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Haunted UK Castles Campervan Route
A road trip visiting the UK's most haunted castles — with van parking tips for each one.
Route Overview
Start: Edinburgh. End: Cornwall. 7 days, 800 miles, 6 haunted castles.
Day 1: Edinburgh Castle
The most haunted castle in Scotland. The ghost of a headless drummer boy is said to walk the ramparts. French prisoners from the Seven Years' War are heard drumming in the vaults. Parking: Edinburgh Castle is in the city centre. Park at the Hermiston Gait P&R and take the bus (20 mins). Overnight at Hermiston Gait (tolerated).
Day 2: Chillingham Castle (Northumberland)
England's most haunted castle. The blue boy appears in the pantry, the ghost of Lady Mary Berkeley walks the halls, and a torture chamber in the dungeons still has the original rack. Ghost tours run year-round. Parking: The castle has a large car park (free to visitors). Overnight parking is not allowed but the nearby village of Wooler has a quiet layby on the B6348.
Day 3: Bolsover Castle (Derbyshire)
The Little Castle at Bolsover is said to be haunted by the ghost of a woman in a green dress. The Riding House (where horses were trained indoors) has sounds of hoofbeats at night. Parking: Bolsover Castle car park (£3). No overnight. The town car park (Castle Street) is free after 6pm and quiet overnight.
Day 4: Warwick Castle
The most famous castle in England after Windsor. The ghost of Sir Fulke Greville (murdered by his servant) is said to appear in the tower. The castle dungeon has a ghost tour. Parking: Warwick Castle has a large car park (£8/day). No overnight. The nearby racecourse car park allows campervan overnight parking for £10.
Day 5: Berkeley Castle (Gloucestershire)
Where Edward II was murdered (a red-hot poker, allegedly). The king's screams are still heard in the dungeon. The castle is small but genuinely atmospheric. Parking: Small car park (free). No overnight. The Berkeley Arms pub opposite has a van-friendly car park — eat there and ask to stay.
Day 6: Berry Pomeroy Castle (Devon)
Two ghosts: the White Lady (lured men to their deaths in the dungeon) and the Blue Lady (a nun who broke her vows — her ghost appears in the tower). The castle is in a wooded valley and genuinely spooky at dusk. Parking: English Heritage car park (£2). Closes at 6pm. Overnight in the quiet layby on the A385 near Totnes.
Day 7: Pendennis Castle (Cornwall)
Elizabethan fortress guarding Falmouth harbour. A Civil War soldier's ghost is seen on the ramparts. The castle keep is reputedly haunted by a woman in grey. Parking: Large car park at Pendennis Headland (£3/day). Tolerated overnight outside summer season. Sea views.
Essential Tips for a Ghost Castle Trip
- Book ghost tours in advance (they sell out, especially in October)
- A head torch is useful (some castles have unlit areas)
- An EMF meter (£20 on Amazon) adds to the ghost-hunting fun
- Most castles are English Heritage or Historic Scotland — membership saves you £50+ on entry fees
- Visit at dusk if you can — the atmosphere is better and the crowds are gone
Verdict
Chillingham Castle is the standout — genuinely haunting, minimal tourist tat, and the ghost tour is excellent. Combined with a van, this route gives you a week of atmospheric nights parked near some of Britain's most haunted buildings.
