Devon is said to have more ghost sightings than anywhere else in the UK, so where should we be avoiding this Hallows Eve?
1) Berry Pomeroy Castle
Berry Pomeroy’s desolate ruins overlook a secluded valley, causing it to gain the reputation as one of the most haunted ruins in the country, rumoured to be inhabited by numerous ghosts and ghouls. Perhaps the most infamous is The White Lady, who haunts the dungeons after her sister left her there to starve to death as penance for falling in love with the same man… (lesson to be learnt here girls?!) Her ghost is often seen wandering the castle battlements looking for revenge, and at night a glowing light has been spotted in the castle turrets!
2) Hound Tor, Dartmoor
The wild landscape of Dartmoor, with its winding roads, rolling hills and free standing stones lends to supernatural happenings and ghostly experiences. The inspiration for Conan Doyle’s ‘Hound of the Baskervilles’ the collection of rocks presents an eerily impressive feature.The legend of the hound comes from the ancient myth that a coven of witches turned a wild dog to stone, and that his spirit prowls the moors by moonlight.
3) Dartmouth Castle
Hanging onto the Cliffside at the entrance to the Dart Estuary, this castle presents an imposing figure over the water. The fairy tale battlements hides a maze of secret passages and quick escape routes, with a church inside the walls to forgive the local residents and guards of their sins it lends perfectly to sinister tales of civil war and battles to the death.
4) The Hairy Hands, near Dartmoor Prison
Saving the spookiest until last, the Hairy Hands of Dartmoor are notorious for running motorists off the road. Imagine driving down the narrow forest roads and suddenly a giant pair of hairy hands grabs the steering wheel and tries to fight you off the road… There have been countless stories of supernaturally strong hands appearing on the steering wheel and drivers losing complete control. Also spotted at a campsite, where a woman woke up to the hands crawling up her caravan window, she immediately performed the sign of the cross and they retreated. Whether the ghostly hands are those of an ex-prisoner escaped from Dartmoor Prison, or the hands of an evil entity Her Campus definitely recommends avoiding Dartmoor and ANY castles this Halloween!
Photo Credits: www.haunted-britain.com, www.livefortheoutdoors.com, www.devon-online.com