10 Most Haunted Roads & Highways In The UK
This article is more than five years old and was last updated in February 2020.
Photo: pixabay.com
From phantom highwaymen and legends of witchcraft, to vanishing hitchhikers and stretches of road which are said to be haunted by ghosts from the past, these are the ten roads in the United Kingdom, which are said to be the most haunted.
10. The A719, Ayr
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Electric Brae, the A719, gets its name from the Scottish word "brae," meaning hill and the belief that this gravitational anomaly is an electro-magnetic phenomenon. The gravity spot can be found south of Dunure, not far from Ayr, between Drumshrang and Knoweside.
During the Second World War, the hill was visited by many US servicemen stationed at RAF Prestwick, and the American politician and army general, Dwight D Eisenhower took visitors to the brae to impress them with the phenomenon. It's believed that the road is haunted by the ghost of some local witches and it's their energy which is causing the strange phenomenon.
During the Second World War, the hill was visited by many US servicemen stationed at RAF Prestwick, and the American politician and army general, Dwight D Eisenhower took visitors to the brae to impress them with the phenomenon. It's believed that the road is haunted by the ghost of some local witches and it's their energy which is causing the strange phenomenon.
9. The A616, Stocksbridge
Photo: © Andrew Hill
The A616 runs from Newark-on-Trent to the M1 motorway at junction 30 and then reappears at junction 35A and goes on to Huddersfield, West Yorkshire. The Yorkshire stretch is known locally as the Stocksbridge Bypass. Ghostly goings on were reported during the road's construction. Security guards reported witnessing a phantom monk, believed to have been from the Hunshelf Priory.
8. Ryhope Green Crossroads, Sunderland
Photo: © Mick Garratt
This location isn't a building or even a landmark, it is in fact nothing more than a crossroad in the Sunderland village of Ryhope. Crossroads are sites where paths cross and over time many peoples' energies cross here. They are said to be very supernaturally active and a point where two realms can meet, and the crossroad at Ryhope is no different.
The spirit of a man carrying a pickaxe and a candle has been seen walking across the green before using his tool to dig into the ground near the memorial, when he is approached he simply vanishes. Despite this haunting's proximity to the war memorial, he's not thought to be a service man. It's said that he is a young man who lived locally in his wealthy parent's estates, but after falling in love with a servant his family disowned him. The man was said to be so upset that he took his own life, which meant he couldn't be buried in consecrated ground, so was buried at the crossroad.
The spirit of a man carrying a pickaxe and a candle has been seen walking across the green before using his tool to dig into the ground near the memorial, when he is approached he simply vanishes. Despite this haunting's proximity to the war memorial, he's not thought to be a service man. It's said that he is a young man who lived locally in his wealthy parent's estates, but after falling in love with a servant his family disowned him. The man was said to be so upset that he took his own life, which meant he couldn't be buried in consecrated ground, so was buried at the crossroad.
7. The A22, Caterham
Photo: © Blackwave
A stretch of the A22 between London and the Eastbourne area of the East Sussex coast, known as Caterham Bypass, is said to be extremely haunted .
The reports include drivers witnessing the ghost of a dishevelled looking girl who is seen running run across the road, before vanishing into the woods on the other side. Some witnesses have described the girl's clothing as a Victorian dress or nightdress, while others say they've seen the figure wearing 1960s clothing.
She is most often seen in the early hours of the mornings and some say the apparition is the ghost of a girl who lived near Tillingdown Farm and was killed whilst crossing the road.
The reports include drivers witnessing the ghost of a dishevelled looking girl who is seen running run across the road, before vanishing into the woods on the other side. Some witnesses have described the girl's clothing as a Victorian dress or nightdress, while others say they've seen the figure wearing 1960s clothing.
She is most often seen in the early hours of the mornings and some say the apparition is the ghost of a girl who lived near Tillingdown Farm and was killed whilst crossing the road.
6. The A75, Annan
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The A75 is a major linking Annan to Gretna Green and it has the reputation as Scotland's most haunted road. Reports of paranormal activity have been so frequent that the road has been nicknamed "the Ghost Road".
Tales include the story of a truck driver who was driving along the road in the 1970s. He swerved to avoid a couple walking in the road but when he stopped to ask why they had been in the middle of the road, the pair had vanished. Others have reported being harassed by shadowy figures, from an elderly woman to a phantom truck that the driver nearly hit before breaking, only for it to disappear seconds later.
Tales include the story of a truck driver who was driving along the road in the 1970s. He swerved to avoid a couple walking in the road but when he stopped to ask why they had been in the middle of the road, the pair had vanished. Others have reported being harassed by shadowy figures, from an elderly woman to a phantom truck that the driver nearly hit before breaking, only for it to disappear seconds later.
5. The A30, Chard
Photo: © Nigel Mykura
The A30 snaked through Devon and Cornwall and stretch into Somerset, along part of its route between Chard and Crewkerne plenty of paranormal activity has been reported. Ghostly sightings include unusual and eerie lights, sounds and figures seen around Windwhistle Hill, an area with a dark history of highwaymen, smugglers and witchcraft.
One family reported see two people at the side of the road, one was standing and the other lying down. Fearing the someone had been injured, the driver slowed down, when all of a sudden the person standing stepped out into the road. The family noticed that there was something odd about the person, they had one foot on the grass verge, while the other was in the middle of the road. The family all agreed that there was no one who could possibly have legs that long.
One family reported see two people at the side of the road, one was standing and the other lying down. Fearing the someone had been injured, the driver slowed down, when all of a sudden the person standing stepped out into the road. The family noticed that there was something odd about the person, they had one foot on the grass verge, while the other was in the middle of the road. The family all agreed that there was no one who could possibly have legs that long.
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4. The A229, Blue Bell Hill
Photo: © David Dixon
The A229 runs through Kent along the path of a former Roman road. Three motorists were killed at Blue Bell Hill on the A229 in 1965 and ever since there have been reports of ghosts who match the description of those involved in the accident. The ghost of a lone female dressed in white has been seen on the road near the Lower Bell pub, it claimed that she has been picked up on many occasions, only to vanish from the car during the journey. Some of the stories involve a purse or bag being all that remains in the car after the woman vanished.
In 1974, a local bricklayer, Maurice Goodenough turned himself into the local police station after hitting a young girl on the road with his car. He told Rochester Police that he had left her at the roadside wrapped in a blanket, but when officers returned to the scene, the girl had disappeared, and despite an extensive search of the area, the girl was never found.
There are also stories of drivers passing straight through female apparitions on the road without any injury or damage to the vehicle.
In 1974, a local bricklayer, Maurice Goodenough turned himself into the local police station after hitting a young girl on the road with his car. He told Rochester Police that he had left her at the roadside wrapped in a blanket, but when officers returned to the scene, the girl had disappeared, and despite an extensive search of the area, the girl was never found.
There are also stories of drivers passing straight through female apparitions on the road without any injury or damage to the vehicle.
3. A39, Bath Road, Bridgwater
Photo: © David Dixon
A stretch of road running through Somerset is said to be haunted by a ghostly horseman who appears at various points along the A39 before disappearing. The reports date back many years, but there have been several documented reporting in recent years.
A horseman was seen galloping on the spot by a mother and daughter who were driving along the road in 1999, but the most recent report dates back to December 2019. Local news reported that a couple driving along the A39 from Street to Bridgwater late one night saw the figure just outside the village of Aschott. They described the ghost as "wearing a light sandy brown long jacket and a black hat." The apparition appeared to be pointing above their car from the opposite side of the road.
A horseman was seen galloping on the spot by a mother and daughter who were driving along the road in 1999, but the most recent report dates back to December 2019. Local news reported that a couple driving along the A39 from Street to Bridgwater late one night saw the figure just outside the village of Aschott. They described the ghost as "wearing a light sandy brown long jacket and a black hat." The apparition appeared to be pointing above their car from the opposite side of the road.
2. Dalmarnock Road Bridge, Glasgow
Photo: © Frank Smith
Since the 1970s, many people crossing the 200 year old bridge have reported seeing a man in his thirties stood on the edge of the bridge, staring down into the waters below. He's said to be wearing 1930's style clothing including either a blue jacket and black trousers, or black clothes. When concerned passersby approach the man, he's said to have jumped from the bridge but vanished before hitting the water.
1. The A38, Bristol
Ghostly hitchhikers have been well documented over the years and Bristol too has its own spooky roadside ghost. The woman in white haunts a stretch of the A38 south-west of Bristol near the reservoir at Barrow Gurney.
Many drivers have reported having to slam on their brakes or swerve to avoid the figure who suddenly appears in the middle of the road in front of them before vanishing again.
The road in this area is now scared with many skid marks which show where other drivers have also stopped suddenly braked to avoid hitting a phantom woman dressed in a white coat.
Many drivers have reported having to slam on their brakes or swerve to avoid the figure who suddenly appears in the middle of the road in front of them before vanishing again.
The road in this area is now scared with many skid marks which show where other drivers have also stopped suddenly braked to avoid hitting a phantom woman dressed in a white coat.
This is an ever changing, dynamically updated page. Haunted locations may move up or down the list as new locations are added to our database and scores are reviewed to reflect new activity.
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