan, pack your bravery, and embark on a haunted road trip you’ll never forget. Just don’t pick up any hitchhikers on the way back!