8 extremely spooky places to go in Devon

If you fancy something a little different to the standard tourist attractions on your camping holiday, then why not try seeking something a little spookier? These spooky places to go in Devon make for fun and unusual days out and you can pick from haunted houses, mysterious mansions, creepy castles and more…

1 Buckland Abbey

Buckland Abbey is a 700 year-old gem in Yelverton. It is currently part house and part museum, but it was originally a monastery. After being converted to a private home it was owned by Sir Francis Drake, and a large snare drum which belonged to him can still be seen here. It is this very drum that provides the spooky factor, as it reportedly sounds every time England is in danger! Adult admission costs £9.05, children £4.50.

2 Berry Pomeroy Castle

Located only a short drive from both Totnes Castle and Dartmouth Castle, Berry Pomeroy Castle is a beautifully situated ruin in an area of woodland. One of the oldest sites on this list, it has been the location of a large number of ghostly sightings. The White Lady, for example, is believed to be the spectre of Margaret Pomeroy, who was held captive in the dungeons by her own sister! Adult tickets cost £4.90 and children aged 5 – 15 cost £2.90.

3 Churston Court Inn

Near the charming village of Brixham you’ll find a 12th century hotel complete with a fair few ghosts! Ghostly monks are the most frequently seen spectres at Churston Court Inn, always disappearing through the walls into another room. The hotel is also the meeting place for the Torbay Investigators of the Paranormal, so it’s well worth taking a look.

4 Chambercombe Manor

A strange legend haunts the history of Chambercombe Manor. In 1738 a tenant was making repairs when he discovered a lost room, concealed between the chamber which once belonged to Lady Jane Grey and the neighbouring room. In this hidden room they found the remains of a bed upon which lay the skeleton of a woman! The manor’s tea rooms are open from Good Friday to the end of October, and you can enjoy a traditional cream tea.

5 Three Crowns Hotel

In the pretty town of Chagford in Dartmoor, you can pay a visit to the Three Crowns Hotel. It is a warm and inviting place, with Inglenook fireplaces and beamed ceilings – but the spooky story is that a Cavalier in full military uniform haunts these halls. It is believed he died from war wounds on the stone bench which you can still find on the front porch – gruesome!

6 Okehampton Castle

On the very edge of Dartmoor you can find the largest castle ruins Devon has to offer. Set in a picturesque woodland with a riverside picnic area, the Okehampton Castle is scenic… but rumoured to be haunted nevertheless. The ghost of Lady Howard has often been seen travelling here at night in a creepy carriage made of bones driven by a headless driver! The ruins cost £3.90 for adult admission, £2.30 for children aged between 5 and 15.

7 Princetown Moorland

Not a specific haunted building, but there have been many spooky happenings occurring on one stretch of road through the moorland between Princetown and Two Bridges. It is here that the ‘hairy hands of Dartmoor’ have been spotted! One early sighting of these mysterious hands was from an army officer who survived a near-fatal motorbike accident. He reported that a large pair of hands covered in hair has seized his own hands and caused him to crash.

8 Bickleigh

The stunning village of Bickleigh is home to at least two sites known to be spooky. The first is Fisherman’s Cot, a hotel where many guests have reported hearing the laughter of a ghostly woman echoing through the halls. The second is Bickleigh Bridge, where a ghost of a fearsome knight can be spotted riding at midnight on a midsummer’s day, proudly carrying the head of a defeated opponent…

Spooky! If you fancy something a little different to add a spark to your Devonshire camping holiday then try visiting one or more of these mystery spots. You may even see a ghost with your own eyes!